Application of 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of mild cognitive impairment

Objective: To investigate the role of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in the diagnosis and treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: the MCI patients were randomly divided into experiment group and the control group. When grouping, the patients were performed the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scoring, 1H-MRS detection, and calculated the ratios of N-Acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr), N-Acetylaspartate/myo-inositol (NAA/mI) and choline-containing compounds/creatine (Cho/Cr). The experiment group was orally administrated the huperzine tablet for six months. The changes of MMSE score and 1H-MRS indicators were observed, and the follow up lasted a year to calculate the conversion ratio of MCI to dementia; according to whether existed the dementia conversion, the control group was divided into two subgroups for the analysis of differences in the 1H-MRS indicators when grouping. Results: The MMSE score, changes of 1H-MRS indicators and conversion ratio of dementia of the treatment group were statistically significant to the control group (P<0.01). The dementia-conversion subgroup had the statistical significance in 1H-MRS indicators than the non-conversion subgroup (P<0.01). Conclusions: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy is helpful for the early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment in dementia patients.