Neurometabolic topography and associations with cognition in Alzheimer's disease: A whole‐brain high‐resolution 3D MRSI study
Jialin Hu, Miao Zhang, Yaoyu Zhang, Huixiang Zhuang, Yibo Zhao, Yudu Li, Yudu Li, Wen Jin, Xiaohang Qian, Lijun Wang, Guanyu Ye, Huidong Tang, Jun Liu, Biao Li, Parashkev Nachev, Zhi‐Pei Liang, Yao Li, Yao Li
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: H-MRSI), is spatially heterogeneous and underpins cognitive impairments in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the spatial relationships between neurometabolic topography and cognitive impairment in AD remain unexplored due to technical limitations. METHODS: F-florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, to investigate the relationship between neurometabolic topography and cognitive functions in 117 participants, including 22 prodromal AD, 51 AD dementia, and 44 controls. RESULTS: Prodromal AD and AD dementia patients exhibited spatially distinct reductions in N-acetylaspartate, and increases in myo-inositol. Reduced N-acetylaspartate and increased myo-inositol were associated with worse global cognitive performance, and N-acetylaspartate correlated with five specific cognitive scores. Neurometabolic topography provides biological insights into diverse cognitive dysfunctions. DISCUSSION: H-MRSI revealed spatially distinct neurometabolic topographies associated with cognitive decline in AD, suggesting potential for noninvasive brain metabolic imaging to track AD progression. HIGHLIGHTS: H-MRSI unveils neurometabolic topography in AD. Spatially distinct reductions in NAA, and increases in mI, are demonstrated. NAA and mI topography correlates with global cognitive performance. NAA topography correlates with specific cognitive performance.