Susceptibility components from DECOMPOSE-QSM reveal dopaminergic and nigrostriatal degeneration in prodromal alpha-synucleinopathies
Motivation: To assess neurodegeneration in prodromal-to-overt alpha-synucleinopathies with a non-invasive MRI examination. Goal(s): To investigate whether MRI-based paramagnetic and diamagnetic susceptibility components can assess dopaminergic and nigrostriatal degeneration. Approach: DECOMPOSE-QSM was used to identify susceptibility component changes in prodromal and overt alpha-synucleinopathies. Correlations between susceptibility components and single photon emission tomography (SPECT)-scores were investigated. Results: Substantia nigra iron accumulation occurs in prodromal alpha-synucleinopathies alongside dopaminergic pathway degeneration identified by SPECT. Substantia nigra paramagnetic component susceptibility and putamen diamagnetic component susceptibility correlate with dopaminergic pathway degeneration. Impact: Paramagnetic and diamagnetic component susceptibility correlate with DaT-SPECT Z-scores in the substantia nigra and putamen. Source-separated magnetic susceptibility holds promise as a biomarker for assessing the degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway, key for evaluating prodromal and overt alpha-synucleinopathies.
Authors
- Stefano Raffa
- Luca Roccatagliata (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8029-3947)
- Francesco Calizzano
- Elisa Pelosin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9880-2241)
- Laura Avanzino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6286-1509)
- Laura Falcitano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8258-2184)
- Andrea Diociasi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5986-0406)
- Pietro Mattioli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2563-5830)
- Oliver Kiersnowski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6016-0514)
- Mauro Costagli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9073-1082)
- Federico Massa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5667-204X)
- Matteo Pardini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4740-1982)
- Dario Arnaldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6823-6069)
- Silvia Daniela Morbelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7833-6095)
- Beatrice Orso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9983-7940)
- Lucia Argenti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7444-1411)
- Chunlei Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8816-4832)
- Mattia Losa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2942-1307)
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
- 2025-09-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.58530/2025/0448
- Primary Topic
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00