Molecular Neurodevelopment: An
In
Vivo 31P-1H MRSI Study
The goal of this project is to acquire a
gender-balanced, neurodevelopmental 31P and 1H
magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (31P-1H
MRSI) molecular and metabolic normative database from a representative
population of normal children and adolescents ages 6-18 years. The
molecular/metabolic values for each volume of interest (voxel) will be
correlated with the percent grey matter, white matter and cerebral
spinal fluid (CSF) in the same voxel. The individual voxels will
include the (right and left) prefrontal cortex, superior temporal
cortex, inferior parietal cortex, occipital cortex, basal ganglia, and
centrum semiovale. These areas are chosen so as to include areas of
primary sensory (occipital and part of superior temporal cortices),
heteromodal association (prefrontal, inferior parietal, and part of
superior temporal cortices), subcortical grey (basal ganglia) and white
matter (centrum semiovale). Examining these areas as a function of age
and gender will enable us to determine the effects of normal
neurodevelopment on the molecular/metabolic measures of brain areas with
different functions. 31P MRS provides measures of membrane
phospholipid and high-energy phosphate metabolism and 1H MRS
provides additional measures of glutamate, glutamine, taurine, N-acetylaspartate
(NAA), a potential marker of neuronal functional integrity, and myo-inositol,
a potential glial marker. Subjects will have a standardized
neurodevelopmental test battery to assure the cohort is representative
of normal cognitive development. The standardized neurodevelopmental
test battery will be completed at entry, 2, and 4 years. Longitudinal
31P-1H MRSI and single voxel 1H MRS
follow-up of the subjects yearly for 4 years after entry into study will
be used to generate neurodevelopmental curves for brain/metabolic
measures.
