ALFF and ReHo Mapping Reveals Different Functional Patterns in Early- and Late-Onset Parkinson's Disease.

Yumei Yue,Yasi Jiang,Baorong Zhang,Hsin-Yi Lai,Ting Shen,Jiali Pu

doi:10.3389/fnins.2020.00141

Abstract

Heterogeneity between late-onset Parkinson’s disease (LOPD) and early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD) is mainly reflected in the following aspects including genetics, disease progression, drug response, clinical manifestation, and neuropathological change. Although many studies have investigated these differences in relation to clinical significance, the functional processing circuits and underlying neural mechanisms have not been entirely understood. In this study, regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) maps were used to explore different spontaneous brain activity patterns in EOPD and LOPD patients. Abnormal synchronizations were found in the motor and emotional circuits of the EOPD group, as well as in the motor, emotional, and visual circuits of the LOPD group. EOPD patients showed functional activity change in the visual, emotional and motor circuits, and LOPD patients only showed increased functional activity in the emotional circuits. In summary, the desynchronization process in the LOPD group was relatively strengthened, and the brain areas with changed functional activity in the EOPD group were relatively widespread. The results might point out different impairments in the synchronization and functional activity for EOPD and LOPD patients.

Highlights

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive and prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the elderly with several clinical features including motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms (Berg et al, 2015; Postuma et al, 2015)
As compared with HCo, we found that regional homogeneity (ReHo) decreased in the motor, emotional and visual processing circuits, while ReHo and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) increased in the angular gyrus (ANG_L) related to emotional processing circuit
We identified the impaired function in fusiform gyrus (FFG) and LING in the late-onset Parkinson’s disease (LOPD) group, which may imply that the risk of hallucinations increases with age in LOPD (Fenelon et al, 2000)

Summary

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive and prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the elderly (de Lau and Breteler, 2006) with several clinical features including motor symptoms (bradykinesia, tremor, rigidity, and gait disturbance) and non-motor symptoms (olfactory dysfunction, constipation, cognitive decline, and depression) (Berg et al, 2015; Postuma et al, 2015). Disease progression, drug response, and clinical manifestation have provided evidence of different pathological heterogeneity in LOPD and EOPD. Gait disturbance and dystonia are more common in LOPD patients, EOPD patients have higher prevalence of dyskinesia (Schrag and Schott, 2006; Wickremaratchi et al, 2009), a much slower disease progression (Inzelberg et al, 2004), and levodopa treatment effectiveness (Spica et al, 2013). In terms of non-motor symptoms, EOPD patients present with a better cognitive function and higher incidence of depression (Schrag and Schott, 2006; Spica et al, 2013). Pathological study seems to be limited by the difficulty of obtaining brain specimen and poor repeatability; a more effective tool is needed for further research

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion