Measurement Of Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy In Hippocampus Of Normal Adults Of Different Age Groups

Objective To measure relative content of hippocampal metabolites in normal adults of different age groups by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS).Methods 1H-MRS was carried out in the hippocampus of 120 healthy subjects, who were divided into young group, middle-aged group and elderly group. We measured the area within the spectra of N-acetylaspartate(NAA), choline(Cho), creatine(Cr), and calculated the ratios of NAA/Cho,NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,Cho/NAA and NAA/(Cho+Cr). Ratios of metabolites was compared among the three groups and age-related analysis was carried out.Results The ratios of metabolites in normal human hippocampus showed no gender-related differences , and no significant difference was found in left-right hippocampus(P > 0.05). mean values of NAA/Cho,NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,Cho/NAA and NAA/(Cho+Cr)in young group are (1.30±0.17),(1.37±0.32),(1.11±0.28),(0.78±0.10)and(0.66±0.09);mean values of NAA/Cho,NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,Cho/NAA and NAA(/Cho+Cr)in middle-aged group are (1.04±0.13),(1.16±0.23),(1.12±0.21),(0.98±0.13)and(0.54±0.08);mean values of NAA/Cho,NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr,Cho/NAA and NAA/(Cho+Cr)in elderly group are(0.77±0.13),(0.92±0.25),(1.20±0.32),(1.32±0.24)and(0.41±0.70). The ratios of NAA/Cho,NAA/Cr and NAA/(Cho + Cr)are higher in young group than middle-aged group and elderly group(P<0.05), The ratios are higher in middle-aged group than elderly group. The ratio of Cho/NAA is higher in elderly group than young group and middle-aged group(P<0.05), The ratios is higher in middle-aged group than young group(P<0.05). The ratio of Cho/Cr is higher in elderly group than young group and middle-aged group(P<0.05),there is no statistical difference between young group and middle-aged group.Conclusion 1H-MRS could reflect varieties of hippocampal metabolites in normal adults noninvasively and provide objective basis for early diagnosis of some hippocampus lesions.