How the brain's white matter network structure changes with age across the lifespan

A cohort of 113 healthy individuals (ages 9-85) revealed that global network properties of the brain's white matter structural connectome peaked around the third decade.

• Global network properties, such as network strength and topological efficiency, followed an inverted U-shaped trajectory with age.
• Significant nonlinear changes in brain structure were observed primarily in the prefrontal and temporal cortices.
• Different brain regions showed varied maturation and degeneration timelines, with the posterior cingulate and lateral temporal cortices maturing later than the prefrontal cortices.
• Rich-club organization was present throughout the lifespan, while hub integration decreased linearly with age, particularly affecting frontal hubs.
• Age-related changes in structural connections were mainly found within and between the prefrontal and temporal brain regions.
• Graph metrics of the structural connectome allowed for accurate predictions of individual age (r = 0.77).

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