Abnormal structural connectivity in progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson syndrome.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson syndrome (PSP-RS) presents with parkinsonism, postural instability, and frontal dysfunction.
• Understanding the underlying brain connectivity is crucial for PSP-RS diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whole brain structural connectome (SC) alterations in PSP-RS.
• To correlate SC changes with clinical features of PSP-RS.

Main Methods:

• Diffusion MRI and deterministic fiber tracking were used to compute the SC in 16 PSP-RS patients and 12 controls.
• Network-based statistics analyzed edge-wise, nodal, and global connectivity.
• Disease severity and cognitive function were assessed using PSPRS and MMSE.

Main Results:

• A 34-edge network showed significantly abnormal connectivity in PSP-RS patients.
• Frontal cortical connections (68%) and basal ganglia connections were predominantly affected.
• Nodal analysis revealed widespread abnormalities in degree, strength, and efficiency.

Conclusions:

• PSP-RS exhibits significant structural connectome alterations.
• Abnormalities in frontal and basal ganglia nodes correlate with clinical symptoms.
• PSP-RS is likely a network-based neurological disorder.