Quantifying Myelin Content and Iron Deposition Patterns in Parkinson's Disease Progression

Motivation: Myelin loss and iron accumulation are key features of PD progression, though specific patterns and their correlations remain unclear. Goal(s): To examine changes in myelin and iron within critical brain regions, providing insights into biochemical mechanisms of myelin loss in PD progression. Approach: Whole-brain myelin content was estimated using MWF via multicomponent relaxometry, and iron content was assessed with QSM. The relationship between myelin loss and iron accumulation over disease progression was analyzed. Results: Changes in myelin and iron in key regions contribute to PD progression, with a predominantly negative correlation between myelin loss and iron levels across most regions. Impact: This study lays crucial groundwork for understanding the roles of myelin breakdown and iron accumulation in PD progression, potentially guiding the development of new imaging biomarkers to monitor disease progression and evaluate therapeutic strategies.