{
  "id": 3125912,
  "title": "Cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic loop: Effects of age on white matter neurite microstructural properties and its spatial gradients",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic-loop-effects-of-age-on-white-matter",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.19.745815v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study explored the impact of age on the microstructural properties of white matter tissue within the cortico-striato-pallido-thalamic (CSPT) loop. Researchers utilized neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) to examine these properties in an adult lifespan sample, ranging from 20 to 90 years old.\n\nThe study found that neurite density index (NDI) and orientation dispersion index (ODI), which serve as proxies for the amount and spread of neurites, respectively, showed an inverted-U association with age. This means that NDI and ODI decreased with age in most tracts, but there were variations among different tracts. More specifically, the spatial gradient of NDI and ODI was consistently observed in the medial-to-lateral, posterior-to-anterior, and ventral-to-dorsal directions for most tracts.\n\nInterestingly, the study also revealed that the spatial gradient of these properties became more homogeneous with age, a phenomenon analogous to network-level dedifferentiation observed in BOLD functional connectivity. This suggests that the fundamental circuit involved in the CSPT loop is significantly affected by age, and the spatial gradients that organize these properties are also vulnerable to the aging process.\n\nOverall, these findings emphasize the importance of considering age-related changes in the microstructural properties of white matter tissue, particularly within the CSPT loop. As these properties are crucial for both basic and higher-order functions, understanding their age-related alterations can provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of age-related cognitive decline.",
  "summary": "In-vivo examination of neurites to understand microstructural properties of white matter tissue utilizing neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) has shown sensitivity to healthy aging as well as disease biomarkers and status. Neurite density index (NDI), which is a proxy for the amount of neurites, in white matter tissue typically decreases with age. However, orientation…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}