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@INPROCEEDINGS{Gschel:283086,
author = {Göschel, Laura and Dell Orco, Andrea and Ittermann, Bernd
and Teunissen, Charlotte E. and Hoede, Patty and Melin,
Jeanette and Pendrill, Leslie and Roemer-Cassiano, Sebastian
and Franzmeier, Nicolai and Körtvelyessy, Peter and Flöel,
Agnes and Fillmer, Ariane},
title = {7{T} {MRS} {G}lutamate and {GABA} in {A}lzheimer’s
{D}isease},
journal = {Alzheimer's and dementia},
volume = {21},
number = {S7},
issn = {1552-5260},
reportid = {DZNE-2025-01493},
pages = {e108043},
year = {2025},
abstract = {Background:Functional neuroimaging studies suggest a
dynamic trajectory in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with early
hyperconnectivity followed by hypoconnectivity due to
pathologic progression. This study aimed to investigate this
hypothesis using neurochemical markers derived from
high-field magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).Method:We
analyzed data from 126 older adults enrolled in the NeuroMET
studies, spanning from normal aging to dementia due to
suspected AD. Using ultra-high-field 7 Tesla MRS, we
quantified levels of the neurotransmitters glutamate
(excitatory) and GABA (inhibitory) in the precentral cortex.
Plasma p -Tau181 was used as a proxy for AD pathology, and
memory was assessed using the NeuroMET Memory Metric (NMM).
A p -Tau181 threshold of >2.08 pg/mL was applied as an
estimated marker of amyloid positivity (Aß+). Linear
mixed-effects models, adjusted for age at baseline, were
used to evaluate associations and interaction
effects.Result:Glutamate levels showed a non-linear
association with age, decreasing up to around 70 years and
increasing thereafter, while GABA levels remained stable
(Figure 1A–C). Before reaching the suggested pathological
conversion threshold for amyloid positivity, both glutamate
and GABA showed a slight, non-significant increase in
individuals with higher p -Tau181 levels (Figure 1D–F).
Notably, amyloid status moderated the relationship between
memory ability and glutamate levels (Figure 1G–I). Among
Aß-negative individuals, lower memory ability was
associated with elevated glutamate, potentially reflecting a
very early compensatory response.Conclusion:Our findings
support the hypothesis of a non-linear neurochemical
trajectory in aging and early AD pathology. The observed
age-dependent fluctuations in glutamate, together with
subtle shifts in response to rising plasma p -Tau181, may
reflect early pathologic or compensatory mechanisms. The
interaction between glutamate and memory ability,
particularly in supposedly Aß-negative individuals,
suggests that excitatory neurotransmission could transiently
support cognitive function in the face of emerging
pathology. Notably, the threshold of plasma p -Tau181 used
to define amyloid positivity may identify individuals in
progressed stages, potentially missing earlier windows of
therapeutic opportunity. As potential treatments may have
markedly different effects depending on the stage of disease
progression, investigating the trajectory of neuronal
connectivity and activity is critical.},
month = {Jul},
date = {2025-07-27},
organization = {Alzheimer’s Association
International Conference, Toronto
(Canada), 27 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025},
cin = {AG Düzel / AG Flöel},
ddc = {610},
cid = {I:(DE-2719)5000006 / I:(DE-2719)5000081},
pnm = {353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-353},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)1 / PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
doi = {10.1002/alz70861_108043},
url = {https://pub.dzne.de/record/283086},
}