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Updated: May 6, 2026

Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra
Published on: September 8, 2021
MRI reveals brain abnormalities in drug-naive Parkinson's disease
Peggy J Planetta1, Nikolaus R McFarland, Michael S Okun
1Departments of 1Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, and 2Neurology, 3Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, and Departments of 4Neurosurgery, and 5Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Abstract:
Most brain studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) focus on patients who are already taking antiparkinsonian medication. This makes it difficult to isolate the effects of disease from those of treatment. We review magnetic resonance imaging evidence supporting the hypothesis that early-stage untreated PD patients have structural and functional abnormalities in the brain, some of which are related to motor symptoms.
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