Abstract
Besides its well established susceptibility to ageing, the hippocampus has also been shown to be affected by alcohol consumption. Proton spectroscopy (1H-MRS) of the hippocampus, particularly at high-field 7T MRI, may further our understanding of these associations. Here, we aimed to examine how hippocampal metabolites varied with age and alcohol consumption. Hippocampal metabolite spectra were acquired in 37 older adults using 7T 1H-MRS, from which we determined the absolute concentration of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine, choline, myo-inositol, glutamate and glutamine. Thirty participants (mean age = 70.4 ± 4.7 years) also had self-reported data on weekly alcohol consumption. Total choline inversely correlated with age, although this did not survive multiple comparisons correction. Crucially, adults with a higher weekly alcohol consumption had significantly lower levels of creatine, suggesting a deficit in their hippocampal metabolism. These findings add to an increasing body of evidence linking alcohol to hippocampal function.
Highlights
Ageing is associated with accelerated atrophy of the hippocampus, with rates affected by a range of modifiable and non-modifiable factors (Fotuhi et al, 2012)
We examined the relationship between metabolites and alcohol consumption using partial correlations accounting for the effect of age
In our sample of 37 healthy older adults, we did not find an association between age and metabolite levels in the hippocampus
Summary
Ageing is associated with accelerated atrophy of the hippocampus, with rates affected by a range of modifiable and non-modifiable factors (Fotuhi et al, 2012). One such factor is alcohol, which has been shown to have detrimental effects on the hippocampus (Wilson et al, 2017), with even moderate alcohol consumption associated with hippocampal atrophy (Topiwala et al, 2017). The most widely studied metabolites include N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho). While NAA and Cho are argued to, respectively, serve as indirect markers of neuronal viability and membrane turnover, creatine plays a pivotal role in cell energy homoeostasis (Rae, 2014). Despite the sensitivity of MRS to neurodegenerative diseases (Gao and Barker, 2014), and despite the hippocampus occupying centre-stage in the ageing literature, very few studies have applied MRS to examine variations in hippocampal metabolites in older adults
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
