Levels of iron in the brain could be a warning sign of future Alzheimer’s disease, a new study suggests.
High levels of the chemical element have been shown to increase brain toxins and trigger neurodegeneration, resulting in cognitive decline — especially when they interact with the abnormal amyloid and tau proteins that are the hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that a special MRI technique called quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) can measure levels of brain iron.
"QSM is an advanced MRI technique developed over the last decade to measure tissue magnetic susceptibility with good precision," the study’s senior author, Xu Li, associate professor of radiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said in a press release.
"QSM can detect small differences in iron levels across different brain regions, providing a reliable and non-invasive way to map and quantify iron in patients, which is not possible with conventional MR approaches."
Compared to traditional imaging options for Alzheimer’s diagnosis, including PET scans, QSM MRI is "non-invasive and much more affordable," according to the researchers.
This measurement could help predict the likelihood of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitive decline, even if the person has shown no symptoms.
