title: Post-surgical changes in brain metabolism detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in normal pressure hydrocephalus: results of a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adult normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is one of the few potentially treatable causes of dementia. Some morphological and functional abnormalities attributed to hydrocephalus improve following treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We focused on analysis of changes in cerebral metabolites using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) after NPH treatment, and its clinical and cognitive correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  1H-MRS, neuropsychological and clinical status examinations were performed before and 6 months after shunting in 12 adults with idiopathic NPH. We obtained N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myoinositol (MI) and creatine (Cr) values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After surgery, NAA/Cr was significantly increased. Moreover, NAA/Cr values were related to cognitive deterioration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRS could be a marker of neuronal dysfunction in NPH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: del Mar Matarín
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pueyo
authors.forename: María Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Poca
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falcón
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mataró
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bargalló
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sahuquillo
authors.forename: Carme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Junqué
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006850:Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011522:Protons