Iron accumulation in the ventral tegmental area in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

IntroductionThe ventral tegmental area (VTA) is less affected compared to substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate iron content in the VTA across different stages of PD in order to help explain the selective loss of dopamine neurons in PD.MethodsQuantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) data were obtained from 101 PD patients, 35 idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) patients, and 62 healthy controls (HCs). The mean QSM values in the VTA and SNc were calculated and compared among the groups.ResultsBoth RBD and PD patients had increased iron values in the bilateral SNc compared with HCs. RBD and PD patients in the Hoehn–Yahr (H & Y) stage 1 did not show elevated iron values in the VTA, while PD patients with more than 1.5 H & Y staging had increased iron values in bilateral VTA compared to HCs.DiscussionThis study shows that there is no increased iron accumulation in the VTA during the prodromal and early clinical stages of PD, but iron deposition increases significantly as the disease becomes more severe.

Iron Deposition in Parkinson’s Disease: A Mini-Review

“…Zhang et al revealed that during the prodromal and early clinical stages of PD, there is no observable augmentation in iron accumulation within the ventral tegmental area. However, iron deposition exhibits a substantial increase as PD progresses into more severe stages (Zhang et al 2023a ). A two-year follow-up study indicated a negative correlation between iron deposition and dopamine transporters in early PD patients (Biondetti et al 2021 ).…”

On the Role of Iron in Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

“…A study carried out with 101 patients with Parkinson's disease with quantitative susceptibility mapping data concluded that the ventral tegmental area does not show a significant increase in iron during pre-motor symptoms but that it significantly increases when the disease progresses [43]. Alpha lipoic acid, an iron chelating agent and antioxidant, decreases motor deficiencies in a Parkinson's animal model, and increases ferritin heavy chain 1 and ferroportin expression while decreasing divalent metal transporter 1 expression.…”