Distinct functional and macrostructural brain changes in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy |
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Authors: | Peggy J Planetta Ajay S Kurani Priyank Shukla Janey Prodoehl Daniel M Corcos Cynthia L Comella Nikolaus R McFarland Michael S Okun David E Vaillancourt |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida;2. Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois;3. Physical Therapy Program, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois;4. Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois;5. Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois;6. Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois;7. Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida;8. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida;9. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida |
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Abstract: | Parkinson's disease (PD) and the parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy (MSAp) are neurodegenerative disorders that can be difficult to differentiate clinically. This study provides the first characterization of the patterns of task‐related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) changes across the whole brain in MSAp. We used fMRI during a precision grip force task and also performed voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) on T1‐weighted images in MSAp patients, PD patients, and healthy controls. All groups were matched on age, and the patient groups had comparable motor symptom durations and severities. There were three main findings. First, MSAp and PD had reduced fMRI activation in motor control areas, including the basal ganglia, thalamus, insula, primary sensorimotor and prefrontal cortices, and cerebellum compared with controls. Second, there were no activation differences among the disease groups in the basal ganglia, thalamus, insula, or primary sensorimotor cortices, but PD had more extensive activation deficits throughout the cerebrum compared with MSAp and controls. Third, VBM revealed reduced volume in the basal ganglia, middle and inferior cerebellar peduncles, pons, and throughout the cerebrum in MSAp compared with controls and PD, and additionally throughout the cerebellar cortex and vermis in MSAp compared with controls. Collectively, these results provide the first evidence that fMRI activation is abnormal in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and cerebrum in MSAp, and that a key distinguishing feature between MSAp and PD is the extensive and widespread volume loss throughout the brain in MSAp. Hum Brain Mapp 36:1165–1179, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
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Keywords: | Parkinson's disease atypical parkinsonism functional magnetic resonance imaging magnetic resonance imaging voxel‐based morphometry force brain atrophy |
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