Related Experiment Videos
Cerebral Microbleeds are Associated with Postural Instability and Gait Disturbance Subtype in People with Parkinson's
Wei Ting Chiu1, Lung Chan1,2, Dean Wu1,2
1Department of Neurology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Objectives:
The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) vary among patients and have been categorized into 3 subtypes: tremor dominant, akinetic rigidity, and postural instability and gait disturbance (PIGD). Cerebral microbleed (CMB) is prevalent in people with PD and is associated with some nonmotor symptoms. The present study investigated the association between CMB and the motor subtypes of PD.
Materials And Methods:
From 2009 to 2017, medical records and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports of 134 Taiwanese people with early- and mid-stage PD were reviewed. CMBs were quantified according to the Microbleed Anatomical Rating Scale through susceptibility-weighted MRI. Motor subtypes were determined by medical chart review. Student's t test and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the association between the motor subtypes and CMB. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 19.0.
Results:
Overall, 72 (53.7%) participants were women with a mean age of 69.5 ± 9.8 years. The prevalence of CMB was 33.6%, and lobar, deep, and infratentorial CMBs comprised 21.6, 19.4, and 11.9% of cases, respectively. PIGD subtype PD was associated with a significantly higher prevalence of any CMB as well as deep or lobar CMB. After adjustment for age and sex, the PIGD subtype was significantly positively associated with the presence of any, deep, and white matter (WM) and thalamic CMB.
Conclusions:
CMB was prevalent in Taiwanese people with early- and mid-stage PD, especially the PIGD subtype. Deep, especially thalamic and WM, CMBs exhibited the highest association with the PIGD subtype.
Insights
Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are common in Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly in the PIGD motor subtype. Deep CMBs, especially in the thalamus and white matter, show the strongest link to this PD subtype.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) motor symptoms present heterogeneously, classified into tremor-dominant, akinetic-rigid, and postural instability and gait disturbance (PIGD) subtypes.
- Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are frequently observed in PD patients and linked to non-motor symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- This study aimed to investigate the association between cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and the distinct motor subtypes of Parkinson's disease (PD).
Main Methods:
- A review of medical records and brain MRI reports for 134 early- to mid-stage Taiwanese PD patients (2009-2017).
- CMBs quantified using the Microbleed Anatomical Rating Scale on susceptibility-weighted MRI.
- Motor subtypes determined via chart review; statistical analysis using t tests and logistic regression.
Main Results:
- CMB prevalence was 33.6% in the study cohort.
- The PIGD subtype showed a significantly higher prevalence of any CMB, as well as deep or lobar CMBs.
- Adjusted analysis revealed a positive association between the PIGD subtype and the presence of any, deep (thalamic and white matter), and WM CMBs.
Conclusions:
- Cerebral microbleeds are prevalent in Taiwanese PD patients, with a notable association with the PIGD motor subtype.
- Deep CMBs, particularly those located in the thalamus and white matter, demonstrate the strongest correlation with the PIGD subtype in Parkinson's disease.