Hydrogen Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Multidomain Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Vascular Cognitive Impairment Without Dementia

Abstract

To investigate the value of hydrogen proton magnet resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the differential diagnosis of multiple-domain amnestic mild cognitive impairment (M-aMCI) and vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND); 1H-MRS was performed in patients with M-aMCI and VCIND. The level was determined for N-acetylaspartate (NAA), glutamate (Glu), inositol (mI), choline (Cho), and creatine (Cr). Compared with the normal control group, the NAA–Cr ratio in all regions studied was significantly lower in the M-aMCI and VCIND groups. The Glu–Cr ratio in the posterior cingulate gyrus of the M-aMCI group was significantly lower than in the VCIND. The mI–Cr ratio in the frontal white matter of the VCIND was significantly higher than in the M-aMCI group. In the white matter adjacent to the lateral ventricles, the Cho–Cr ratio was significantly higher in the VCIND than the M-aMCI. Our results suggested 1H-MRS is an effective method in the differential diagnosis of M-aMCI and VCIND.