Life Span Imaging

Lifespan Imaging

Mapping of brain and behavioural changes throughout life

Capturing complex brain-behaviour dynamics across the lifespan

Our research is focused on elucidating the complex interplay of multi-dimensional, e.g. biological, physical, socio-environmental, behavioural and cognitive factors that emerge on different timescales and drive developmental cascades in individuals’ brain and body through the lifespan. The aim is to predict physical and mental health and illness, resilience and potential across the lifespan. We have established expertise and research infrastructures for detailed cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments of large cohorts and have active and elaborative national and international collaborations.

Longitudinal neuroimaging of large cohorts

Our current efforts are centred on the longitudinal assessment of typically-developing children and adolescents and healthy elderly populations, but also of specific patient cohorts suffering from multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer. We continue to expand our research to cover the entire age range and actively seek and engage in new collaborations. We use state of the art multimodal imaging techniques, and advanced imaging and data analysis methods and perform elaborative assessments of biological, physical, environmental and behavioural variables. In the HUBU project, we unprecedentedly assessed a group of children and adolescents 12 times, the first 10 of which were performed with six months’ intervals. Childhood and adolescence are critical developmental periods in human life in which several psychiatric disorders have their debut. Building on unique lifespan data from birth the LifeMabs project aims to identify factors through early life that effect personality traits, cognition and brain structure at midlife. As a new cohort of community-based elderly subject the LISA project assesses the effect of physical training on brain structure and function as well as patterns of physical activity around retirement.

Life span V5

Selected Publications

Nyberg, L., Boraxbekk, C.J., Eriksson Sörman, D., Hansson, P., Herlitz, A., Kauppi, K., Ljungberg, J.K., Lövheim, H., Lundquist, A., Nordin Adolfsson, A., Oudin, A., Pudas, S., Rönnlund, M., Stiernstedt, M., Sundström, A., & Adolfsson, R. (2020). Biological and environmental predictors of heterogeneity in neurocognitive ageing: Evidence from Betula and other longitudinal studies. Ageing Research Reviews, 64:101184.

Habich, A., Fehér, K.D., Antonenko, D., Boraxbekk, C.J., Flöel, A., Nissen, C., Siebner, H.R., Thielscher, A., & Klöppel, A. (2020). Stimulating aged brains with transcranial direct current stimulation: Opportunities and challenges. Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging, 30; 306: 111179.

Gylling AT, Bloch-Ibenfeldt M, Eriksen CS, Ziegler AK, Wimmelmann CL, Baekgaard M, Boraxbekk CJ, Siebner HR, Mortensen EL, & Kjaer M. (2020). Maintenance of muscle strength following a one-year resistance training program in older adults. Experimental Gerontology, 1; 139:111049.

Walhovd KB, Fjell AM, Westerhausen R, Nyberg L, Ebmeier KP, Lindenberger U, Bartres-Faz D, Baare WFC, Siebner HR, Henson R, Drevon CA, Stromstad Knudsen GP, Ljosne IB, Penninx B, Ghisletta P, Rogeberg O, Tyler L, Bertram L. (2018). Healthy minds 0-100 years: Optimising the use of European brain imaging cohorts ("Lifebrain"). Eur Psychiatry. 50, 47-56.

Mc Mahon B, Norgaard M, Svarer C, Andersen SB, Madsen MK, Baare WFC, Madsen J, Frokjaer VG, Knudsen GM. (2018). Seasonality-resilient individuals downregulate their cerebral 5-HT transporter binding in winter - A longitudinal combined (11)C-DASB and (11)C-SB207145 PET study. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol.epub

Madsen KS, Jernigan TL, Vestergaard M, Mortensen EL, Baare WFC. (2018). Neuroticism is linked to microstructural left-right asymmetry of fronto-limbic fibre tracts in adolescents with opposite effects in boys and girls. Neuropsychologia. 114, 1-10.

Macoveanu J, Baare W, Madsen KH, Kessing LV, Siebner HR, Vinberg M. (2018). Risk for affective disorders is associated with greater prefrontal gray matter volumes: A prospective longitudinal study. Neuroimage Clin. 17, 786-793.

Gaist, D., Hougaard, A., Garde, E., Reislev, N. L., Wiwie, R., Iversen, P., Madsen, C. G., Blaabjerg, M., Nielsen, H. H., Krøigård, T., Østergaard, K., Kyvik, K. O., Hjelmborg, J., Madsen, K., Siebner, H. R. & Ashina, M. Migraine with visual aura associated with thicker visual cortex. Brain. 141, 3, p. 776-785, 2018.

Nørbak-Emig, H., Pinborg, L. H., Raghava, J. M., Svarer, C., Baaré, W. F. C., Allerup, P., Friberg, L., Rostrup, E., Glenthøj, B. & Ebdrup, B. H.
Extrastriatal dopamine D2/3 receptors and cortical grey matter volumes in antipsychotic-naïve schizophrenia patients before and after initial antipsychotic treatment.
The world journal of biological psychiatry. 18, 7, p. 539-549, 18 2017.

Hjordt, L. V., Stenbæk, D. S., Madsen, K. S., Mc Mahon, B., Jensen, C. G., Vestergaard, M., Hageman, I., Meder, D., Hasselbalch, S. G. & Knudsen, G. M.
State-dependent alterations in inhibitory control and emotional face identification in seasonal affective disorder.
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 126, 3, p. 291-300, 2017.

Mc Mahon B, Andersen SB, Madsen MK, Hjordt LV, Hageman I, Dam H, Svarer C, da Cunha-Bang S, Baare W, Madsen J, Hasholt L, Holst K, Frokjaer VG, Knudsen GM. (2016). Seasonal difference in brain serotonin transporter binding predicts symptom severity in patients with seasonal affective disorder. Brain. 139(Pt 5), 1605-1614.

Knudsen GM, Jensen PS, Erritzoe D, Baare WF, Ettrup A, Fisher PM, Gillings N, Hansen HD, Hansen LK, Hasselbalch SG, Henningsson S, Herth MM, Holst KK, Iversen P, Kessing LV, Macoveanu J, Madsen KS, Mortensen EL, Nielsen FA, Paulson OB, Siebner HR, Stenbaek DS, Svarer C, Jernigan TL, Strother SC, Frokjaer VG. (2016). The Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging (Cimbi) database. Neuroimage. 124(Pt B), 1213-1219.

Gauthier CJ, Lefort M, Mekary S, Desjardins-Crépeau L, Skimminge A, Iversen P, Madjar C, Desjardins M, Lesage F, Garde E, Frouin F, Bherer L, Hoge RD. Hearts and minds: linking vascular rigidity and aerobic fitness with cognitive aging. Neurobiol Aging. 2015 Jan;36(1):304-14

Aarnink SH, Vos SB, Leemans A, Jernigan TL, Madsen KS, Baaré WFC. Automated Longitudinal Intra-Subject Analysis (ALISA) for diffusion MRI tractography. Neuroimage, 2014, 86:404-416.

Anstey KJ, Sargent-Cox K, Garde E, Cherbuin N, Butterworth P. Cognitive development over 8 years in midlife and its association with cardiovascular risk factors. Neuropsychology. 2014 Jul;28(4):653-65

Ramsoy TZ, Liptrot MG, Skimminge A, Lund TE, Sidaros K, Christensen MS, Baare W, Paulson OB, Jernigan TL, Siebner HR. (2012). Healthy aging attenuates task-related specialization in the human medial temporal lobe. Neurobiol Aging. 33(9), 1874-1889.