Pharmacopsychiatry 2003; 36 - 1
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-825252

Evaluation of 1H-MRS as diagnostic marker for mild cognitive impairment and dementia

N Ackl 1, YA Schreiber 1, M Ising 1, A Sonntag 1, DP Auer 1
  • 1Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany

Objective: Aim of this study was to compare 1H-MRS of MCI patients with that of patients with dementia, major depression and healthy controls.

Method: 1H-MRS was performed in 37 patients with MCI, 8 with vascular-MCI, 37 with AD, 11 with vascular dementia (VD), 18 with mixed dementia (MIX), 36 with major depression (MDE) and 26 healthy controls (CON) within the mesial parietal gray (PGM) and white (PWM) matter and the hippocampus (HIP). All subjects underwent the CERAD battery.

Results: In PWM N-acetyl-aspartate to myo-inositol ratio (NAA/mI) was significant decreased in VD vs. MCI, MDE, MIX and CON. The mI to choline (mI/Cho) ratio differentiated significantly MCI from MDE. In PGM NAA/mI differentiated significantly MCI from AD, VD, Mix and MDE. Concerning the hippocampal spectroscopy NAA/Cho was significant decreased in MIX vs. MCI, MDE, AD, VD and CON.

Discussion and conclusion: This study provides additional evidence that MCI represents a biologically and functionally intermediate pattern between successful aging and dementia. By means of 1H-MRS it was possible to differentiate between the various types of dementia.