Magnetic resonance relaxometry in Parkinson's disease

A central role of iron in the pathogenesis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), due to its increase in substantia nigra pars compacta dopaminergic neurons and its capacity to enhance production of toxin reactive oxygen radicals, has been discussed for many years. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation is considered an objective and noninvasive method of measuring regional iron concentrations. By means of this technique we investigated both controls and PD patients.