[Diagnostic potential of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in cognitive impairment in the elderly]. / Potentsial MR-spektroskopii v diagnostike kognitivnogo snizheniya u pozhilykh.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the diagnosis of pre-dementia cognitive disorders in elderly people. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 65 elderly individuals (37 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) according to NIA-AA criteria, mean age 67.2 years; 28 controls, mean age 65.2 years) underwent MRS (3.0 T) with posterior cingulate cortex as the region of interest. Absolute concentrations of metabolites (tCr, NAA, Glx, mI, Cho, NAA) were calculated based on their signal intensities. Statistical analysis was performed to assess intergroup differences and correlations. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed between the clinical and control groups in the absolute concentrations of metabolites: mI (MCI 4.97±0.13; controls 4.76±0.15; p=0.04) and NAA/mI (MCI 1.61±0.04; controls 1.73±0.04; p=0.04), as well as in the intensities of the choline-containing compounds signal (MCI 0.215±0.015; controls 0.205±0.005; p=0.04) in the posterior cingulate cortex region. No significant correlations between these changes and age were observed, suggesting the predominant role of neurodegeneration in the pathological process under investigation. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the promising nature of MRS as a tool to find the neurodegeneration biomarker.

The diffusion-tensor imaging reveals alterations in water diffusion parameters in acute pediatric concussion.

Wide-spread visualization methods which are computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not sensitive to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, mTBI may cause changes of cerebral microstructure that could be found using diffusion-tensor imaging. The aim of this study is to reveal the impact of acute mTBI (no more than 3 days after trauma) on diffusion parameters in corpus callosum, corticospinal tract, and thalamus in children (aged 14-18). Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were analyzed. Significant increase in FA and decrease in ADC were observed in thalamus. The trend to an increase in FA is observed in corpus callosum.

Dynamics of in Vivo Metabolites Concentrations in Posttraumatic Period of Human Brain. 1H MRS Study.

For the first time the intracellular concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), aspartate (Asp), and glutamate (Glu) were measured in human brain in vivo, and the effect of severe traumatic brain injury on NAA synthesis in acute and remote posttraumatic phases was revealed. In non-damaged (MRI-negative) lobes the next day after injury, Asp and Glu decreased by 45% and 35%, respectively, while NAA decreased only by 16%. A negative correlation between NAA and Asp/Glu ratio was found. The Glu level returned to the norm long after injury, Asp remained below the norm by 60%, NAA decreased by 65% relative to the norm, and Asp/Glu decreased significantly. The results obtained educe the leading role of neuronal aspartate-malate shuttle in NAA synthesis alterations.