Decrease of N-acetylaspartate in the MTL correlates with cognitive decline of AD patients

Abstract

In this (1)H-MRS follow-up study of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) in patients with AD, the authors report a correlation of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) with cognitive decline. Severely progressed patients showed a reduction, whereas stable or mildly progressed subjects showed a slight increase of NAA/Cr. The reduction of NAA/Cr in the MTL represents a correlate of cognitive deterioration in AD, whereas it is of limited use to detect subtle changes over time in clinically stable patients.