Gray matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities in Parkinson’s disease: A voxel-based morphometry study

Abstract

BackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity among other symptoms. With a 70% cumulative prevalence of dementia in PD, cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms are frequent.Materials and methodsIn this study, we looked at anatomical brain differences between groups of patients and controls. A total of 138 people with PD were compared to 64 age-matched healthy people using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). VBM is a fully automated technique that allows for the identification of regional differences in gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) allowing for an objective comparison of brains of different groups of people. We used statistical parametric mapping for image processing and statistical analysis.ResultsIn comparison to controls, PD patients had lower GM volumes in the left middle cingulate, left lingual gyrus, right calcarine and left fusiform gyrus, also PD patients indicated lower WM volumes in the right middle cingulate, left lingual gyrus, right calcarine, and left inferior occipital gyrus. Moreover, PD patients group demonstrated higher CSF in the left caudate compared to the controls.ConclusionPhysical fragility and cognitive impairments in PD may be detected more easily if anatomical abnormalities to the cingulate gyrus, occipital lobe and the level of CSF in the caudate are identified. Thus, our findings shed light on the role of the brain in PD and may aid in a better understanding of the events that occur in PD patients.

Integrating Armchair, Bench, and Bedside Research for Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry: Editorial

“…Recent advancements in neuroscience have enabled researchers to probe the brain in larger regions, at the cellular level, and with increased receptor specificity [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Research is focused on finding scientific frameworks for understanding the neuropathophysiology of mental illnesses, exploring the molecular regulation of higher-order neural circuits and neuropathological alterations, which may lead to prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction, eliciting the symptoms of mental illnesses [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Altered striatal functional connectivity and structural dysconnectivity in individuals with bipolar disorder: A resting state magnetic resonance imaging study

“…The 100 voxel extent threshold was chosen and finally we used xjview (66) toolbox for MATLAB to record voxel brain area (represented with pseudo color),with significant differences, activation volume (cluster), activation intensity (statistically analyzed with t-test and expressed as T value; T value is proportional to the intensity). Figure 3 (49,67) depicts the VBM analysis processing framework.…”

“…In order to understand whether there are abnormalities in both the functional connectivity and gray matter connections between brain regions, in this study we performed both functional connectivity and structural methods, raising the possibility that structural abnormalities may be responsible for functional connectivity abnormalities in the disorders. We used DARTEL VBM to detect structural gray matter (GM) alterations in patients with BD in which is images from multiple participants are normalized (contrast stretched) and registered to produce a brain atlas or template that represents a particular collection of subjects ( 49 ). This was done by employing the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT12) in T1 images, which is an add-on to the SPM12 (Statistical Parametric Mapping) software package.…”

The Tryptophan-Kynurenine Metabolic System Is Suppressed in Cuprizone-Induced Model of Demyelination Simulating Progressive Multiple Sclerosis

“…Progressive MS relates to gradual exacerbation in neurologic as well as psychiatric signs and symptoms. Cortical demyelinated lesions may be the pathological course leading to neural dysfunction, progression, and particularly cognitive impairments [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], which are clinical findings in patients with progressive MS. Extensive cortical demyelination has been observed in the frontal, temporal, insular, and cerebellar cortices, the cingulate gyrus, and the hippocampus [ 18 , 19 ].…”