Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for computing a longitudinal change in a structure of a brain. The method may include receiving a first image of the brain, wherein the first image is captured at a first time; receiving a second image of the brain, wherein the second image is captured at a second time; aligning the first and second images; generating at least one displacement from a location in the first image back to a corresponding location in the second image; and determining an optimized matching deformation between the first and second images based on an energy function that incorporates spatially varying estimates of a likelihood of tissue edge presence at the location in the first image, wherein the matching deformation is one of the generated displacements.

Abstract: A simple, rapid and semi-automated method of MRI analysis based on mathematical modelling of MRI pixel intensity histograms. The method is accurate and reliable for regional analysis of brain, central and subarachnoid CSF volumes. The method can be used to reveal significant age-related changes in regional brain volumes which cannot be determined utilizing traced central CSF volumes or subarachnoid CSF volumes. The method can be used to quantify brain structure in healthy aging and brain disease.