Growth Hormone–Releasing Hormone Effects on Brain γ-Aminobutyric Acid Levels in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Healthy Aging

IMPORTANCE Growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) has been previously shown to have cognition-enhancing effects. The role of neurotransmitter changes, measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, may inform the mechanisms for this response. OBJECTIVE To examine the neurochemical effects of GHRH in a subset of participants from the parent trial. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled substudy of a larger trial. SETTING Clinical research unit at the University of Washington School of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS Thirty adults (17 with mild cognitive impairment [MCI]), ranging in age from 55 to 87 years, were enrolled and successfully completed the study. INTERVENTIONS Participants self-administered daily subcutaneous injections of tesamorelin (Theratechnologies Inc), a stabilized analogue of human GHRH (1 mg/d), or placebo 30 minutes before bedtime for 20 weeks. At baseline and weeks 10 and 20, participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy protocols and cognitive testing and provided blood samples after fasting. Participants also underwent glucose tolerance tests before and after intervention. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Brain levels of glutamate, inhibitory transmitters γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and N -acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), and myo -inositol (MI), an osmolyte linked to Alzheimer disease in humans, were measured in three 2 × 2 × 2-cm3 left-sided brain regions (dorsolateral frontal, posterior cingulate, and posterior parietal). Glutamate, GABA, and MI levels were expressed as ratios to creatine plus phosphocreatine, and NAAG was expressed as a ratio to N -acetylaspartate. RESULTS After 20 weeks of GHRH administration, GABA levels were increased in all brain regions (P