Study Creates Lifespan Reference Charts for Human Brain White Matter

A new set of reference charts tracks the growth, maturation, and age-related decline of white matter across the human lifespan. White matter forms the main communication pathways between brain regions, and disruptions in these pathways are associated with several neurological, psychiatric, and developmental disorders.

Researchers compiled and standardized 35,120 brain scans from multiple global studies. The resulting charts show typical patterns from birth through age 100, establishing a baseline for healthy brain development and aging. The charts allow researchers and clinicians to compare individual brain scans against normative data.

This comparison can help quantify how a person's white matter structure deviates from expected patterns.

The study provides open-access charts for use by the scientific and clinical communities. Researchers can evaluate new patient data or research scans against these baselines to support future studies. The work addresses the absence of a standard reference for white matter measurements, similar to existing growth charts used for physical development and grey matter volume.