Application of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy on substantia nigra metabolites in Parkinson’s disease

This study investigates changes in substantia nigra metabolites in Parkinson’s disease (PD) using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H- MRS). Thirty patients with asymmetric PD and 20 normal controls were included in this study. Substantia nigra metabolites were detected in all subjects using 3D-multimer 1H-MRS with a 3.0 T MRI scanner. The relative ratios of NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr) in the substantia nigra were compared between two sides of asymmetric PD patients as well as between PD patients and controls. Significant differences in NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr) were observed between PD patients and healthy controls (P < 0.05) as well as between the ipsilateral and contralateral of affected extremity in PD patients (P < 0.05). Significant differences in NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr) were also observed between patients with mild and severe PD. Thus, we found that 1H-MRS can be used to detect substantia nigra metabolites in PD patients, which may be useful for early diagnosis and evaluation of PD.