Do brain image databanks support understanding of normal ageing brain structure? A systematic review

To document accessible magnetic resonance (MR) brain images, metadata and statistical results from normal older subjects that may be used to improve diagnoses of dementia.

We systematically reviewed published brain image databanks (print literature and Internet) concerned with normal ageing brain structure.

From nine eligible databanks, there appeared to be 944 normal subjects aged a parts per thousand yen60 years. However, many subjects were in more than one databank and not all were fully representative of normal ageing clinical characteristics. Therefore, there were approximately 343 subjects aged a parts per thousand yen60 years with metadata representative of normal ageing, but only 98 subjects were openly accessible. No databank had the range of MR image sequences, e.g. T2*, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), required to effectively characterise the features of brain ageing. No databank supported random subject retrieval; therefore, manual selection bias and errors may occur in studies that use these subjects as controls. Finally, no databank stored results from statistical analyses of its brain image and metadata that may be validated with analyses of further data.

Brain image databanks require open access, more subjects, metadata, MR image sequences, searchability and statistical results to improve understanding of normal ageing brain structure and diagnoses of dementia.

aEuro cent We reviewed databanks with structural MR brain images of normal older people.

aEuro cent Among these nine databanks, 98 normal subjects a parts per thousand yen60 years were openly accessible.

aEuro cent None had all the required sequences, random subject retrieval or statistical results.

aEuro cent More access, subjects, sequences, metadata, searchability and results are needed.

aEuro cent These may improve understanding of normal brain ageing and diagnoses of dementia.