Striatal DAT and disease progression in Parkinson's disease: New evidence from autonomic dysfunction

Striatal dopamine transporter (DAT) availability is a reliable marker of dopaminergic degeneration and has been shown to predict both motor worsening and cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease (PD). Although cross-sectional studies suggest that lower DAT is associated with autonomic dysfunction, its prognostic value for longitudinal autonomic progression remains unknown.

This study investigated the longitudinal association between striatal DAT availability and autonomic dysfunction in 1,219 individuals with PD. Single-photon emission computed tomography of DAT (DAT-SPECT) and Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease-Autonomic (SCOPA-AUT) scores were assessed at baseline and annually over a 5-year follow-up period. A linear mixed-effects model was employed to evaluate the interaction between DAT uptake (baseline or time-varying) and time.

The mean baseline age and disease duration of the 1,219 participants were 63.0 years and 1.2 years, respectively. SCOPA-AUT scores increased by 0.8 points per year (P < 0.001). Linear mixed-effects models demonstrated that the interaction between baseline DAT availability and time was significant in the overall striatum (β = -0.54, P = 0.012), after adjustment for age, sex, baseline disease duration, DAT asymmetry index, MDS-UPDRS-III scores, and levodopa equivalent daily dose. The interaction between time-varying striatal DAT and time produced consistent results (β = -0.63, P = 0.018).

Higher striatal DAT uptake was associated with slower progression of autonomic dysfunction, extending its established prognostic value beyond motor and cognitive decline.