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Wengler K, Trujillo P, Cassidy CM, Horga G. Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI for mechanistic research and biomarker development in psychiatry. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024:10.1038/s41386-024-01934-y. [PMID: 39160355 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01934-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI is a burgeoning non-invasive neuroimaging method with an increasing number of applications in psychiatric research. This MRI modality is sensitive to the concentration of neuromelanin, which is synthesized from intracellular catecholamines and accumulates in catecholaminergic nuclei including the dopaminergic substantia nigra and the noradrenergic locus coeruleus. Emerging data suggest the utility of neuromelanin-sensitive MRI as a proxy measure for variability in catecholamine metabolism and function, even in the absence of catecholaminergic cell loss. Given the importance of catecholamine function to several psychiatric disorders and their treatments, neuromelanin-sensitive MRI is ideally positioned as an informative and easy-to-acquire catecholaminergic index. In this review paper, we examine basic aspects of neuromelanin and neuromelanin-sensitive MRI and focus on its psychiatric applications in the contexts of mechanistic research and biomarker development. We discuss ongoing debates and state-of-the-art research into the mechanisms of the neuromelanin-sensitive MRI contrast, standardized protocols and optimized analytic approaches, and application of cutting-edge methods such as machine learning and artificial intelligence to enhance the feasibility and predictive power of neuromelanin-sensitive-MRI-based tools. We finally lay out important future directions to allow neuromelanin-sensitive-MRI to fulfill its potential as a key component of the research, and ultimately clinical, toolbox in psychiatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Wengler
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paula Trujillo
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt, TN, USA
| | - Clifford M Cassidy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Guillermo Horga
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Zarkali A, Thomas GEC, Zetterberg H, Weil RS. Neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers in Parkinson's disease in an era of targeted interventions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5661. [PMID: 38969680 PMCID: PMC11226684 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49949-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
A major challenge in Parkinson's disease is the variability in symptoms and rates of progression, underpinned by heterogeneity of pathological processes. Biomarkers are urgently needed for accurate diagnosis, patient stratification, monitoring disease progression and precise treatment. These were previously lacking, but recently, novel imaging and fluid biomarkers have been developed. Here, we consider new imaging approaches showing sensitivity to brain tissue composition, and examine novel fluid biomarkers showing specificity for pathological processes, including seed amplification assays and extracellular vesicles. We reflect on these biomarkers in the context of new biological staging systems, and on emerging techniques currently in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki Zarkali
- Dementia Research Centre, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK.
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Rimona S Weil
- Dementia Research Centre, Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
- Department of Advanced Neuroimaging, UCL, London, UK
- Movement Disorders Centre, UCL, London, UK
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Lakhani DA, Zhou X, Tao S, Patel V, Wen S, Okromelidze L, Greco E, Lin C, Westerhold EM, Straub S, Wszolek ZK, Tipton PW, Uitti RJ, Grewal SS, Middlebrooks EH. Diagnostic utility of 7T neuromelanin imaging of the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:13. [PMID: 38191546 PMCID: PMC10774294 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00631-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that presents a diagnostic challenge due to symptom overlap with other disorders. Neuromelanin (NM) imaging is a promising biomarker for PD, but adoption has been limited, in part due to subpar performance at standard MRI field strengths. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of ultra-high field 7T NM-sensitive imaging in the diagnosis of PD versus controls and essential tremor (ET), as well as NM differences among PD subtypes. A retrospective case-control study was conducted including PD patients, ET patients, and controls. 7T NM-sensitive 3D-GRE was acquired, and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) volumes, contrast ratios, and asymmetry indices were calculated. Statistical analyses, including general linear models and ROC curves, were employed. Twenty-one PD patients, 13 ET patients, and 18 controls were assessed. PD patients exhibited significantly lower SNpc volumes compared to non-PD subjects. SNpc total volume showed 100% sensitivity and 96.8% specificity (AUC = 0.998) for differentiating PD from non-PD and 100% sensitivity and 95.2% specificity (AUC = 0.996) in differentiating PD from ET. Contrast ratio was not significantly different between PD and non-PD groups (p = 0.07). There was also significantly higher asymmetry index in SNpc volume in PD compared to non-PD cohorts (p < 0.001). NM signal loss in PD predominantly involved the inferior, posterior, and lateral aspects of SNpc. Akinetic-rigid subtype showed more significant NM signal loss compared to tremor dominant subtype (p < 0.001). 7T NM imaging demonstrates potential as a diagnostic tool for PD, including potential distinction between subtypes, allowing improved understanding of disease progression and subtype-related characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhairya A Lakhani
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Xiangzhi Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Shengzhen Tao
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Vishal Patel
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Sijin Wen
- Department of Biostatistics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | | | - Elena Greco
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Chen Lin
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Sina Straub
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Ryan J Uitti
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Erik H Middlebrooks
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
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