Microstructural alterations predict impaired bimanual control in Parkinson's disease

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Bimanual coordination is crucial for daily activities but is impaired in Parkinson's disease (PD).
• Effective bimanual coordination depends on intact communication between brain regions, relying on white matter microstructure.
• Alpha-synuclein pathology in PD can compromise brain microstructure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between cerebral microstructural integrity and bimanual coordination in Parkinson's disease.
• To identify specific microstructural alterations associated with impaired bimanual coordination in PD patients.

Main Methods:

• Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) was used to assess whole-brain microstructure.
• 23 PD patients and 26 age- and sex-matched healthy controls participated.
• Statistical analyses, including a general linear model and permutation-based correction, were employed.

Main Results:

• Significant microstructural alterations were found in PD patients compared to controls, consistent with known PD pathology.
• Specific microstructural changes were significantly associated with poorer bimanual coordination in PD.
• Affected brain regions are involved in attention, executive function, motor control, and visual processing.

Conclusions:

• Microstructural changes in PD impede neural pathways essential for bimanual coordination.
• These findings highlight the role of white matter integrity in motor deficits in Parkinson's disease.
• Understanding these microstructural alterations may inform future therapeutic strategies for PD patients.