Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's disease

Background: Excessive iron accumulation in the brain has been implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the patterns and probable sequences of iron accumulation across the PD brain remain largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the sequence of iron accumulation across the PD brain u...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Weizhao Lu, Tianbin Song, Zhenxiang Zang, Jiping Li, Yuqing Zhang, Jie Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:NeuroImage
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924004403
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850220579168190464
author Weizhao Lu
Tianbin Song
Zhenxiang Zang
Jiping Li
Yuqing Zhang
Jie Lu
author_facet Weizhao Lu
Tianbin Song
Zhenxiang Zang
Jiping Li
Yuqing Zhang
Jie Lu
author_sort Weizhao Lu
collection DOAJ
description Background: Excessive iron accumulation in the brain has been implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the patterns and probable sequences of iron accumulation across the PD brain remain largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the sequence of iron accumulation across the PD brain using R2* mapping and a relaxometry covariance network (RCN) approach. Methods: R2* quantification maps were obtained from PD patients (n = 34) and healthy controls (n = 25). RCN was configured on R2* maps to identify covariance differences in iron levels between the two groups. Regions with excessive iron accumulation and large covariance changes in PD patients compared to controls were defined as propagators of iron. In the PD group, causal RCN analysis was performed on the R2* maps sequenced according to disease duration to investigate the dynamics of iron accumulations from the propagators. The associations between individual connections of the RCN and clinical information were analyzed in PD patients. Results: The left substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr), left substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and lobule VII of the vermis (VER7) were identified as primary regions for iron accumulation and propagation (propagator). As the disease duration increased, iron accumulation in these three propagators demonstrated positive causal effects on the bilateral pallidum, bilateral gyrus rectus, right middle frontal gyrus, and medial and anterior orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Furthermore, individual connections of VER7 with the left gyrus rectus and anterior OFC were positively associated with disease duration. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the aberrant iron accumulation in PD involves several regions, mainly starts from the SN and cerebellum and extends to the pallidum and cortices. These findings provide preliminary information on sequences of iron accumulation in PD, which may advance our understanding of the disease.
format Article
id doaj-art-aa8d647ba7674b6185ccc12d20bd8e8a
institution OA Journals
issn 1095-9572
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series NeuroImage
spelling doaj-art-aa8d647ba7674b6185ccc12d20bd8e8a2025-08-20T02:07:01ZengElsevierNeuroImage1095-95722024-12-0130312094310.1016/j.neuroimage.2024.120943Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's diseaseWeizhao Lu0Tianbin Song1Zhenxiang Zang2Jiping Li3Yuqing Zhang4Jie Lu5Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing, 100053, ChinaDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing, 100053, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, ChinaBeijing Institute of Functional Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, ChinaDepartment of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100053, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing, 100053, China; Corresponding author at: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, No.45 Changchun Road, Beijing, 100053, China.Background: Excessive iron accumulation in the brain has been implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the patterns and probable sequences of iron accumulation across the PD brain remain largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the sequence of iron accumulation across the PD brain using R2* mapping and a relaxometry covariance network (RCN) approach. Methods: R2* quantification maps were obtained from PD patients (n = 34) and healthy controls (n = 25). RCN was configured on R2* maps to identify covariance differences in iron levels between the two groups. Regions with excessive iron accumulation and large covariance changes in PD patients compared to controls were defined as propagators of iron. In the PD group, causal RCN analysis was performed on the R2* maps sequenced according to disease duration to investigate the dynamics of iron accumulations from the propagators. The associations between individual connections of the RCN and clinical information were analyzed in PD patients. Results: The left substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr), left substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), and lobule VII of the vermis (VER7) were identified as primary regions for iron accumulation and propagation (propagator). As the disease duration increased, iron accumulation in these three propagators demonstrated positive causal effects on the bilateral pallidum, bilateral gyrus rectus, right middle frontal gyrus, and medial and anterior orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Furthermore, individual connections of VER7 with the left gyrus rectus and anterior OFC were positively associated with disease duration. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the aberrant iron accumulation in PD involves several regions, mainly starts from the SN and cerebellum and extends to the pallidum and cortices. These findings provide preliminary information on sequences of iron accumulation in PD, which may advance our understanding of the disease.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924004403Parkinson's diseaseR2* quantificationIron accumulationRelaxometry covariance networkSubstantia nigra
spellingShingle Weizhao Lu
Tianbin Song
Zhenxiang Zang
Jiping Li
Yuqing Zhang
Jie Lu
Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's disease
NeuroImage
Parkinson's disease
R2* quantification
Iron accumulation
Relaxometry covariance network
Substantia nigra
title Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's disease
title_full Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's disease
title_fullStr Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's disease
title_full_unstemmed Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's disease
title_short Relaxometry network based on MRI R2⁎ mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in Parkinson's disease
title_sort relaxometry network based on mri r2 mapping revealing brain iron accumulation patterns in parkinson s disease
topic Parkinson's disease
R2* quantification
Iron accumulation
Relaxometry covariance network
Substantia nigra
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811924004403
work_keys_str_mv AT weizhaolu relaxometrynetworkbasedonmrir2mappingrevealingbrainironaccumulationpatternsinparkinsonsdisease
AT tianbinsong relaxometrynetworkbasedonmrir2mappingrevealingbrainironaccumulationpatternsinparkinsonsdisease
AT zhenxiangzang relaxometrynetworkbasedonmrir2mappingrevealingbrainironaccumulationpatternsinparkinsonsdisease
AT jipingli relaxometrynetworkbasedonmrir2mappingrevealingbrainironaccumulationpatternsinparkinsonsdisease
AT yuqingzhang relaxometrynetworkbasedonmrir2mappingrevealingbrainironaccumulationpatternsinparkinsonsdisease
AT jielu relaxometrynetworkbasedonmrir2mappingrevealingbrainironaccumulationpatternsinparkinsonsdisease