Decreased GABA levels of the anterior and posterior cingulate cortex are associated with executive dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment

Background and purpose Executive function impairment, a slight but noticeable cognitive deficit in mild impairment (MCI) patients, is influenced by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. Reduced accompanied thinning of the cerebral cortex, which has higher GABA levels than white matter. However, relationships among levels, cortical thickness, executive MCI patients have not yet been elucidated. We investigated patients. Methods In this study, total 36 sex-, age-, education-matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited. But 33 35 HC included because head motion or poor data quality for three one HC. The plus relative to creatine (GABA+/Cr) glutamate-glutamine (Glx/Cr) anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) posterior (PCC) measured using Meshcher-Garwood point resolved spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS) sequence. Metabolite ratios, their interrelationships determined groups. Results Patients with showed lower GABA+/Cr ACC PCC. Combined GABA+ Glx PCC good diagnostic efficacy (AUC: 0.82). no differences thickness found between two group, level was correlated worse performance on digit span test backward, shape trail test-B. associated Conclusion These results implied that decreased had critical role early diagnosis impaired MCI. Therefore, could be potential marker decline