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Abstract #1954

Metabolic Trends in Thalamic Development from Infancy to Adulthood Measured Using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Andrew J. Degnan1, 2, Vince Lee2, Rafael C. Ceschin2, Vincent J. Schmithorst2, Stefan Blml3, Ashok Panigrahy2

1University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; 2Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; 3Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy is capable of offering insight into the developing brain. In this study, we report changes in the metabolite concentrations within the thalamus from healthy term neonates to young adults. In this study we note a more mature metabolite profile in the thalamus in neonates when compared with grey and white matter, consistent with other knowledge of the key role of thalamic development in early life. Knowledge of normal metabolic changes within this key structure explained by this study is essential in understanding thalamocortical deficits in the setting of preterm injury.

Keywords

absolute activity addition adult adulthood adults appear assessment attempting audience automated beyond biochemical birth brain capable children choline clarifying combined component concentration concentrations confirmed conjunction connections connectivity consistent control controls corp cortex cortical critical crossroads decreased default defined delay demonstration developing development differ diffusion disruption earlier enhances events examined examines female finding form formation fully functional future generally glutamate greater healthy hospital identified identify impaired impairment important included individuals infancy infants integrate integrating known logarithmic looking major majority male maturation measured measuring medial medical metabolic metabolite metabolites mode moreover morphological neonatal neonate neonates network neurologists note noted occur older overall parietal part particularly pediatric period physicists placed plays posterior postnatal processing prone proton quantitative radiology rapidly reason regression related relationship relatively resting revealed role scanner selective significantly software specializing spectroscopy statistical student substantially suggesting summarized table target tensor term thalamus trends understanding version volunteers vulnerable whereas white years young