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Brain Iron in Nucleus Accumbens and Cognitive Function in Preeclampsia
Boyao Chen1, Meng Li2,3, Tao Chen4
1Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose and Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging, Ministry of Education, Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China (B.C., X.H., Y.C., P.L., L.G.).
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Preeclampsia is linked to long-term cognitive decline. Elevated iron in the nucleus accumbens exacerbates executive dysfunction in preeclampsia patients, suggesting a key pathological role.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Preeclampsia is associated with long-term cognitive dysfunction.
- Cerebral iron deposition is a potential contributing factor.
- Investigating striatal iron alterations in preeclampsia is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate striatal iron alterations in preeclampsia using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).
- To examine the relationship between these iron alterations and cognitive function.
- To identify potential pathological mechanisms underlying cognitive dysfunction in preeclampsia.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study with 321 participants (nonpregnant controls, pregnant controls, preeclampsia patients).
- Cognitive assessment using Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Trail Making Test.
- Brain MRI with quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) for striatal iron quantification.
Main Results:
- Preeclampsia patients exhibited poorer executive function and elevated nucleus accumbens magnetic susceptibility.
- Age and hematocrit were independently associated with iron levels.
- Significant interactions showed elevated nucleus accumbens iron exacerbates executive vulnerability in preeclampsia.
Conclusions:
- Elevated nucleus accumbens iron levels are observed in preeclampsia.
- Nucleus accumbens iron concentration correlates with executive performance deficits.
- Striatal iron deposition is a key pathological feature in preeclampsia-related cerebral involvement.
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