MRI findings predict Parkinson's disease progression
MR imaging could provide valuable insight into how Parkinson’s disease (P)D will progress years before its related symptoms become debilitating.
That’s according to new research published in Radiology detailing specific connectivity findings on MRI brain scans that experts believe may proceed the onset of widespread PD progression. Researchers used structural and functional MRI data to map how brain atrophy spreads over time based on when signs of the disease present in specific regions of the brain.
“In the present study, brain connectome, both structural and functional, showed the potential to predict progression of gray matter alteration in patients with mild Parkinson’s disease,” study co-author Federica Agosta, MD, PhD, associate professor of neurology at the Neuroimaging Research Unit of IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Italy, said in a release. “The loss of neurons and accumulation of abnormal proteins can disrupt neural connections, compromising the transmission of neural signals and the integration of information across different brain regions.”
The study included MRI data from 146 patients—86 with mild PD and 60 healthy controls—to create a structural/functional map of the brain's neural connections, known as the connectome. The connectome was used to identify areas of disease exposure and follow its progression across multiple regions over time.
Through this, the team determined that disease exposure at one and two years translated into gray matter atrophy two and three years later. The finding was most notable in the right caudate nucleus and some frontal, parietal, and temporal brain regions three years post-baseline.
Authors of the study suggest that their findings indicate a valuable role for MRI in identifying opportunities to slow the progression of PD. They added that future research on the topic should incorporate specific patient information to determine the best path forward for patients after they have received a diagnosis.
“We believe that understanding the organization and dynamics of the human brain network is a pivotal goal in neuroscience, achievable through the study of the human connectome,” Agosta said. “The idea that this approach could help identify different biomarkers capable of modulating PD progression inspires our work.”
The study abstract can be viewed here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.