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. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2006; 30: 322- 327)

• Keywords: Magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Autism, Mental retardation, Language