Characteristics Of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Imaging In Patients With Leukoaraiosis And Its Relationship With Cognitive Impairment

Objective:To study the characteristics of cognitive impairment in leukoaraiosis(LA)patients and the changes of NAA/ Cr,Cho/Cr,NAA/Cho in different brain regions using magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS),and to analyze their relationship.Methods:Forty LA patients diagnosed by MRI in Shanxi Provincal People's Hospital from June 2016 to June 2017 and 20 normal elderly normal controls were enrolled in this study.The impairment of different cognitive domains was measured by neuropsychometric questionnaires,and MRS was performed.The values of NAA/ Cr,Cho/Cr and NAA/Cho in various regions of interest(ROI)were compared between two groups.Results:1.Comparing with control group,the overall cognitive functions decreased significantly in LA patients,and the executive function,memory,information processing capability,visual-spatial ability were damaged(P<0.05).The scores in Mimi Mental State Examination(MMSE)and Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)lower,poorer scores in digit span(DS)-inverted sequence,verbal fluency test(VFT),word similarity test,memory test,clock drawing test and block testing,and longer time of Stroop test C,Trail Marking Test A(TMTA)and Stroop test B(P<0.05).2.The NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr values in the centrum semiovale,the temporal lobehippocampal and bilateral profrontal lobe,the NAA/Cho values in anterior horn of lateral ventricle,the NAA/Cr values in genu of corpus callosum were significantly decreased in LA group compared with control group(P<0.05).3.Stroop test B and stroop test C scores were negatively correlated with metabolic values in centrum semiovale,anterior horn of lateral ventricle,temporal lobe hippocampal,frontal lobe,and genu of corpus callosum(P<0.05).Digit span(DS)-inverted sequence,delayed memory and block testing were positively related with various brain regions(P<0.05).4.The more serious LA grade,the lower NAA/Cr,NAA/Cho value,especially the bilateral profrontal lobe(P<0.05).Conclusion:LA patients has abnormal brain metabolism in brain regions,and it is related to cognitive impairment.MRS can contribute to early diagnosis of cognitive impairment in LA patients.