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31 P‐MRS study of acetyl‐ L ‐carnitine treatment in geriatric depression: preliminary results
Author(s) -
Pettegrew Jay W,
Levine Joseph,
Gershon Samuel,
Stanley Jeffrey A,
ServanSchreiber David,
Panchalingam Kanagasabai,
McClure Richard J
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
bipolar disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.285
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1399-5618
pISSN - 1398-5647
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-5618.2002.01180.x
Subject(s) - phosphocreatine , depression (economics) , medicine , phospholipid , endocrinology , carnitine , rating scale , chemistry , psychology , energy metabolism , biochemistry , membrane , developmental psychology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective: This 12‐week study of two elderly, depressed subjects investigated the effect of acetyl‐ L ‐carnitine (ALCAR) treatment on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and on measures of high‐energy phosphate and membrane phospholipid metabolism.Methods: Two mildly depressed (HDRS 15–20), non‐demented male subjects 70 and 80 years old were compared with six non‐demented controls (all males, mean age of 73.6 ± 3.6 years). High‐energy and membrane phospholipid metabolites were measured by phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ( 31 P MRSI) analysis. HDRS and 31 P MRSI measurements were taken at entry, 6 and 12 weeks for the depressed subjects.Results: 31 P MRSI analysis revealed elevated levels of phosphomonesters [PME( s – τ c )] in the prefrontal region of these mildly depressed subjects, which decreased with ALCAR treatment and showed a trend for correlation of the PME( s – τ c ) levels with HDRS. ALCAR treatment also resulted in increasing levels of the prefrontal phosphocreatine (PCr), which correlated with HDRS.Conclusions: In the prefrontal region, the mildly depressed subjects compared with controls had elevated PME( s – τ c ) levels which normalized after 12 weeks of ALCAR and increased PCr levels after ALCAR treatment. These preliminary findings suggest further studies are warranted.