NMR-SPECTROSCOPY OF HUMAN POSTMORTEM CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID - DISTINCTION OF ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE FROM CONTROL USING PATTERN-RECOGNITION AND STATISTICS

H-1 NMR spectra have been measured at 500 and 600 MHz on 23 human cere brospinal fluid samples obtained at autopsy from Alzheimer's disease p atients and controls. The spectra at 500 MHz were quantified using 42 descriptors based on NMR peak heights and it was shown that difference s between the two classes were apparent in the delta2.4-2.9 region. Re measured at 600 MHz a detailed examination of this chemical shift rang e identified citrate, aspartate, N-acetyl aspartate, methionine and gl utamate in this region of the spectra. Principal components analysis s howed that a separation of the two classes was possible and detailed s tatistics indicated that citrate level was the principal marker. Patie nt age and the interval between death and autopsy (parameters not clos ely matched between the two groups) were examined statistically to est ablish whether these might account for the citrate differences. Althou gh they could possibly account for them to some extent, the relationsh ip between citrate levels and disease state remained significant at p< 0.05. The data invite a test of the importance of citrate levels in Al zheimer's disease using samples taken ex vivo.