J Neurol Res

Journal of Neurology Research, ISSN 1923-2845 print, 1923-2853 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Neurol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://jnr.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 16, Number 3, September 2026, pages 158-164

Longitudinal Changes in Pituitary Area in Individuals Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging Checkups

↓ Figure 1. Pituitary area delineated with orange dots (a). Akaike information criterion (AIC) for all feature combinations (b); selected model indicated. Relationship between pure alcohol amount and pituitary area change (Δ pituitary area; c). The fitted quadratic regression curve shows an exploratory nonlinear association between weekly alcohol intake and pituitary area change. The apparent inflection point at approximately 158 mL/week is shown for descriptive purposes only (d).

↓ Figure 2. Individual longitudinal trajectories of pituitary area (a). Effect of alcohol intake on longitudinal changes in pituitary area by sex. Male: pituitary area change in those who drink alcohol regularly vs. those who do not (b). Female: pituitary area change in those who drink alcohol regularly vs. those who do not (c). People with no regular alcohol intake (d). People with regular alcohol intake (e).

↓ **Table 1.** Baseline Characteristics
Features	Value
IQR: interquartile range; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.
No. of patients	52
No. of MRI follow-up	151
No. of MRI follow-up per patient
2	32 (62%)
3	10 (19%)
> 3	10 (19%)
Age at the baseline MRI (years)	61 (IQR 50–65, range 34–79)
Interval between consecutive MRIs (years)	1.05 (IQR 0.98–1.90, range 0.31–7.11)
Interval from first to last MRI (years)	2.16 (IQR 1.15–4.88, range 0.44–10.08)
Male	46 (88%)
Never-smoker	20 (38%)
Drinks alcohol	36 (69%)
Pure alcohol amount (mL/week)	175 (IQR 0–193, range 0–567)
Pituitary area at the baseline MRI (mm²)	37.9 ± 11.8 (range 14.6–67.5)

↓ Table 1. Baseline Characteristics

Features

Value

IQR: interquartile range; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.

No. of patients

No. of MRI follow-up

151

No. of MRI follow-up per patient

32 (62%)

10 (19%)

> 3

10 (19%)

Age at the baseline MRI (years)

61 (IQR 50–65, range 34–79)

Interval between consecutive MRIs (years)

1.05 (IQR 0.98–1.90, range 0.31–7.11)

Interval from first to last MRI (years)

2.16 (IQR 1.15–4.88, range 0.44–10.08)

Male

46 (88%)

Never-smoker

20 (38%)

Drinks alcohol

36 (69%)

Pure alcohol amount (mL/week)

175 (IQR 0–193, range 0–567)

Pituitary area at the baseline MRI (mm²)

37.9 ± 11.8 (range 14.6–67.5)

↓ **Table 2.** Baseline Characteristics by Sex
	Male	Female	P
IQR: interquartile range; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.
N of patients	46	6	-
N of MRI follow-up	126	25	-
N of MRI follow-up per patient	2 (IQR 2–3, range 2–10)	4 (IQR 2–6, range 2–7)	0.06
Age at the baseline MRI (years)	60 (IQR 48–65, range 34–79)	62 (IQR 60–68, range 55–71)	0.23
Interval between consecutive MRI (years)	1.05 (IQR 0.98–2.00, range 0.31–7.11)	1.02 (IQR 1.00–1.36, range 0.57–4.96)	0.70
Interval from first to last MRI (years)	2.05 (IQR 1.06–3.55, range 0.44–10.08)	4.92 (IQR 2.91–5.84, range 2.00–6.74)	0.08
Never-smoker	15 (33%)	5 (83%)	0.03
Drinks alcohol	33 (72%)	3 (50%)	0.36
Pure alcohol amount (mL/week)	193 (IQR 0–193, range 0–567)	7 (IQR 0–41, range 0–193)	0.08
Pituitary area at the baseline MRI (mm²)	36.6 ± 10.9	48.6 ± 14.6	0.10

↓ Table 2. Baseline Characteristics by Sex

Male

Female

IQR: interquartile range; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.

N of patients

N of MRI follow-up

126

N of MRI follow-up per patient

2 (IQR 2–3, range 2–10)

4 (IQR 2–6, range 2–7)

0.06

Age at the baseline MRI (years)

60 (IQR 48–65, range 34–79)

62 (IQR 60–68, range 55–71)

0.23

Interval between consecutive MRI (years)

1.05 (IQR 0.98–2.00, range 0.31–7.11)

1.02 (IQR 1.00–1.36, range 0.57–4.96)

0.70

Interval from first to last MRI (years)

2.05 (IQR 1.06–3.55, range 0.44–10.08)

4.92 (IQR 2.91–5.84, range 2.00–6.74)

0.08

Never-smoker

15 (33%)

5 (83%)

0.03

Drinks alcohol

33 (72%)

3 (50%)

0.36

Pure alcohol amount (mL/week)

193 (IQR 0–193, range 0–567)

7 (IQR 0–41, range 0–193)

0.08

Pituitary area at the baseline MRI (mm²)

36.6 ± 10.9

48.6 ± 14.6

0.10

↓ **Table 3.** Linear Mixed-Effects Models of Longitudinal Changes in Pituitary Area
	Univariate	Multivariable
β is unstandardized coefficient. *Statistically significant. CI: confidence interval; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.
Age (continuous)	−0.03 (−0.11to 0.06)	0.52	-	-
Male	3.15 (0.90–5.41)	< 0.01*	3.28 (1.21–5.35)	< 0.01*
Never-smoker	−1.08 (−2.74 to 0.59)	0.21	-	-
Drinks alcohol	−1.22 (−2.98 to 0.53)	0.17	−1.84 (−3.39 to −0.29)	0.02*
Interval from first to last MRI (years, continuous)	−0.44 (−0.71 to −0.17)	< 0.01*	−0.44 (−0.70 to −0.18)	< 0.01*

↓ Table 3. Linear Mixed-Effects Models of Longitudinal Changes in Pituitary Area

Univariate

Multivariable

β (95% CI)

β is unstandardized coefficient. *Statistically significant. CI: confidence interval; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.

Age (continuous)

−0.03 (−0.11to 0.06)

0.52

Male

3.15 (0.90–5.41)

< 0.01*

3.28 (1.21–5.35)

< 0.01*

Never-smoker

−1.08 (−2.74 to 0.59)

0.21

Drinks alcohol

−1.22 (−2.98 to 0.53)

0.17

−1.84 (−3.39 to −0.29)

0.02*

Interval from first to last MRI (years, continuous)

−0.44 (−0.71 to −0.17)

< 0.01*

−0.44 (−0.70 to −0.18)

< 0.01*