A magnetic resonance imaging study of patients with Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment and dementia

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study
07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Mona K Beyer1, Carmen C Janvin, Jan P Larsen

  • 1Department of Radiology, Stavanger University Hospital, PO Box 8100, N-4068 Stavanger, Norway. bemk@sus.no

Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|October 10, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Dementia in Parkinson's disease (PDD) is linked to widespread cortical atrophy. Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease without dementia (PDND) also shows brain structural changes, particularly in the frontal and temporal lobes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Neuropathology
  • Cognitive Neurology

Background:

  • Dementia is a frequent complication of Parkinson's disease.
  • The precise brain pathology driving dementia in Parkinson's disease remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate brain structural changes in Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.
  • Utilizing structural magnetic resonance imaging to compare brain morphology across patient groups.

Main Methods:

  • Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was employed to analyze grey matter atrophy.
  • Compared brain images of Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), Parkinson's disease without dementia (PDND), and healthy elderly controls.
  • PDND group included individuals with normal cognition and MCI; standardized scales assessed motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms.

Main Results:

  • PDD patients exhibited widespread cortical atrophy in temporal, frontal, and parietal lobes compared to controls.
  • Significant grey matter reductions were observed in frontal, parietal, limbic, and temporal lobes in PDD versus PDND.
  • PDND patients with MCI showed grey matter reductions in the left frontal and bilateral temporal lobes.

Conclusions:

  • Dementia in Parkinson's disease is associated with structural neocortical alterations.
  • Cognitive impairment in PDND may also stem from underlying structural brain changes.
  • Larger studies are recommended to validate these neuroimaging findings.

More Related Videos

Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data14:27

Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data

Published on: June 26, 2013

Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly12:50

Lesion Explorer: A Video-guided, Standardized Protocol for Accurate and Reliable MRI-derived Volumetrics in Alzheimer's Disease and Normal Elderly

Published on: April 14, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:27

Imaging Studies IV: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Introduction:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, can include a specialized imaging technique of the urinary system known as Magnetic Resonance Urography (MRU). This radiation-free technique uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images with the help of a computer. MRU is particularly effective for visualizing fluid-filled structures like the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.Applications of MRI in the Genitourinary SystemKidneys and Ureters: MRI detects tumors, cysts,...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging01:24

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique based on a phenomenon of nuclear physics discovered in the 1930s, in which matter exposed to magnetic fields and radio waves was found to emit radio signals. In 1970, a physician and researcher named Raymond Damadian noticed that malignant (cancerous) tissue gave off different signals than normal body tissue. He applied for a patent for the first MRI scanning device in clinical use by the early 1980s. The early MRI...
Parkinson's Disease: Overview01:15

Parkinson's Disease: Overview

Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
Parkinson Disease l: Introduction01:24

Parkinson Disease l: Introduction

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:24

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...