Projects per year
Abstract / Description of output
Object
We sought to measure brain metabolite levels in healthy older people.
Materials and methods
Spectroscopic imaging at the level of the basal ganglia was applied in 40 participants aged 73–74 years. Levels of the metabolites N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline, and creatine were determined in "institutional units" (IU) corrected for T1 and T2 relaxation effects. Structural imaging enabled determination of grey matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid content. ANOVA analysis was carried out for voxels satisfying quality criteria.
Results
Creatine levels were greater in GM than WM (57 vs. 44 IU, p < 0.001), whereas choline and NAA levels were greater in WM than GM [13 vs. 10 IU (p < 0.001) and 76 versus 70 IU (p = 0.03), respectively]. The ratio of NAA/cre was greater in WM than GM (2.1 vs. 1.4, p = 0.001) as was that of cho/cre (0.32 vs. 0.16, p < 0.001). A low voxel yield was due to brain atrophy and the difficulties of shimming over an extended region of brain.
Conclusion
This study addresses the current lack of information on brain metabolite levels in older adults. The normal features of ageing result in a substantial loss of reliable voxels and should be taken into account when planning studies. Improvements in shimming are also required before the methods can be applied more widely
We sought to measure brain metabolite levels in healthy older people.
Materials and methods
Spectroscopic imaging at the level of the basal ganglia was applied in 40 participants aged 73–74 years. Levels of the metabolites N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline, and creatine were determined in "institutional units" (IU) corrected for T1 and T2 relaxation effects. Structural imaging enabled determination of grey matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid content. ANOVA analysis was carried out for voxels satisfying quality criteria.
Results
Creatine levels were greater in GM than WM (57 vs. 44 IU, p < 0.001), whereas choline and NAA levels were greater in WM than GM [13 vs. 10 IU (p < 0.001) and 76 versus 70 IU (p = 0.03), respectively]. The ratio of NAA/cre was greater in WM than GM (2.1 vs. 1.4, p = 0.001) as was that of cho/cre (0.32 vs. 0.16, p < 0.001). A low voxel yield was due to brain atrophy and the difficulties of shimming over an extended region of brain.
Conclusion
This study addresses the current lack of information on brain metabolite levels in older adults. The normal features of ageing result in a substantial loss of reliable voxels and should be taken into account when planning studies. Improvements in shimming are also required before the methods can be applied more widely
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 251-257 |
| Journal | Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 14 Oct 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2015 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Proton spectroscopic imaging of brain metabolites in basal ganglia of healthy older adults'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 10 Finished
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RA2661 Centre for Cognitive Ageing and Cognitive Epidemiology Phase 2. Main Budget.
Deary, I., Gale, C., Holmes, M., Logie, P., Maclullich, A., Porteous, D., Seckl, J., Starr, J., Wardlaw, J. & Okely, J.
1/09/13 → 31/08/19
Project: Research
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Brain White mater imaging and cognitive ageing in the Lothian Birth Cohort of 1936:II
Deary, I., Bastin, M., Penke, L., Starr, J. & Wardlaw, J.
8/06/11 → 7/03/15
Project: Research
Profiles
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Ian Marshall
- Deanery of Clinical Sciences - UoE Retired Staff
Person: Affiliated Independent Researcher