The Findings of 1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Children with Mental Retardation or Autism

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the findings of patients with autism or mental retardation shown in 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) and the correlation between findings in 1H MRS and degree of language developmental delay. METHOD: 1H MRS was performed in thirty five patients with autism or mental retardation. [N-Acetylaspartate (NAA)/ Creatine (Cr)], [Choline (Cho)/Cr], and [Myoinositol (mI)/ Cr] were measured and compared with those of control group. Also the correlation between 1H MRS findings and the degree of language developmental delay was investigated. RESULTS: Increased [Cho/Cr] was shown in parietal white matter and frontal gray matter in patients with autism and mental retardation. No significant differences were revealed in any metabolite ratio between mental retardation and autism. There were no significant correlations between the degree of language developmental delay and metabolite ratios. CONCLUSION: Myelin degeneration in parietal white matter and fronal gray matter could be related to autism and mental retardation.