Abstract
AimTo quantify age-dependent iron deposition changes in healthy subjects using Susceptibility Weighted Imaging (SWI).Materials and MethodsIn total, 143 healthy volunteers were enrolled. All underwent conventional MR and SWI sequences. Subjects were divided into eight groups according to age. Using phase images to quantify iron deposition in the head of the caudate nucleus and the lenticular nucleus, the angle radian value was calculated and compared between groups. ANOVA/Pearson correlation coefficient linear regression analysis and polynomial fitting were performed to analyze the relationship between iron deposition in the head of the caudate nucleus and lenticular nucleus with age.ResultsIron deposition in the lenticular nucleus increased in individuals aged up to 40 years, but did not change in those aged over 40 years once a peak had been reached. In the head of the caudate nucleus, iron deposition peaked at 60 years (p<0.05). The correlation coefficients for iron deposition in the L-head of the caudate nucleus, R-head of the caudate nucleus, L-lenticular nucleus and R-lenticular nucleus with age were 0.67691, 0.48585, 0.5228 and 0.5228 (p<0.001, respectively). Linear regression analyses showed a significant correlation between iron deposition levels in with age groups.ConclusionsIron deposition in the lenticular nucleus was found to increase with age, reaching a plateau at 40 years. Iron deposition in the head of the caudate nucleus also increased with age, reaching a plateau at 60 years.
Highlights
Excessive deposition of iron in brain may be a risk factor for degenerative disease [1,2,3] and knowledge of the normal range of iron accumulation is essential [4]
Iron deposition in the lenticular nucleus increased in individuals aged up to 40 years, but did not change in those aged over 40 years once a peak had been reached
In the head of the caudate nucleus, iron deposition peaked at 60 years (p,0.05)
Summary
Excessive deposition of iron in brain may be a risk factor for degenerative disease [1,2,3] and knowledge of the normal range of iron accumulation is essential [4]. Understanding the appearance of iron deposition in the aging brain is an important step in the interpretation of imaging of the diseased brain. Haacke et al selected the same anatomical sites [4,11,12,13], and illustrated the importance of establishing a brain iron deposition range in healthy volunteers in order to determine the pattern in diseased brains. Iron deposition was further analyzed in accordance with age-related changes
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