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MR spectroscopy of cerebral white matter in type 2 diabetes; no association with clinical variables and cognitive performance

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Abstract

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes (DM2) is associated with cognitive decline, but the pathogenesis of this important complication remains unclear. We investigated whether abnormalities in neuronal metabolism or membrane integrity in normal appearing cerebral white matter are associated with cognitive impairment in patients with DM2.

Methods

Single voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1.5 T), aimed at N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), total choline (Cho), and total creatine (Cr), was performed in the cerebral white matter (centrum semiovale) of 72 patients with DM2 and 40 control subjects. All participants underwent extensive neuropsychological evaluation.

Results

Patients with DM2 performed worse with respect to global neuropsychological functioning than controls (p < 0.05), in particular on memory and information processing speed. We observed no differences in NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, or NAA/Cho ratio’s between patients with DM2 and controls. Cognitive performance in patients with DM2 was not correlated with any of these brain metabolites, neither were the clinical variables.

Conclusion

We conclude that disturbances in neuronal viability and cellular membrane status assessed by NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, NAA/Cho ratios cannot explain cognitive decline in patients with DM2.

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Conflict of interest statement

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology (Hp E01.332), University Medical Center Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Audrey Tiehuis, Femke van der Meer, Willem Mali & Peter Luijten

  2. Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Marc Pleizier, Geert Jan Biessels & Jaap Kappelle

Authors
  1. Audrey Tiehuis
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  2. Femke van der Meer
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  3. Willem Mali
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  4. Marc Pleizier
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  5. Geert Jan Biessels
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  6. Jaap Kappelle
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  7. Peter Luijten
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Audrey Tiehuis.

Additional information

Sadly, after submission of this paper, Marc Pleizier has deceased.

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Tiehuis, A., van der Meer, F., Mali, W. et al. MR spectroscopy of cerebral white matter in type 2 diabetes; no association with clinical variables and cognitive performance. Neuroradiology 52, 155–161 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0598-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-009-0598-4

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