Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
08:36
Functional Neuroimaging Using Ultrasonic Blood-brain Barrier Disruption and Manganese-enhanced MRI
Published on: July 12, 2012
15.1K
Gray matter microstructural alterations in manganese-exposed welders: a preliminary neuroimaging study
Jiayu Wu1, Qiaoying Zhang1, Pengfeng Sun1
1Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Xi'an Central Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
European Radiology
|June 23, 2022
Summary
Chronic manganese (Mn) exposure in welders is linked to brain structure changes. Altered gray matter volume in the hippocampus and parahippocampus may indicate Mn overexposure.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Occupational Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Chronic occupational manganese (Mn) exposure is associated with motor and cognitive deficits.
- Understanding the neurobiological impact of Mn exposure is crucial for worker health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate structural brain abnormalities in Mn-exposed welders compared to healthy controls (HCs).
- To identify potential neuroimaging biomarkers for Mn overexposure.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 35 HCs and 40 Mn-exposed welders.
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and structural covariance analysis were used to examine whole-brain structural changes.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed classification power of identified regions.
Main Results:
- Mn-exposed welders showed altered gray matter volume (GMV) in the medial prefrontal cortex, lentiform nucleus, hippocampus, and parahippocampus.
- The hippocampus/parahippocampus demonstrated the highest classification power in ROC analysis.
- Distinct structural covariance patterns were observed, involving the thalamus, insula, amygdala, sensorimotor area, and middle temporal gyrus.
Conclusions:
- Mn-exposed welders exhibit altered GMV and structural covariance patterns, impacting motivation, cognition, and emotional regulation.
- These findings suggest potential neural mechanisms underlying Mn overexposure.
- Altered hippocampal/parahippocampal and putamen GMV may serve as biomarkers for Mn overexposure.
