Measurement of Healthy Adult Brain Temperature Using ¹H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Thermometry

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Physiology

Background:

• Accurate measurement of brain temperature is crucial for understanding neurological function and disease.
• Previous methods for measuring brain temperature have limitations in precision and invasiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure brain temperature (Tbr) in healthy adults using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) thermometry.
• To investigate age and gender differences in brain temperature.
• To compare brain temperature with body temperature (Tbo) and assess the brain-body temperature gradient (ΔT).

Main Methods:

• Utilized 1H MRS on a 3.0T MR scanner with Point Resolved Selective Spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence in 80 healthy subjects.
• Positioned voxels in the right and left frontal lobes to calculate Tbr via the chemical shift difference between H2O and NAA.
• Measured forehead temperature as Tbo and calculated the brain-body temperature gradient (ΔT).

Main Results:

• Brain temperature (Tbr: 38.51 ± 0.59°C) was significantly higher than body temperature (Tbo: 36.47 ± 0.26°C) (P < 0.05).
• Negative correlations were found between Tbr and age (r = -0.49, P < 0.05) and between ΔT and age (r = -0.44, P < 0.05).
• No significant correlation was observed between Tbo and age (r = -0.03, P = 0.79).

Conclusions:

• 1H MRS thermometry confirms a significant brain-body temperature gradient in healthy adults, with brain temperature exceeding body temperature.
• Brain temperature and the brain-body temperature gradient decrease with increasing age.
• Findings highlight the utility of 1H MRS thermometry for non-invasive brain temperature assessment and its age-related changes.