MRI detects cerebral iron changes for years before the symptoms of Alzheimer

Iron levels in the brain could be a warning sign of the future Alzheimer’s disease, suggests a new study.

It has been shown that the high levels of the chemical element increase brain toxins and trigger neurodegeneration, resulting in cognitive decline – especially when they interact with abnormal amyloid and tau proteins which are the characteristic pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have found that a special MRI technique called quantitative sensitivity mapping (QSM) can measure brain iron levels.

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“QSM is an advanced MRI technique developed in the last decade to measure the tissue magnetic sensitivity with good precision,” said the main study of the study, the Associate Professor of Radiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, in a press release.

“QSM can detect small differences in iron levels in different regions of the brain, offering a reliable and non -invasive way to map and quantify iron in patients, which is not possible with conventional RM approaches.”

Iron levels in the brain could be a warning sign of the future Alzheimer’s disease, suggests a new study. (istock)

Compared to traditional imaging options for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, including TEP analyzes, the MRI QSM is “not invasive and much more affordable”, according to the researchers.

This measure could help predict the probability of light cognitive (MCI) and cognitive decline, even if the person has shown no symptoms.

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In the study, which was published in the journal Radiology, the researchers tested the MRI technique on 158 unarmed cognitively unrealized participants of a previous research project.

After a period of follow -up of 7 and a half years, the team concluded that higher iron levels in two key parts of the brain were linked to a higher risk of light cognitive impairment, which is generally a precursor to the development of the dementia of Alzheimer.

“Brain iron changes can be measured years before the memory loss, when participants are still cognitively normal.”

“The point to remember of our study is that higher brain iron levels, especially in certain critical brain regions linked to memory and learning (Cortex Entorhinal and Putamen, as shown by our study), are linked to a risk of two to four times higher to develop MCI and a faster cognitive decrease”, said Li to Fox News Digital.

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“And such brain iron changes can be measured years before the loss of memory, when participants are still cognitively normal.

“Using QSM, we have found a higher brain iron in certain regions linked to memory which are linked to a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and a faster cognitive decline,” said Li. “This risk is even higher when participants have higher levels of amyloid pathologies.”

The high levels of the chemical element have been shown to increase brain toxins and trigger neurodegeneration. (istock)

The study had certain limits, noted Li, including the smallest group of participants.

“The studied population comes from a specialized cohort made up of mainly white participants and very educated with solid family history of Alzheimer’s disease,” noted the researcher.

If larger and more diverse studies confirm these results, it could support the use of this MRI technique for patients at a higher risk of dementia, the press release said.

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“I think we should hope,” said Li. “We can use this type of tool to help identify patients at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and potentially guide early interventions as new treatments become available. In addition, in addition to serving as a biomarker, brain iron could become a future therapeutic target.”

Researchers also hope to make QSM technology more standardized, faster and more widely accessible in clinical practice, he added.

Although brain iron is associated with neurodegeneration and can lead to a faster cognitive decline, it is also an important element for cognitive health, said the researcher. (istock)

Li noted that if brain iron is associated with neurodegeneration and could lead to a faster cognitive decline, it is also an important element for cognitive health and neurode development at young age.

“While iron chelation therapies (to eliminate iron) for Alzheimer’s disease are currently explored, their effect is still not very clear and much more research is necessary,” he said.

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The study was supported by the National Institute of Biomedical Imagery and Bio-Engineering, the National Institute of Aging and the National Institutes of Health.