Lipid Alterations in the Amygdala and Frontal Cortex Detected by Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: Potential Imaging Markers for Alzheimer’s Disease

Objective To quantitatively evaluate lipid levels in the amygdala and frontal cortex using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) in individuals with AD compared to healthy controls. Methods Fifty Magnetic Resonance Imaging /MRS scans from patients with confirmed AD were compared to 50 age- and sex-matched controls. MRS data were acquired at 1.5T focusing on spectral peaks associated with lipids. A voxel-based MRS technique was used to assess lipid concentrations in defined frequency ranges. Lipid concentrations were quantified, and statistical comparisons were performed between groups using the Shapiro-Wilk test. In cases where normality was not met, nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests were employed. Results AD patients showed elevated lipid signals in both regions: 2.5–3.5 parts per million (ppm) in the amygdala and 3.0–4.5 ppm in the frontal cortex. Statistical differences between groups were significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion These findings suggest that lipid alterations detected by MRS may reflect underlying neurodegenerative processes and could potentially serve as imaging markers for AD.