Enlarged Area of Mesencephalic Iron Deposits in Adults Who Stutter

Liman, Jan; Gudenberg, Alexander Wolff von; Baehr, M.; Paulus, Walter; Neef, Nicole E.; Sommer, Martin

doi:10.3389/fnhum.2021.639269

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(67 reference statements)

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“…One recent study has indicated similar findings in regard to iron using ultrasound to reveal elevated iron accumulation in the substantia nigra in individuals who stutter. 30 Here we similarly conclude that there are iron differences in the basal ganglia (and connected cortical areas) in individuals who stutter, although our analyses revealed no significant differences in iron levels in the substantia nigra. Further analyses are warranted and measurement using ultrasound in the same participants would clarify the current discrepancy between the results of the two studies.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Elevated iron concentration in putamen and cortical speech motor network in developmental stuttering

Cler

Krishnan

Papp

et al. 2021

Brain

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Theoretical accounts of developmental stuttering implicate dysfunctional cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical motor loops through the putamen. However, the analysis of conventional MRI brain scans in individuals who stutter has failed to yield strong support for this theory in terms of reliable differences in the structure or function of the basal ganglia. Here, we performed quantitative mapping of brain tissue, which can be used to measure iron content alongside markers sensitive to myelin and thereby offers particular sensitivity to the measurement of iron-rich structures such as the basal ganglia. Analysis of these quantitative maps in 41 men and women who stutter and 32 individuals who are typically fluent revealed significant group differences in maps of R 2 *, indicative of higher iron content in individuals who stutter in the left putamen and in left hemisphere cortical regions important for speech motor control. Higher iron levels in brain tissue in individuals who stutter could reflect elevated dopamine levels or lysosomal dysfunction, both of which are implicated in stuttering. This study represents the first use of these quantitative measures in developmental stuttering and provides new evidence of microstructural differences in the basal ganglia and connected frontal cortical regions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 58%

Elevated iron concentration in putamen and cortical speech motor network in developmental stuttering

Cler

Krishnan

Papp

et al. 2021

Brain

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show abstract

“…One recent study has indicated similar findings in regards to iron using ultrasound to reveal elevated iron accumulation in the substantia nigra in PWS. 29 Here we similarly conclude that there are iron differences in the basal ganglia (and connected cortical areas) in PWS, although our analyses revealed no significant differences in iron levels in the substantia nigra. Further analyses are warranted and measurement using ultrasound in the same participants would clarify the current discrepancy between the results of the two studies.…”

Section: No Differences In Myelin Markers or Grey Matter Volumesupporting

confidence: 58%

Elevated iron concentration in putamen and cortical speech motor network in developmental stuttering

Cler¹,

Krishnan²,

Papp³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Theoretical accounts of developmental stuttering implicate dysfunctional cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical motor loops through the putamen, but empirical evidence of these proposed differences is currently limited. Conventional MRI data has been used in people who stutter to measure the size or volume of grey matter structures, cortical thickness, and diffusion properties of white matter fibre tracts. Quantitative mapping of brain tissue can reveal detailed maps of microstructural properties of brain tissue in both grey and white matter, but has not yet been assessed in people who stutter. Analysis of these quantitative maps in 41 people who stutter and 32 matched controls revealed significant group differences in maps of R2*, indicative of higher iron content in people who stutter than controls in left cortical regions important for speech motor control and the left putamen. Higher iron levels in brain tissue in people who stutter may be a marker of elevated dopamine levels or lysosomal dysfunction. This study represents the first use of these quantitative measures in developmental stuttering and provides new evidence of structural differences.

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“…This is somewhat difficult to reconcile with the speech and non-speech motor slowing seen in individuals who stutter. As we have previously speculated, 2 worsening of motor performance as a result of excess movement may constitute an explanation for the increased dopamine in stuttering.…”

mentioning

confidence: 68%

“…1 This finding supports and expands on recent work that used transcranial ultrasound to reveal increased mesencephalic iron deposits in individuals who stutter. 2 Remarkably, neither paper had a directional hypothesis, i.e. it was unclear what to expect.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Motor behaviour has yet to be thoroughly studied alongside speech modification in individuals who stutter, even though abnormal finger tapping and other abnormal movements have been observed in affected individuals. 9 Going forward, we recommend assessing additional motor behaviours such as walking or manual dexterity, 2 to gain a clear understanding of the functional relevance of altered iron metabolism to stuttering. Future prospective studies assessing regional iron deposits, subtle motor changes and stuttering onset should shed light on this issue.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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