Lifespan Iron Accumulation in Dopaminergic Neurons Studied by Quantitative MRI and X-ray Fluorescence
Motivation: Dopaminergic neurons require iron for their function but suffer from iron overload in age. Goal(s): To non-invasively monitor the age-related iron accumulation in dopaminergic neurons, we investigated mechanisms of iron-induced MR contrast in the substantia nigra across the lifespan. Approach: We combined quantitative MRI, X-ray fluorescence imaging and biophysical modelling in a unique animal model: ethically collected postmortem chimpanzee brains. Results: The iron load of dopaminergic neurons and the effective transverse relaxation rates in the substantia nigra increased with age. The biophysical model accurately links the relaxation rate to the iron load and neuronal density, which demonstrated its suitability for ages above puberty. Impact: Monitoring cell-specific iron concentrations of dopaminergic neurons and neuronal densities in the substantia nigra throughout the lifespan holds potential of an early neuroimaging biomarker for Parkinson’s disease.
Authors
- Felix Büttner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6204-9948)
- Ilona Lipp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5644-2057)
- Nikolaus Weiskopf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5239-1881)
- Roman M. Wittig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6490-4031)
- Carsten Jäger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1134-9692)
- Markus Morawski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3817-5186)
- Pierre‐Louis Bazin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0141-5510)
- Evgeniya Kirilina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1304-4363)
- Dennis Brückner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1714-5452)
- Catherine Crockford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6597-5106)
- Malte Brammerloh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3593-1548)
- T. Reinert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5800-2995)
- Gerald Falkenberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2229-1027)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Proceedings on CD-ROM - International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. Scientific Meeting and Exhibition/Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Scientific Meeting and Exhibition
- Published
- 2024-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.58530/2024/1313
- Primary Topic
- Neurological disorders and treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00