Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2026

Identification of Disease-related Spatial Covariance Patterns using Neuroimaging Data
Published on: June 26, 2013
Dopaminergic- and Cholinergic-Related Structural MRI Patterns Across Cognitive Subtypes of Parkinson's Disease With
Xueqin Bai1, Haoxin Chen1, Qiuyue Li1
1Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Background:
The dual syndrome hypothesis distinguishes frontostriatal and posterior cortical cognitive subtypes in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), which are associated with distinct cognitive profiles and different risks of dementia.
Objective:
To characterize dopaminergic- and cholinergic-related structural MRI patterns across cognitive subtypes of PD-MCI.
Methods:
A total of 182 non-demented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 38 healthy controls (HC) were included. Based on comprehensive neuropsychological assessments, PD patients were classified as having normal cognition (PD-NC, n = 112), PD-MCI with frontostriatal deficits (n = 20), posterior cortical deficits (n = 28), or mixed deficits (n = 22). All participants underwent T1-weighted MRI. Normalized volumetric measures of subcortical nuclei (caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, and thalamus) and the basal forebrain were obtained.
Results:
Distinct subtype-specific patterns of subcortical and basal forebrain atrophy were observed. PD-MCI patients with posterior cortical deficits showed significant atrophy of cholinergic nucleus 4 (Ch4) compared with HC and PD-MCI patients with frontostriatal deficits. In contrast, PD-MCI patients with frontostriatal deficits exhibited atrophy of the caudate nucleus and putamen relative to HC. The mixed deficits subtype showed putamen and thalamic atrophy compared with HC. In addition, basal forebrain Ch4 volume was significantly associated with visuospatial performance in PD-MCI patients.
Conclusions:
Different PD-MCI subtypes exhibit distinct patterns of dopaminergic- and cholinergic-related structural alterations on MRI. Posterior cortical deficits are predominantly associated with cholinergic basal forebrain degeneration, whereas frontostriatal deficits are linked to dopaminergic involvement. These findings support the neural heterogeneity underlying cognitive impairment in PD.
More Related Videos
07:26Characterizing the Relationship Between Eye Movement Parameters and Cognitive Functions in Non-demented Parkinson's Disease Patients with Eye Tracking
Published on: September 26, 2019
05:14Standardized Data Acquisition for Neuromelanin-Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Substantia Nigra
Published on: September 8, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Neural Regulation
Dementia l: Introduction