Neuropsychological correlates of basal ganglia and medial temporal lobe NAA/Cho reductions in traumatic brain injury.
BACKGROUND
Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy can assess neurochemical sequelae in traumatic brain injury. Metabolic abnormalities are present in the acute or subacute period in patients with traumatic brain injury and correlate with outcome on clinical scales.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the use of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in detecting possible gray subcortical neurochemical impairments and their relationship with neuropsychological performance.


METHODS
Group comparisons and correlations of brain metabolites with clinical and neuropsychological variables.


METHODS
Metabolite concentrations were acquired from voxels localized to the basal ganglia and medial temporal region in 20 patients with long-term moderate and severe traumatic brain injury and 20 matched control subjects. Both groups underwent neuropsychological assessment.


RESULTS
N-acetylaspartate-choline-containing compounds ratios were decreased in patients in the basal ganglia (t = -3.28, P =.002) and medial temporal region (t = -3.52, P =.001). The basal ganglia ratio correlated to measures of speed, motor scanning, and attention.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with long-term TBI present a regional correlation pattern that may help identify the neurological basis of cognitive sequelae in traumatic brain injury.
Ariza
Mar
M
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Junqué
Carme
C
Mataró
Maria
M
Poca
Maria A
MA
Bargalló
Núria
N
Olondo
Miren
M
Sahuquillo
Joan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001479:Basal Ganglia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D002794:Choline