Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Assessing Iron Deposition in the Brains of 5xFAD Mice by Perls'/DAB Staining
07:32

Assessing Iron Deposition in the Brains of 5xFAD Mice by Perls'/DAB Staining

Published on: May 23, 2025

Clinical MRI for iron detection in Parkinson's disease

Maija Rossi1, Hanna Ruottinen, Seppo Soimakallio

  • 1Medical Imaging Centre, Department of Radiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. maija.rossi@pshp.fi

Clinical Imaging
|March 26, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Nonheme iron levels detected by MRI correlate with Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms. Susceptibility-weighted imaging, unlike T2-weighted imaging, effectively distinguishes PD patients from healthy individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neurology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
  • Iron accumulation is implicated in PD pathogenesis.
  • Nonheme iron's role in PD requires further investigation using advanced MRI techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate nonheme iron deposition in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients using clinically available MRI.
  • To correlate MRI findings with clinical symptoms and disease severity in PD.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of different MRI sequences in detecting PD-related changes.

Main Methods:

  • 3-Tesla (3T) MRI scans were performed on 36 PD patients and 21 healthy volunteers.
  • Quantitative R2* and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) were utilized.
  • Clinical assessments were conducted to evaluate motor impairment and disease severity.

Main Results:

  • Quantitative R2* values correlated significantly with PD symptoms.
  • SWI successfully differentiated between PD patients and controls.
  • T2-weighted imaging did not show significant differences between groups.
  • Increased nonheme iron deposition was observed in the substantia nigra and globus pallidus of PD patients.
  • These iron-related changes correlated with the severity of motor impairment.

Conclusions:

  • Clinically available MRI, particularly SWI and quantitative R2*, can detect nonheme iron changes in PD.
  • These MRI findings reflect neurodegeneration and motor impairment severity in Parkinson's disease.
  • Nonheme iron accumulation in specific brain regions is a potential imaging biomarker for PD.

More Related Videos

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla08:51

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla

Published on: February 19, 2021

Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data14:27

Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data

Published on: June 26, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:24

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment01:24

Parkinson's Disease: Treatment

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Parkinson's Disease: Overview01:15

Parkinson's Disease: Overview

Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction01:24

Parkinson Disease l: Introduction

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:24

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:27

Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Introduction:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, can include a specialized imaging technique of the urinary system known as Magnetic Resonance Urography (MRU). This radiation-free technique uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images with the help of a computer. MRU is particularly effective for visualizing fluid-filled structures like the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.Applications of MRI in the Genitourinary SystemKidneys and Ureters: MRI detects tumors, cysts,...