Association of quantitative susceptibility mapping signal in gray matter with clinical characteristics and aging-related MRI markers: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

In neuropathologic studies, iron accumulation in gray matter (GM) is associated with aging and specific neurological diseases, but less is known about its correlates in community-based populations.

Methods

In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, brain MRI was conducted in 2018-2019. To estimate iron content, we derived the median quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) signal from four regions: the basal ganglia and cortical GM of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. We examined cross-sectional associations with demographic and clinical characteristics, cognitive test performance, gait speed, and brain MRI measures of atrophy and small vessel disease.

Results

We studied 943 participants (14 % Chinese, 25 % Black, 20 % Hispanic,

SUBMITTER: Heckbert SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12508581 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature