Abstract #0248

Kantarci K, Weigand S, Petersen R, Boeve B, Knopman D, Gunter J, Reyes D, Shiung M, O'Brien P, Smith G, Ivnik R, Tangalos E

We measured the longitudinal 1H MRS metabolite changes in normal elderly, patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), many of whom have prodromal AD, and compared 1H MRS metabolite ratios and ventricular MRI volumes in tracking clinical disease progression in AD. The neuronal integrity marker NAA/Cr declines steadily starting from the prodromal stages of AD. The change in 1H MRS metabolite ratios correlate with clinical progression as strongly as the rate of ventricular expansion, suggesting that both 1H MRS and MR volumetric markers may be equally useful in monitoring drug effects in patients with AD.