Detection and application of neurochemical profile by multiple regional 1 H‐MRS in Parkinson's disease

The accurate diagnosis and monitoring of idiopathic Parkinson disease ( PD ), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, has not been fully developed. This study sought to identify a neurochemical profile in multiple regions of the PD brain and healthy controls by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H‐ MRS ). We aimed to track changes of the brain neurochemical, quantify neuronal loss, and further determine the diagnostic value of 1 H‐ MRS . Methods PD patients and healthy controls recruited from Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, southern China, underwent 1 H‐ MRS . Chemical information was obtained for ratios of N‐acetylaspartate to creatine ( NAA /Cr), NAA to choline ( NAA /Cho), and Cho to Cr for substantia nigra, globus pallidus, prefrontal lobe, hippocampus, cuneus gyrus, and dorsal thalamus regions. Results Compared to the 20 healthy controls (12 male, age 58.75 ± 5.03 years), the 42 patients (21 male, age 61.60 ± 6.40 years) showed lower NAA /Cr and NAA /Cho ratios in substantia nigra, globus pallidus, prefrontal lobe, hippocampus, cuneus gyrus and dorsal thalamus regions ( p  <   .01); NAA /Cr and NAA /Cho ratios were reduced for both patients with unilateral and mild/no cognitive impairment ( p  <   .01); Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale score was inversely correlated with NAA /Cr ratios in the substantia nigra ( r  = −.32; p  =   .042). Conclusion NAA /Cr and NAA /Cho ratios may be useful metabolic biomarkers for early diagnosis of PD . Multi‐voxel 1 H‐ MRS can provide information on brain neurochemistry and may be a promising technique for diagnosis of and monitoring neuronal loss in PD .