Demographic reporting across a decade of neuroimaging: a systematic review

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Elijah Sterling, Emory University; Hannah Pearl, Tufts University; Zexuan Liu, Georgia Institute of Technology; Jason Allen, Emory University; Candace Fleischer, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-09-17
• Publisher: SPRINGER
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2022
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11682-022-00724-8
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 2785
• End Page: 2796
• Keywords: AFRICAN-AMERICANS; NEUROSCIENCE; CLINICAL-TRIALS; Neurosciences & Neurology; Neuroimaging; NIH Revitalization Act of 1993; RECRUITMENT; MRI; MR SPECTROSCOPY; SEX; Demographic reporting; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; NIH; DISORDER; FACILITATORS; ENHANCING MINORITY PARTICIPATION; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Radiology

Abstract

Diversity of participants in biomedical research with respect to race, ethnicity, and biological sex is crucial, particularly given differences in disease prevalence, recovery, and survival rates between demographic groups. The objective of this systematic review was to report on the demographics of neuroimaging studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Web of Science database was used and data collection was performed between June 2021 to November 2021; all articles were reviewed independently by at least two researchers. Articles utilizing MR data acquired in the United States, with n ≥ 10 human subjects, and published between 2010–2020 were included. Non-primary research articles and those published in journals that did not meet a quality control check were excluded. Of the 408 studies meeting inclusion criteria, approximately 77% report sex, 10% report race, and 4% report ethnicity. Demographic reporting also varied as function of disease studied, participant age range, funding, and publisher. We anticipate quantitative data on the extent, or lack, of reporting will be necessary to ensure inclusion of diverse populations in biomedical research.