Abstract Objective: To determine whether the mean ADC values in various regions of the brain differ with age and sex. Materials and Methods: Thirty healthy men and 30 healthy women were included, and divided into 3 groups according to age. In group 1 the age were 20~34 years old, group 2 35~49 years old, and group 3 50~64 years old(n=20 each). All subjects were examined with MR imaging, including conventional and EPI diffusion-weighted imaging with two b values(0 and 1000mm2/s). Bilateral ADCAV values were determined in 34 regions of interest encompassing the entire brain. Results: ①The mean ADCAV values in the cortical gray matter showed a descent tendency with advancing age; an increased tendency were showed in the mean ADCAV values of the white matter and thalami, basal ganglia, the lateral ventricle. ②A difference in the mean ADCAV values of the cortical gray matter were observed between men and women, the value in men was[0.81±0.05(0.68~0.92)]×10-3mm2/s, and the value in women was [0.78±0.05(0.71~0.91)]×10-3mm2/s. ③The mean ADCAV values of CSF in the lateral ventricle had interaction between age and sex, no interaction were showed in the others parts. Conclusions: The study of ADCAV values in normal human brains can be used for reference and instruction in future clinical studies and normal brain aging.
2006, Vol. 17 
