MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING CHANGES IN PUTAMEN NUCLEI IRON CONTENT ANDDISTRIBUTION IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

To study patterns of iron deposition in the putamen in aging, we revie wed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 56 normal subjects . We developed the Signal Hypointensity in the Putamen (SHIP) Scale, a semiquantitative measure, to evaluate putamen nuclei for extent of ir on deposition relative to the globus pallidus. The SHIP score was high ly reliable (kappa = 0.76) and significantly correlated with age (P < 0.0001). We found that age-related iron deposition in putamen nuclei f ollows a characteristic pattern along a posterolateral-to-anteromedial gradient. This gradient may be related to the microvasculature of the putamen, Other studies are needed to replicate our findings in patien ts with affective and other neuropsychiatric disorders and to clarify the pathophysiological mechanisms that govern these changes. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.