DEVELOPMENTAL BRAIN CHANGES INVESTIGATED WITH PROTON MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY

Volume-selective proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of th e brain was performed with a 1.5 Tesla magnet in 47 healthy children a nd in six healthy adults. Peaks of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (C ho) and creatine (Cr) were observed in all cases, but a lactate peak w as not observed. In the right parietal region, 1H-MRS revealed increas es in the rations of NAAJCho and NAA/Cr and a decrease in Cho/Cr with advancing age. The most rapid changes were noted between one and three years of age. 1H-MRS of the right frontal region also was performed i n 21 cases (20 children and one adult). In the right frontal region, t here was an increase in the ratio of NAA/Cho and a decrease in Cho/Cr with advancing age, while a developmental change was not observed in t he ratio of NAA/Cr. The ratios of both NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr were lower i n the right frontal region than in the right parietal region. These re sults show that developmental changes and regional variation of metabo lites are observed in 1H-MRS of the brain, and need to be considered i n its application.