Sung Tae Kim MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

In Ho Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jung Hee Lee PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Eun Ju Kim BA, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sangwon Seo MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

DuckLyul Na MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yoo Jeong Yim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Keon Ha Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Pyoung Jeon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hyung-Jin Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hong Sik Byun MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) can measure alterations in brain neurochemistry. To find the location of the earliest involvement of the neurochemical abnormalities in Alzheimer’s Disease, 1H-MRS was performed at various locations in the brains of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Singl voxel 1H-MRS was performed in 13 MCI patients and 11 age matched controls on a 3T MRI scanner with the following acquisition parameters: TR/TE = 2000/40 ms in point-resolved spectroscopy sequence (PRESS) with 256 averages. Localizing voxels (1x1x1.5 cm3) were placed within the entorhinal cortex (ETC), hippocampus (HIP), posterior cigulate gyrus (PCG) and occipital white matter (OWM) in dominant hemisphere. All the raw data were post-processed using JMRUI, and the ratios of NAA/Cr and Cho/ were calculated, which were then compared between MCI patients and controls.

For MCI patients, the mean values of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr were 1.14±0.46 and 0.82±0.36, respectively, at ETC, 1.89±1.05 and 0.81±0.67 at HIP, 2.31±0.69 and 0.63±0.34 at PCG, 1.68±0.43 and 0.53±0.34 at OWM. For normal controls, the mean values of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr were 1.97±0.38 and 0.92±0.32, respectively, at ETC, 2.15±1.67 and 0.77±0.58 at HIP, 2.34±1.03 and 0.68±0.36 at PCG, 1.74±0.51 and 0.43±0.24 at OWM. The NAA/Cr was significantly lower at ETC for MCI patients than normal controls (p < 0.005).

The entorhinal cortex seems to be the earliest site that is subjected to neurochemical alteration in MCI patients.

In MCI patients, the entorhinal cortex should be primary target to evaluate with proton MRS. A long term followup of 1H-MRS for MCI can be used to monitor actual onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Kim, S, Lee, I, Lee, J, Kim, E, Seo, S, Na, D, Yim, Y, Kim, K, Jeon, P, Kim, H, Byun, H, et al, , et al, , Early Neurochemical Alterations in Entorhinal Cortex for Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).  Radiological Society of North America 2007 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2007 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2007/5015735.html