High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Parkinson’s disease causes a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and iron accumulation in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Using ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 tesla in 43 Parkinson’s patients and 24 healthy controls, we analyzed the voxel-wise pattern of str...

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Main Authors: Christopher F. Madelung, Annemette Løkkegaard, Søren A. Fuglsang, Marta M. Marques, Vincent O. Boer, Kristoffer H. Madsen, Anne-Mette Hejl, David Meder, Hartwig R. Siebner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Parkinson's Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00972-7
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author Christopher F. Madelung
Annemette Løkkegaard
Søren A. Fuglsang
Marta M. Marques
Vincent O. Boer
Kristoffer H. Madsen
Anne-Mette Hejl
David Meder
Hartwig R. Siebner
author_facet Christopher F. Madelung
Annemette Løkkegaard
Søren A. Fuglsang
Marta M. Marques
Vincent O. Boer
Kristoffer H. Madsen
Anne-Mette Hejl
David Meder
Hartwig R. Siebner
author_sort Christopher F. Madelung
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Parkinson’s disease causes a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and iron accumulation in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Using ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 tesla in 43 Parkinson’s patients and 24 healthy controls, we analyzed the voxel-wise pattern of structural disintegration of dopamine neurons with neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, along with assessing iron accumulation using R2* and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). We also explored correlations between these measures and the severity of residual motor symptoms in the on-medication state and other clinical variables. Differences were most notable in the nigrosomes within the pars compacta, with patients showing reduced neuromelanin signals and increased QSM values. Severity and asymmetry of motor symptoms correlated with higher R2* and QSM values in nigrosome N1. Thus, ultra-high field MRI provides high-resolution maps of various aspects of the underlying neurodegenerative process which reflect individual motor impairment in Parkinson’s disease.
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spelling doaj-art-c8f82308dd4547f7ae4c184a2cc64df32025-08-20T03:09:34ZengNature Portfolionpj Parkinson's Disease2373-80572025-05-0111111210.1038/s41531-025-00972-7High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imagingChristopher F. Madelung0Annemette Løkkegaard1Søren A. Fuglsang2Marta M. Marques3Vincent O. Boer4Kristoffer H. Madsen5Anne-Mette Hejl6David Meder7Hartwig R. Siebner8Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and HvidovreDepartment of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and FrederiksbergDanish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and HvidovreDanish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and HvidovreDanish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and HvidovreDanish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and HvidovreDepartment of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg and FrederiksbergDanish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and HvidovreDanish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Center for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and HvidovreAbstract Parkinson’s disease causes a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and iron accumulation in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Using ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 7 tesla in 43 Parkinson’s patients and 24 healthy controls, we analyzed the voxel-wise pattern of structural disintegration of dopamine neurons with neuromelanin-sensitive MRI, along with assessing iron accumulation using R2* and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). We also explored correlations between these measures and the severity of residual motor symptoms in the on-medication state and other clinical variables. Differences were most notable in the nigrosomes within the pars compacta, with patients showing reduced neuromelanin signals and increased QSM values. Severity and asymmetry of motor symptoms correlated with higher R2* and QSM values in nigrosome N1. Thus, ultra-high field MRI provides high-resolution maps of various aspects of the underlying neurodegenerative process which reflect individual motor impairment in Parkinson’s disease.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00972-7
spellingShingle Christopher F. Madelung
Annemette Løkkegaard
Søren A. Fuglsang
Marta M. Marques
Vincent O. Boer
Kristoffer H. Madsen
Anne-Mette Hejl
David Meder
Hartwig R. Siebner
High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging
npj Parkinson's Disease
title High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging
title_full High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging
title_fullStr High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging
title_full_unstemmed High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging
title_short High-resolution mapping of substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging
title_sort high resolution mapping of substantia nigra in parkinson s disease using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00972-7
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