Cerebral perfusion abnormalities in patients with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD): a SPECT study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Neurology

Background:

• Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic condition affecting daily life.
• The neural mechanisms underlying PPPD, despite suspected anxiety and postural control changes, remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in patients with PPPD using SPECT.
• To correlate rCBF with disease severity and duration in PPPD patients.

Main Methods:

• Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain scans were performed on 25 PPPD patients and 25 healthy controls.
• Patients completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory to assess disease severity.

Main Results:

• PPPD patients exhibited significantly decreased rCBF in the insula and frontal lobe (left posterior insula, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, right inferior frontal gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left medial orbital gyrus).
• A significant increase in bilateral cerebellar rCBF was observed in PPPD patients compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Altered rCBF in the insular, frontal, and cerebellar cortices may indicate maladaptation and compensatory responses in PPPD.
• These findings contribute to understanding the neural underpinnings of PPPD.