Focal hemosiderin deposits and β-amyloid load in the ADNI cohort
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Updated: May 14, 2026

Full- versus Sub-Regional Quantification of Amyloid-Beta Load on Mouse Brain Sections
Published on: May 19, 2022
Kejal Kantarci1, Jeffrey L Gunter, Nirubol Tosakulwong
1Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Background:
Prevalence and risk factors for focal hemosiderin deposits are important considerations when planning amyloid-modifying trials for treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Methods:
Subjects were cognitively normal (n = 171), early-mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 240), late-MCI (n = 111), and AD (n = 40) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Microhemorrhages and superficial siderosis were assessed at baseline and on all available MRIs at 3, 6, and 12 months. β-amyloid load was assessed with (18)F-florbetapir positron emission tomography.
Results:
Prevalence of superficial siderosis was 1% and prevalence of microhemorrhages was 25% increasing with age (P < .001) and β-amyloid load (P < .001). Topographic densities of microhemorrhages were highest in the occipital lobes and lowest in the deep/infratentorial regions. A greater number of microhemorrhages at baseline was associated with a greater annualized rate of additional microhemorrhages by last follow-up (rank correlation = 0.49; P < .001).
Conclusions:
Focal hemosiderin deposits are relatively common in the ADNI cohort and are associated with β-amyloid load.
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