{
  "abstract": "Metal exposure has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD). This study examined microstructural changes in subcortical motor areas associated with chronic metal exposure. Subjects with/without a welding history (metal-exposed subjects; n = 23 and controls; n = 24) were examined. Brain microstructural differences were assessed by MRI diffusion metrics [mean (MD), axial (AD), radial diffusivity (RD) and fractional anisotropy (FA)] in subcortical motor areas [nigro-basal ganglia-thalamic circuit: substantia nigra (SN), caudate nucleus (CN), putamen, globus pallidus (GP), and thalamus; dentatorubral circuit: dentate nucleus (DN) and red nucleus (RN)]. Metal exposure was estimated by lifetime welding years, whole blood metal levels, and T1 and R2* (1/T2*) metrics (estimates of brain metal accumulation). Compared to controls, metal-exposed subjects displayed higher diffusivities in the GP and thalamus (p's < 0.033) but lower FA values in the putamen, SN, and thalamus (p's < 0.039) without differences in DN and RN (p's > 0.115). Blood metal mixtures predicted higher GP and SN T1 metrics (p's < 0.05). Higher T1 metrics predicted higher GP and TH diffusivities and lower SN and TH FA values (p's < 0.044). Higher blood vanadium levels predicted lower SN FA values (p = 0.009). Multiple metal exposure may be associated with microstructural compromises within the nigro-basal ganglia-thalamic circuit, while the dentatorubral circuit remains relatively spared, a pattern resembling that of PD at-risk populations.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Health Care and Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea."
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eun-Young Lee",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6334-5853"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9xrznxz9q8m8z.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/toxics14100911",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709804",
  "id": "9xrznxz9q8m8z",
  "issns": [
    "2305-6304"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931698",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2307|Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222134180",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13709804?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13709804",
  "pmid": "42931698",
  "published": "2026-10-15",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9xrznxz9q8m8z.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42931698",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42931698"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2307|Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Subcortical Microstructural Changes Associated with Multiple Metal Exposure.",
  "title_text": "Subcortical Microstructural Changes Associated with Multiple Metal Exposure.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:22:01Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9xrznxz9q8m8z",
  "venue": "Toxics",
  "versions": []
}