Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of vascular- and Alzheimer-type dementia.
OBJECTIVE
To identify biochemical differences in brain tissue between patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and vascular dementia.


METHODS
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to compare 10 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type and 8 age-matched patients with vascular dementia.


RESULTS
The ratios of N-acetyl groups to creatine and N-acetyl groups to choline were lower in regions of subcortical white matter in patients with vascular dementia than in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (P < .02).


CONCLUSIONS
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be useful in distinguishing between dementia of the Alzheimer type and vascular dementia.
Kattapong
V J
VJ
Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, USA.
Brooks
W M
WM
Wesley
M H
MH
Kodituwakku
P W
PW
Rosenberg
G A
GA
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011522:Protons
D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline