Abstract #0903

Iltis I, Hutter D, Gomez C, Oz G

Neurochemical profiles of the vermis, cerebellar white matter and pons of healthy volunteers (N=10) and patients with spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA2 and SCA6, N=4 in each group) were obtained by ultrashort-echo STEAM spectroscopy and LCModel. Concentrations of 9-12 metabolites were measured reliably and corrected for atrophy. Major alterations in the profile indicating processes such as neuron loss, gliosis and reduced glucose utilization were observed in all three volumes-of-interest. The pattern of involvement of the three regions agreed well with the known pathology of these two ataxia types.