Executive function is associated with brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) show deficits on executive function measures, although the neuroanatomic basis of executive function in MCI is unknown. We investigated cognitive correlates of 3-tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the posterior cingulate gyrus in 26 MCI patients. Posterior cingulate ratio of myo-inositol to creatine (mI/Cr) was negatively correlated (-.51) with spontaneous clock drawing. This relationship was not attenuated after accounting for age, overall cognitive function, or memory performance. This finding suggests a role for the posterior cingulate in executive function in MCI. Proton MRS may offer a means to track neurometabolic changes associated with cognitive impairment in MCI.