Undetectable gadolinium brain retention in individuals with an age-dependent blood-brain barrier breakdown in the hippocampus and mild cognitive impairment.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown is an early independent biomarker of human cognitive dysfunction, as found using gadolinium (Gd) as a contrast agent. Whether Gd accumulates in brains of individuals with an age-dependent BBB breakdown and/or mild cognitive impairment remains unclear.

METHODS:

We analyzed T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 52 older participants with BBB breakdown in the hippocampus 19-28 months after either cyclic or linear Gd agent.

RESULTS:

There was no change in T1-weighted signal intensity between the baseline contrast MRI and unenhanced MRI on re-examination in any of the studied 10 brain regions with either Gd agent suggesting undetectable Gd brain retention.

DISCUSSION:

Gd does not accumulate in brains of older individuals with a BBB breakdown in the hippocampus. Thus, Gd agents can be used without risk of brain retention within a ∼2-year follow-up to study BBB in the aging human brain in relation to cognition and/or other pathologies.

• Authors: Axel Montagne, Mikko T Huuskonen, Gautham Rajagopal, Melanie D Sweeney, Daniel A Nation, Farshid Sepehrband, Lina M D'Orazio, Michael G Harrington, Helena C Chui, Meng Law, Arthur W Toga, Berislav V Zlokovic
• Journal: Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association (Alzheimers Dement) Vol. 15 Issue 12 Pg. 1568-1575 (12 2019) ISSN: 1552-5279 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31862169 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 the Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Contrast Media
• Gadolinium

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Blood-Brain Barrier (drug effects)
• Brain (pathology)
• Cognitive Dysfunction (pathology)
• Contrast Media (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Gadolinium (analysis, therapeutic use)
• Hippocampus (pathology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Neuropsychological Tests (statistics & numerical data)