Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Mössbauer Spectroscopy as Complementary Methods for Studying Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration

The role of iron in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases — such as Parkinson, atypical parkinsonism, or Alzheimer — remains unclear. In the present study, we discussed various controversies related to this issue based on measurements performed via nuclear magnetic resonance with the use of the equipment with a magnetic field of 1.5 T. Relaxation times T1 and T2 were measured for 46 patients with Parkinson disease, 16 patients with Alzheimer disease, 27 patients with atypical parkinsonism (progressive supranuclear palsy), and 24 healthy controls. The results of the nuclear magnetic resonance study were interpreted based on the results of Mössbauer spectroscopy and biochemical measurements of autopsy samples obtained from patients with the pathologically confirmed diagnoses of these diseases and from healthy controls. No increase in iron content was found in either Parkinson or Alzheimer disease. An increase in iron content was found only in cases of progressive supranuclear palsy.