Neuroimaging Markers of Motor and Nonmotor Features of Parkinson's Disease: An [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Computed Tomography Study

• Published in: Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders Vol. 35; no. 3-4; pp. 183 - 196
• Main Authors: Huang, Chaorui, Ravdin, Lisa D., Nirenberg, Melissa J., Piboolnurak, Panida, Severt, Lawrence, Maniscalco, James S., Solnes, Lilja, Dorfman, Benjamin J., Henchcliffe, Claire
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Nervous system; Neurology; Original Research Article; Radionuclide investigations; Glucose metabolism; Nonmotor features of Parkinson's disease; Cognition; Parkinson's disease; Emotion; Positron emission tomography; 2-deoxy-2-fluoroglucose; Nervous system diseases; Cognitive disorder; Parkinson disease; Glucose; Metabolism; Cerebral disorder; Central nervous system disease; Degenerative disease; Extrapyramidal syndrome; Dementia; Emission tomography
• DOI: 10.1159/000345987
• ISSN: 1420-8008

Aim: We sought to identify markers of motor and nonmotor function in Parkinson's disease (PD) using advanced neuroimaging techniques in subjects with PD. Methods: We enrolled 26 nondemented PD subjects and 12 control subjects. All subjects underwent [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography (FDG-PET) and magnetic resonance imaging, and a complete neuropsychological battery. Results: FDG-PET of subjects with PD revealed significant metabolic elevations in the bilateral posterior lentiform nucleus, posterior cingulate, and parahippocampus, and metabolic reductions in the bilateral temporoparietal association cortex and occipital lobe versus controls. PD subjects had significant reductions in executive/attention function, memory/verbal learning, and speed of thinking, and significantly increased depression, anxiety and apathy scores compared with controls. Motor dysfunction correlated with increased metabolism in the posterior lentiform nucleus, pons, and cerebellum, and decreased metabolism in the temporoparietal lobe. Cognitive dysfunction correlated with increased posterior cingulate metabolism and decreased temporoparietal lobe metabolism. Depressive symptoms correlated with increased amygdala metabolism; anxiety scores correlated with decreased caudate metabolism, and apathy scores correlated with increased metabolism in the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal lobe and decreased metabolism in the temporoparietal association cortex. Conclusions: Our findings showed that motor, cognitive, and emotional dysfunction in PD are associated with distinct patterns of cerebral metabolic changes.