High-field proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals metabolic effects of normal brain aging

Abstract Altered brain metabolism is likely to be an important contributor to normal cognitive decline and brain pathology in elderly individuals. To characterize the metabolic changes associated with normal brain aging, we used high-field proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo to quantify 2...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurobiology of aging 2014-07, Vol.35 (7), p.1686-1694
Main Authors: Harris, Janna L, Yeh, Hung-Wen, Swerdlow, Russell H, Choi, In-Young, Lee, Phil, Brooks, William M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging
Animals
Aspartic Acid - metabolism
Brain - metabolism
Brain - pathology
Choline - metabolism
Functional Neuroimaging - methods
Glucose - metabolism
Glutamic Acid - metabolism
Internal Medicine
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods
Male
Neurochemistry - methods
Neurology
Protons
Rats
Rats, Inbred F344
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Summary:Abstract Altered brain metabolism is likely to be an important contributor to normal cognitive decline and brain pathology in elderly individuals. To characterize the metabolic changes associated with normal brain aging, we used high-field proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in vivo to quantify 20 neurochemicals in the hippocampus and sensorimotor cortex of young adult and aged rats. We found significant differences in the neurochemical profile of the aged brain when compared with younger adults, including lower aspartate, ascorbate, glutamate, and macromolecules, and higher glucose, myo-inositol, N-acetylaspartylglutamate, total choline, and glutamine. These neurochemical biomarkers point to specific cellular mechanisms that are altered in brain aging, such as bioenergetics, oxidative stress, inflammation, cell membrane turnover, and endogenous neuroprotection. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy may be a valuable translational approach for studying mechanisms of brain aging and pathology, and for investigating treatments to preserve or enhance cognitive function in aging.
ISSN:0197-4580
1558-1497
DOI:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.01.018