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Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as a Potential Biomarker for Parkinson's Disease (PD)

Paul Tuite1

  • 1Neurology Department, University of Minnesota, MMC 295, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. tuite002@umn.edu.

Brain Sciences
|June 17, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows promise for Parkinson's disease (PD) research. While not yet suitable for early diagnosis, MRI may help track disease progression and treatment response.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroimaging
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases

Background:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is being investigated for its potential as a biomarker in Parkinson's disease (PD).
  • Current MRI techniques lack the sensitivity and specificity for early PD diagnosis.
  • Existing research suggests MRI's utility in monitoring disease progression and treatment effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the potential of MRI as a biomarker for Parkinson's disease.
  • To focus on diffusion- and neuromelanin-based imaging methods.
  • To explore pharmacodynamic imaging for theranostic applications in PD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on MRI techniques for Parkinson's disease.
  • Focus on diffusion-weighted imaging and neuromelanin-sensitive imaging.
  • Exploration of pharmacodynamic imaging approaches.

Main Results:

  • MRI is currently insufficient for diagnosing Parkinson's disease in individual patients.
  • Evidence supports MRI's role in staging disease progression.
  • MRI may serve as a theranostic marker for monitoring disease pathophysiology and treatment response.

Conclusions:

  • MRI shows potential as a staging and theranostic biomarker for Parkinson's disease.
  • Further research is needed to establish MRI's diagnostic capabilities.
  • Pharmacodynamic imaging offers a promising avenue for theranostic applications in PD.
Keywords:
diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)fractional anisotropy (FA)functional MRI (fMRI)magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)neuromelaninpharmacodynamic MRI (phMRI)resting state-fMRI (rs-fMRI)theranosticsvoxel-based morphometry (VBM)

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