In vivo evidence of neuronal loss in the hypothalamus of narcoleptic patients.

Lodi, R; Tonon, C; Vignatelli, L; Iotti, S; Montagna, P; Barbiroli, B; Plazzi, G · Neurology · 2004

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

A dysfunction of the orexin (hypocretin) system in the hypothalamus has recently been linked to the pathogenesis of narcolepsy. The authors used in vivo proton MR spectroscopy to assess the N-acetylaspartate (NAA) content in the hypothalamus of narcoleptic patients. Hypothalamic NAA/creatine-phosphocreatine was reduced in narcoleptic patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.01). Hypothalamic neuronal loss/damage is a central pathogenetic feature in narcolepsy.

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