Cerebral atrophy is characterized by a shrinking of the brain and consequently an enlargement of fluid-filled spaces within the cranium. It is a hallmark of normal aging and a sequelae following brain injury, and is of relevance in other brain diseases. There has been conflicting evidence of the effect of ventricle enlargement on the biomechanics of the brain during head impact. Computational simulations of brain biomechanics were used to investigate enlargement of the ventricles and subarachnoid space (SAS). These models are summarized as 1) a simplified 2D phantom, 2) an axial 2D brain model, and 3) subject-specific 3D brain model. Our preliminary results with the 2D models show minimal effect of enlarged ventricles on brain deformation, and shows decreasing brain strain with a thicker SAS layer. The 3D models show a general decrease in strain metrics for head motion about all three axes of rotation. Investigating the effect of the size of the fluid-filled spaces within the cranium on brain deformation will aid in the understanding of subject-specific brain injury risk, especially during aging and disease.
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