Multiparametric quantitative MRI uncovers putamen microstructural changes in Parkinson’s disease
Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder dominated by motor and non-motor dysfunction. Despite extensive research, in vivo characterization of PD-related brain microstructure remains a challenge, limiting diagnostic and therapeutic advances. The putamen, a subcor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | npj Parkinson's Disease |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01020-0 |
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| author | Elior Drori Lee Cohen David Arkadir Gilad Yahalom Aviv A. Mezer |
| author_facet | Elior Drori Lee Cohen David Arkadir Gilad Yahalom Aviv A. Mezer |
| author_sort | Elior Drori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder dominated by motor and non-motor dysfunction. Despite extensive research, in vivo characterization of PD-related brain microstructure remains a challenge, limiting diagnostic and therapeutic advances. The putamen, a subcortical region crucial for movement regulation, is prominently affected in early PD. Here, we collected multiparametric quantitative MRI (qMRI) data from PD patients and healthy controls, to investigate biophysical alterations in the putamen. Gradient analysis revealed significant spatial variation and interhemispheric asymmetries in biophysical properties – including relaxation rates (R1, R2, R2*), water fraction (WF), susceptibility, MTsat, and diffusion metrics (MD, FA) – along its anterior-posterior axis. PD patients showed altered gradients, particularly increased WF in the posterior putamen, suggesting tissue atrophy or neuroinflammation, and correlating with motor symptom laterality. Our findings highlight the posterior putamen as a PD pathology hotspot and demonstrate the potential of qMRI gradient analysis for detecting clinically relevant brain changes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7494985f67cc45e3b795dfcd7a1a70e0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2373-8057 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Parkinson's Disease |
| spelling | doaj-art-7494985f67cc45e3b795dfcd7a1a70e02025-08-20T03:45:27ZengNature Portfolionpj Parkinson's Disease2373-80572025-07-0111111010.1038/s41531-025-01020-0Multiparametric quantitative MRI uncovers putamen microstructural changes in Parkinson’s diseaseElior Drori0Lee Cohen1David Arkadir2Gilad Yahalom3Aviv A. Mezer4Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of JerusalemEdmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of JerusalemDepartment of Neurology, Hadassah Medical CenterSchool of Medicine, The Hebrew University of JerusalemEdmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of JerusalemAbstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder dominated by motor and non-motor dysfunction. Despite extensive research, in vivo characterization of PD-related brain microstructure remains a challenge, limiting diagnostic and therapeutic advances. The putamen, a subcortical region crucial for movement regulation, is prominently affected in early PD. Here, we collected multiparametric quantitative MRI (qMRI) data from PD patients and healthy controls, to investigate biophysical alterations in the putamen. Gradient analysis revealed significant spatial variation and interhemispheric asymmetries in biophysical properties – including relaxation rates (R1, R2, R2*), water fraction (WF), susceptibility, MTsat, and diffusion metrics (MD, FA) – along its anterior-posterior axis. PD patients showed altered gradients, particularly increased WF in the posterior putamen, suggesting tissue atrophy or neuroinflammation, and correlating with motor symptom laterality. Our findings highlight the posterior putamen as a PD pathology hotspot and demonstrate the potential of qMRI gradient analysis for detecting clinically relevant brain changes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01020-0 |
| spellingShingle | Elior Drori Lee Cohen David Arkadir Gilad Yahalom Aviv A. Mezer Multiparametric quantitative MRI uncovers putamen microstructural changes in Parkinson’s disease npj Parkinson's Disease |
| title | Multiparametric quantitative MRI uncovers putamen microstructural changes in Parkinson’s disease |
| title_full | Multiparametric quantitative MRI uncovers putamen microstructural changes in Parkinson’s disease |
| title_fullStr | Multiparametric quantitative MRI uncovers putamen microstructural changes in Parkinson’s disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multiparametric quantitative MRI uncovers putamen microstructural changes in Parkinson’s disease |
| title_short | Multiparametric quantitative MRI uncovers putamen microstructural changes in Parkinson’s disease |
| title_sort | multiparametric quantitative mri uncovers putamen microstructural changes in parkinson s disease |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01020-0 |
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