Longitudinal changes during aging using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to examine the longitudinal change in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) visible metabolites (N-acetyl aspartate [NAA], creatine [Cr], choline [Cho], and myo-Inositol [mI]) in brains of elderly individuals over 3 years and relate them to cognitive function.


METHODS
Neurologically and psychiatrically normal volunteers (n = 40) were examined at baseline and 3 years later with (1)H-MRS in two voxels (frontal white matter n = 29, and occipitoparietal gray matter n = 36) and with detailed neuropsychological assessments. Longitudinal analyses were performed with age, educational level, sex, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in voxels as covariates.


RESULTS
Frontal mI was significantly increased over time in male participants, but all other metabolites were stable over time. Neuropsychological performance was not significantly changed over 3 years, and there was no relationship between change in metabolite levels and change in neuropsychological function.


CONCLUSIONS
MRS-visible metabolites are stable in elderly persons over 3 years, with the exception of mI which shows an increase. Increasing mI may be a marker of aging or a preclinical neurodegenerative process. MRS changes do not correlate with change in neurocognitive function during aging.
Ross
Amy J
AJ
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Sachdev
Perminder S
PS
Wen
Wei
W
Brodaty
Henry
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003401:Creatine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011522:Protons; D013997:Time Factors
D011522:Protons; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D007294:Inositol; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D003401:Creatine; D002794:Choline