Neurochemical changes in the progression of Huntington's disease: A meta-analysis of in vivo1H-MRS studies

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#huntington-disease #humans #disease-progression #proton-magnetic-resonance-spectroscopy #creatine

Neurochemical changes in the progression of Huntington's disease: A meta-analysis of in vivo1H-MRS studies

Jing et al., 2024 | Neurobiol Dis | Meta Analysis

Citation

Jing Yinghua, Dogan Imis, ... Romanzetti Sandro. Neurochemical changes in the progression of Huntington's disease: A meta-analysis of in vivo1H-MRS studies. Neurobiol Dis. 2024-Sep;199:106574. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106574

Abstract

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) allows measuring specific brain metabolic alterations in Huntington's disease (HD), and these metabolite profiles may serve as non-invasive biomarkers associated with disease progression. Despite this potential, previous findings are inconsistent. Accordingly, we performed a meta-analysis on available in vivo1H-MRS studies in premanifest (Pre-HD) and symptomatic HD stages (Symp-HD), and quantified neurometabolic changes relative to controls in 9 Pre-HD studies (227 controls and 188 mutation carriers) and 14 Symp-HD studies (326 controls and 306 patients). Our results indicated decreased N-acetylaspartate and creatine in the basal ganglia in both Pre-HD and Symp-HD. The overall level of myo-inositol was decreased in Pre-HD while increased in Symp-HD. Besides, Symp-HD patients showed more severe metabolism disruption than Pre-HD patients. Taken together, 1H-MRS is important for elucidating progressive metabolite changes from Pre-HD to clinical conversion; N-acetylaspartate and creatine in the basal ganglia are already sensitive at the preclinical stage and are promising biomarkers for tracking disease progression; overall myo-inositol is a possible characteristic metabolite for distinguishing HD stages.

Key Findings

Taken together, 1H-MRS is important for elucidating progressive metabolite changes from Pre-HD to clinical conversion; N-acetylaspartate and creatine in the basal ganglia are already sensitive at the preclinical stage and are promising biomarkers for tracking disease progression; overall myo-inositol is a possible characteristic metabolite for distinguishing HD stages.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 306
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Huntington Disease
  • Humans
  • Disease Progression
  • Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Creatine
  • Inositol
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Brain

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Vertical: creatine

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09