Iron Deposition and Metabolic Correlates in the Midbrain and Thalamus in Parkinson's Disease

Motivation: Employing multimodal approaches enables a more accurate examination of abnormal changes in Parkinson's disease. Goal(s): To examine the relationship between iron deposition and metabolic changes in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) techniques. Approach: The midbrain and bilateral thalami were identified as regions of interest, and correlations between QSM values and metabolic markers, such as glutamate + glutamine (Glu + Gln,Glx), were analyzed. Results: The results revealed a negative correlation between QSM values and Glx levels in the left thalamus in PD patients (P = 0.019). Impact: This finding may clarify the neuronal loss and metabolic dysregulation in the thalamic region during the progression of Parkinson's disease, providing new biomarkers for monitoring disease advancement.