Changes in brain membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate metabolism precede dementia.
A 52-year-old Caucasian male was followed with Mattis and 31P MRS examinations every 6 months for 33 months. At entry into the study, the subject had a normal clinical examination and normal Mattis scores but had alterations in MRS measures of membrane phospholipid and high-energy phosphate metabolism indistinguishable from those previously reported in mildly demented AD patients. After 33 months of follow-up, the subject had clinical and Mattis findings suggestive of possible incipient dementia and after 46 months of follow-up there was sufficient cognitive decline to make the diagnosis of dementia with a frontal lobe preponderance. The findings in this subject support the contention that alterations in brain membrane phospholipid and high-energy metabolism can be noninvasively detected by 31P MRS years before any clinical manifestations of the disease.
Pettegrew
J W
JW
Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA.
Klunk
W E
WE
Kanal
E
E
Panchalingam
K
K
McClure
R J
RJ
D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003704:Dementia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008566:Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*
D010710:Phosphates; D010743:Phospholipids