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Network connectivity determines cortical thinning in early Parkinson's disease progression
Y Yau1, Y Zeighami1, T E Baker1,2
1Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada.
Nature Communications
|January 4, 2018
Summary
Parkinson's disease neurodegeneration spreads through neural networks, causing cortical thinning in specific brain regions. This pattern, linked to brain connectivity, may predict cognitive decline in Parkinson's patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
- The progression of PD and its pathological spread, particularly alpha-synuclein, remain incompletely understood.
- Investigating the topographical spread of neurodegeneration in PD is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease progresses stereotypically along neural networks.
- To identify specific brain regions affected by cortical thinning in PD patients over time.
- To explore the relationship between cortical atrophy, neural connectivity, and potential cognitive impairment.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal T1-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) analysis of 105 Parkinson's disease patients and 57 controls over one year.
- Assessment of cortical thickness changes in various brain lobes.
- Correlation analysis between cortical thinning, baseline neural connectivity (functional and structural), and a "disease reservoir" identified by MRI.
Main Results:
- Parkinson's disease patients showed significantly greater cortical thinning than controls in the left occipital, bilateral frontal, and right somatomotor-sensory cortex.
- Cortical thinning was correlated with baseline neural connectivity to a "disease reservoir."
- The observed atrophy pattern in ventral frontal lobes bore resemblance to patterns seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Conclusions:
- Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease appears to propagate along established neuronal pathways.
- Cortical involvement in PD follows patterns dictated by neural network connectivity.
- The spread of neurodegeneration to the cortex may serve as an early indicator of cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.
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