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Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify mild cognitive impairment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2011

Tao Wang ,
Shifu Xiao ,
Xia Li ,
Bei Ding ,
Huawei Ling ,
Kemin Chen  and
Yiru Fang
Tao Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
Shifu Xiao*
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
Xia Li
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
Bei Ding
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Huawei Ling
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Kemin Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
Yiru Fang*
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Shifu Xiao, Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University. 600 South Wan Ping Road, Shanghai 200030, China. Phone: +86 21 34289888; Fax: +86 21 64387986. Email: xiaosfc@yahoo.com.cn.
Co-correspondent: Yiru Fang, 600 South Wan Ping Road, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China. Email: yirufang@yahoo.com.cn.
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Abstract

Background: Single-volume proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) has considerable diagnostic potential for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study investigated 1H MRS in specific regions of the brain, the posterior cingulate gyri (PCG) and the hippocampus, in patients with AD, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and in normal control subjects.

Methods:1H MRS analysis was carried out on 47 patients with AD, 32 patients with aMCI and 56 normal control subjects (NC group). Volumes of the PCG and hippocampus were assessed, and the metabolic signals of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline compounds (Cho), myo-inositol (mI), and creatine (Cr) were quantified.

Results: In the PCG, differences between the test groups were found in NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, mI/Cr and NAA/mI ratios. Group differences were also found in mI/Cr and NAA/mI ratios in the left hippocampus, and in mI/Cr and NAA/mI ratios in the right hippocampus. NAA/Cr ratios increased in the PCG between AD and aMCI patients, and between aMCI and NC patients. Conversely, mI/Cr ratios in the PCG and left hippocampus decreased across AD, aMCI, and NC subjects. In discriminate and ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) analyses, a NAA/Cr ratio of ≤ 1.50 in the PCG indicated optimal potential for discriminating between aMCI patients and normal control subjects. Discriminating potential was also found to be high for a NAA/mI ratio in the PCG of ≤ 2.72. Despite significant differences between NC and aMCI patients in the mI/Cr ratio in the PCG and in the NAA/mI ratio in the left hippocampus, their sensitivity and specificity were all lower than 75%.

Conclusion: Proton MRS of the PCG using the NAA/Cr ratio as a metabolic marker indicates considerable potential for distinguishing between aMCI and NC subjects.

Keywords

Alzheimer's diseaseNAA/Crposterior cingulate gyrihippocampus
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 19 - 27
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2011

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