PROTON MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY OF THE ANTERIOR CINGULATE REGION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

The authors measured N-acetylaspartate (NAA, a putative neuronal marke r), choline and creatine in the anterior cingulate region of 26 schizo phrenic patients and 16 control subjects using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (H-1 MRSI). Relative to the control g roup, the patients with schizophrenia demonstrated significantly lower NAA in both the right and left anterior cingulate regions. There was no association between NAA and duration of illness or medication dosag e. No group differences or lateralized asymmetries in choline or creat ine were noted. The NAA findings provide support for either neuronal d ysfunction or neuronal loss in the anterior cingulate region in schizo phrenia. The absence of choline signal elevation does not support acce lerated turnover of membrane phospholipids which might be expected if there were ongoing neuronal atrophy or neuronal necrosis. (C) 1997 Els evier Science B.V.