Carbon 13 has several applications in medical research: - Cancer Metabolism: By tracing the metabolic pathways in cancer cells, researchers can identify potential targets for therapy. - Neurodegenerative Diseases: 13C-MRS can help in understanding the metabolic changes in brain tissues associated with diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. - Nutritional Studies: Carbon 13 can be used to study the metabolism of nutrients in the body, providing insights into dietary effects on health.