Wanqun Yang MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Biao Huang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hongjun Liu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chang Hong Liang MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To reveal levodopa-induced acute changes in the resting-state functional connectivity of the striatum in patients with Parkinson’s disease compared with matched untreated patients and healthy volunteers.

Twenty-two Patients with mild PD underwent a resting-state functional MRI scan both ON and OFF dopamine-replacement therapy on two consecutive days. Twenty-eight normal aging volunteers also performed fMRI on two consecutive days. Five different striatal seed regions (three caudate seeds and two putamen seeds) were selected to calculate connectivity intensity.

Motor symptoms measured by UPDRS were significantly worse in PD OFF than PD ON (P < 0.05). Decreased functional connectivity in PD OFF compared to controls was detected in the following seed regions: dorsal caudate, ventral putamen and dorsal putamen. There were no regions that showed greater connectivity in PD OFF than controls. Increases in connectivity in PD ON compared to controls were found in the primary and supplementary motor areas and the associative prefrontal and parietal regions, while decreases in connectivity were found in anterior cingutate, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and parahippocampal gyrus. For the ventral striatal seeds, decreased connectivity in PD ON compared to PD OFF was found in the ventromedial prefrontal and orbitofrontal regions, dorsolateral prefrontal and frontal eye field regions. For the dorsal striatal seeds, increased connectivity in PD ON compared to PD OFF was observed in the primary and secondary motor areas.

These results suggest that levodopa significantly changes the motor and cognitive networks of the cortico-striatal pathways. This knowledge will lead clinicians to survey a broader range of symptoms in determining optimal therapy.

This knowledge will lead clinicians to survey a broader range of symptoms in determining optimal therapy for the patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Yang, W, Huang, B, Liu, H, Liang, C, The Alterations of Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Striatum in Parkinson's Disease after Levodopa Administration.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14012077.html