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Cognitive correlates of 1H MRSI–detected hippocampal abnormalities in temporal lobe epilepsy

From the UAB Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Roy C. Martin, UAB Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, 312 CIRC, Birmingham, AL 35294-0021.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between ¹H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (¹H MRSI)–detected hippocampal creatine to N-acetylaspartate (Cr/NAA) ratios and neuropsychological measures sensitive to mesial temporal lobe function.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of ¹H MRSI-detected hippocampal metabolites has proved effective in determining extent and lateralization of neuronal damage. However, relationships between ¹H MRSI-detected hippocampal metabolic abnormalities and specific areas of cognitive functioning have received limited attention compared to other studies using MRI volumetry or cerebral blood flow techniques.

METHODS: We analyzed right and left hippocampal Cr/NAA ratios in 46 adult mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients (32 left, 14 right) by ¹H MRSI at high magnetic field (4.1 T). We examined the relationship between the right and left Cr/NAA hippocampal ratios to measures of verbal and visual memory, intelligence, attention, visuoperception, and confrontation naming.

RESULTS: Measures of episodic verbal memory (n = 33) and visual confrontation naming (n = 46) were selectively associated with left hippocampal metabolic function (p < 0.004), whereas neuronal function of the right hippocampal region was strongly associated with performance on a measure of facial recognition (n = 46; p < 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that specific areas of cognitive function are related to hippocampal neuronal metabolic abnormalities as detected by spectroscopic imaging. The current study indicates that ¹H MRSI offers a complimentary technique to structural imaging studies in the study of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy and may enhance understanding of the role of hippocampal function in complex cognitive systems.

Key words: ¹H MRSI—Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy—Neuropsychology.

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