Altered Glx and APT values in hippocampus of patients with aMCI: a novel combined imaging diagnostic marker

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is considered as a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Growing evidence supports the hypothesis that unbalanced excitatory/inhibitory (glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurotransmitters and consequent abnormal protein deposition in hippocampus contribute to the pathological process of MCI and AD. We explored the changes of hippocampal Glx/GABA+ levels and APTw in aMCI patients using MEGA-PRESS and APTw imaging. Patients with aMCI exhibited decreased Glx levels (and Glx/GABA+ ratios) and increased APTw values in hippocampus. The combination of Glx and APTw values improved the diagnostic performance for aMCI, suggesting it was a potential imaging diagnostic marker.