Serial whole-brain N-acetylaspartate concentration in healthy young adults

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2007 Oct;28(9):1650-1. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A0712. Epub 2007 Sep 24.

Abstract

Although the concentration of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) is often used as a neuronal integrity marker, its normal temporal variations are not well documented. To assess them over the 1-2 year periods of typical clinical trials, the whole-brain NAA concentration was measured longitudinally, over 4 years, in a cohort of healthy young adults. No significant change (adjusted for both sex and age) was measured either interpersonally or intrapersonally over the entire duration of the study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aspartic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aspartic Acid / analysis
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Protons
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Protons
  • Aspartic Acid
  • N-acetylaspartate