title: Subcortical gray matter N-acetylaspartate reduction in two cases of vascular dementia.
abstract: Many of the previous studies of vascular dementia using proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy had been carried out on white matter. However, no proton spectroscopic data of the subcortical gray matter are available in such disease. We report two cases suffering from vascular dementia, with an unilateral N-acetylaspartate (NAA) decrease on subcortical gray matter. This significant reduction in NAA ratios was associated with an increase of choline on the ipsilateral centrum semiovale. We discuss the pathophysiology of these cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroradiology, Dijon University Hospital, Dijon, France. douraied@lycos.fr
authors.forename: Douraied
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ben Salem
authors.forename: Paul Michael
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Guy-Victor
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Osseby
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krausé
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giroud
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brunotte
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate