Developmental brain changes investigated with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Volume-selective proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of the brain was performed with a 1.5 Tesla magnet in 47 healthy children and in six healthy adults. Peaks of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), choline (Cho) and creatine (Cr) were observed in all cases, but a lactate peak was not observed. In the right parietal region. 1H-MRS revealed increases in the rations of NAAJCho and NAA/Cr and a decrease in Cho/Cr with advancing age. The most rapid changes were noted between one and three years of age. 1H-MRS of the right frontal region also was performed in 21 cases (20 children and one adult). In the right frontal region, there was an increase in the ratio of NAA/Cho and a decrease in Cho/Cr with advancing age, while a developmental change was not observed in the ratio of NAA/Cr. The ratios of both NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr were lower in the right frontal region than in the right parietal region. These results show that developmental changes and regional variation of metabolites are observed in 1H-MRS of the brain, and need to be considered in its application.