T2*-weighted MRI values correlate with motor and cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease.

Nicola Tambasco, Federico Paolini Paoletti, Andrea Chiappiniello, Viviana Lisetti, Pasquale Nigro, Paolo Eusebi, Pietro Chiarini, Michele Romoli, Elona Brahimi, Simone Simoni, Marta Filidei, Piero Floridi, Roberto Tarducci, Lucilla Parnetti, Paolo Calabresi

Journal: Neurobiology of aging 2020;80():91-98

PMID: 31103636

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Brain iron load is one of the main neuropathologic hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous studies indicated that iron in the substantia nigra (SN) is related to disease duration and motor impairment. We explore, through a cross-sectional study, the association between brain iron distribution, evaluated by T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2*), and clinical features in a cohort of patients with PD. Thirty-two patients with PD, compared with 10 control subjects, were evaluated for motor and cognitive features (attention and working memory, executive functions, language, memory, and visuospatial function). They underwent a magnetic resonance imaging protocol including T2* analysis of specific brain regions of interest to measure iron load compared with healthy control subjects. We found that iron content of the SN correlated positively with both disease duration and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III off score. Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Spatial Span, and Graded Naming Test scores were inversely associated with iron load of the SN, whereas Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV Similarities score showed an inverse relationship with iron content in all the regions of interest examined. Our findings suggest a relationship between topographic brain iron distribution and cognitive domain impairment.

Address: Neurology Department, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].; Neurology Department, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.; Physics and Geology Department, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.; Section of Neurology Department, Center for Memory Disturbances, Laboratory of Clinical Neurochemistry, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.; Neuroradiology Unit, Radiodiagnostic Department, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.; Medical Physics Unit, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.; Neurology Department, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy; Section of Neurology Department, Center for Memory Disturbances, Laboratory of Clinical Neurochemistry, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.; Neurology Department, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy; Section of Neurology Department, Center for Memory Disturbances, Laboratory of Clinical Neurochemistry, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy; Experimental Neurophysiology Laboratory, I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia, Roma, Italy.

DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.04.005

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MeSH Terms: Brain, Cognition, Cognitive Dysfunction, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Female, Humans, Iron, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Motor Disorders, Parkinson Disease