Abstract: Objective　To explore the characteristics of metabolites in the bilateral frontal white matter and hippocampus of children with different degrees of global developmental delay (GDD) and to explore their correlation with cognitive function. Method　Sixty-six children with GDD who had no obvious abnormalities by cranial magnetic resonance examination were enrolled. The cognitive function was assessed by Gessell developmental schedule. According to the developmental quotient (DQ), they were divided into mild developmental delay group (24 cases), moderate developmental delay group (20 cases), and severe developmental delay group (22 cases). The magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) technique was used to calculate the relative values of N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr), choline/creatine (Cho/Cr), NAA/(Cho+Cr) in the bilateral frontal white matter and hippocampus which were selected as regions of interest. The metabolite levels in mild, moderate and severe developmental delay groups were compared and their correlation with disease severity and cognitive function was discussed. Results　There was no difference in the levels of NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and NAA/(Cho+Cr) in bilateral frontal white matter and hippocampus among the three groups (P>0.05). Metabolite concentrations were not associated with disease severity and cognitive function (P>0.05). Conclusion　MRS examination of the bilateral frontal white matter and hippocampus in children with global developmental delay is of little value in evaluating the disease severity and cognitive function.

Key words: magnetic resonance spectroscopy;　global developmental delay;　disease severity;　cognitive function; child