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

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

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25 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1568-1575
Number of pages8
JournalAlzheimer's & Dementia
Volume15
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood-brain barrier
  • Gadolinium
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Mild cognitive dysfunction
  • Normal aging

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