Age dependency of neurometabolite T relaxation times

Saipavitra Murali-Manohar, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Helge J. Zöllner, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Kathleen E. Hupfeld, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Yulu Song, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Emily E. Carter, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Vivek Yedavalli, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Steve C. Hui, Developing Brain Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Dunja Simicic, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Aaron T. Gudmundson, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Gizeaddis Lamesgin Simegn, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Christopher W. Davies-Jenkins, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Georg Oeltzschner, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Eric C. Porges, Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Richard A. Edden, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-14-2025

Journal

Magnetic resonance in medicine

DOI

10.1002/mrm.30507

Keywords

T1 relaxation times; healthy aging; inversion recovery; magnetic resonance spectroscopy; metabolites

Abstract

PURPOSE: To measure T relaxation times of metabolites at 3 T in a healthy aging population and investigate age dependence. METHODS: A cohort of 101 healthy adults was recruited with approximately 10 male and 10 female participants in each "decade" band: 18 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and 60+ years old. Inversion-recovery PRESS data (TE/TR: 30/2000 ms) were acquired at 8 inversion times (TIs) (300, 400, 511, 637, 780, 947, 1148, and 1400 ms) from voxels in white-matter-rich centrum semiovale (CSO) and gray-matter-rich posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Modeling of TI-series spectra was performed in Osprey 2.5.0. Quantified metabolite amplitudes for total N-acetylaspartate (tNAA), total creatine at 3.0 ppm (tCr), and 3.9 ppm (tCr), total choline (tCho), myo-inositol (mI), and the sum of glutamine and glutamate (Glx) were modeled to calculate T relaxation times of metabolites. RESULTS: T relaxation times of tNAA in CSO and tNAA, tCr, mI, and Glx in PCC decreased with age. These correlations remained significant when controlling for cortical atrophy. T relaxation times were significantly different between PCC and CSO for all metabolites except tCr. We also propose linear models for predicting metabolite Ts at 3 T to be used in future aging studies. CONCLUSION: Metabolite T relaxation times change significantly with age, an effect that will be important to consider for accurate quantitative MRS, particularly in studies of aging.

Department

Radiology

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