Brainstem neuromelanin and iron MRI are novel imaging diagnostic markers for idiopathic and LRRK2 Parkinson’s disease.
Dopaminergic neuronal death in Parkinson’s disease is reflected by the loss of neuromelanin in substantia nigra and locus coeruleus. A novel automatic brainstem atlas of MRI neuromelanin-sensitive and iron images was used to differentiate Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 gene carriers (LRRK2-PD) and idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
