HOW MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTEROSCOPY CHANGES CAN DETECT EARLY ALZHEIMER'S?

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background and purpose: Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common causes of dementia in
elderly. Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia together accounts for more than 50% of dementia
in elderly. The early stage of Alzheimer’s disease is known as the mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
which is as the gradual impairment in cognitive functions with relatively intact daily life activities.
Purpose: To detect the role of MRS in the prediction of MCI (early Alzheimer’s disease) to allow
early prevention of the disease before conversion of MCI to AD.
Patients and Methods: This study included 40 patients (27 males and 13 females) with age ranged
from 50 to 69 years (mean age = 59.8 years). They were divided into two main groups, the first group
pre-Alzheimer's (MCI) included 20 patients, and the second group (control group) included 20 patients.
All patients underwent MRI and MRS using 1.5 T system.
Results: In our study, males were relatively more affected by than females. The mean age of MCI was
56.3 years. The most common symptom was memory dysfunction followed by psychological changes.
The NAA/Cr ratio was significantly lower in MCI than control group in the hippocampal, temporal
regions. Regarding mI/Cr ratio, it was significantly higher in MCI than control group. Finally the
Cho/Cr ratio also was significantly higher in MCI than control group in the same areas respectively.
Conclusions: Mild cognitive impairment is the early stage of Alzheimer's disease. MRI and MRS are
promising tools for the detection of early structural and functional changes occurring in MCI patients
before the appearance of dementia manifestations.