Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in hospitalised older people shows age and delirium-specific metabolic changes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Delirium is common in hospitalised older people and is associated with a poor prognosis. It remains poorly characterised at a molecular level. We studied the metabolic signature of delirium using 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) in a prospective case-control study.

Methods

Medical inpatients aged ≥65 with and without delirium (DSM-5) were recruited and assessed for illness severity, frailty and prior cognitive decline. Metabolite concentrations in parietal white matter were obtained using MRS with diffusion MRI used to assess structural changes via the ADC.

Results

Out of 38 participants, 25 completed the MRS protocol (13 males and 12 females, mean age 80.5, SD = 6.47). Patients with delirium (n = 13) had greater pre-admission frailty than those wit

SUBMITTER: Richardson D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12862978 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature