In Vivo Brain Concentrations of N-Acetyl Compounds, Creatine, and Choline in Alzheimer Disease

Adolf Pfefferbaum, Elfar Adalsteinsson, Daniel Spielman, Edith V. Sullivan, Kelvin O. Lim
1999 Archives of General Psychiatry  
Alzheimer disease (AD) and normal aging result in cortical gray matter volume deficits. The extent to which the remaining cortex is functionally compromised can be estimated in vivo with magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. Objective: To assess the effects of age and dementia on gray matter and white matter concentrations of 3 metabolites visible in the proton spectrum: N-acetyl compounds, present only in living neurons; creatine plus phosphocreatine, reflecting high-energy phosphate
more » ... lism; and choline, increasing with membrane synthesis and degradation. Method: Fifteen healthy young individuals, 19 healthy elderly individuals, and 16 patients with AD underwent 3-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging and memory and language testing.
doi:10.1001/archpsyc.56.2.185 pmid:10025444 fatcat:rasvp2aruvhzlevgcfq6qfa3fy