title: Noninvasive quantification of ascorbate and glutathione concentration in the elderly human brain.
abstract: In this study, ascorbate (Asc) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations were quantified noninvasively using double-edited (1)H MRS at 4 T in the occipital cortex of healthy young [age (mean ± standard deviation) = 20.4 ± 1.4 years] and elderly (age = 76.6 ± 6.1 years) human subjects. Elderly subjects had a lower GSH concentration than younger subjects (p < 0.05). The Asc concentration was not significantly associated with age. Furthermore, the lactate (Lac) concentration was higher in elderly than young subjects. Lower GSH and higher Lac concentrations are indications of defective protection against oxidative damage and impaired mitochondrial respiration. The extent to which the observed concentration differences could be associated with physiological differences and methodological artifacts is discussed. In conclusion, GSH and Asc concentrations were compared noninvasively for the first time in young vs elderly subjects.
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. uzay@cmrr.umn.edu
authors.forename: Uzay E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Emir
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raatz
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McPherson
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hodges
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torkelson
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.forename: Tonya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terpstra
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid