In vivo neurobiochemical changes of the posterior cingulate gyrus in patients with Alzheimer’s disease detected by multivoxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Aim of the workTo study the neurobiochemical changes in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by multivoxel 1H-MRS.Materials and methodsTwenty-five patients with probable AD and 12 age- and sex-matched normal controls were subjected to assessment of cognitive functions by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and imaging with multivoxel 1H-MRS for measuring the NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, MI/NAA and MI/Cr ratios in the posterior cingulate gyrus (PCG) bilaterally.ResultsPatients with AD showed significant decrease in NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr, significant increase in MI/NAA and MI/Cr and non-significant increase in Cho/Cr ratios compared to control. Also, the severity of cognitive impairment was significantly associated with these changes. The NAA/Cho ratio at a cut-off value ⩽1.14 showed accuracy (94%), the NAA/Cr ratio at a cut-off value ⩽1.40 showed accuracy (97%), the Cho/Cr ratio at a cut-off value >1.29 showed accuracy (85%), the MI/NAA ratio at a cut-off value >0.60 showed accuracy (98%), and the MI/Cr ratio at a cut-off value >0.83 showed accuracy (97%).ConclusionThe multi-voxels 1H-MRS of the PCG is sensitive to biochemical changes in AD. The 1H-MRS peak metabolite concentration ratios may be useful as markers for the progression of AD.