Resting-state functional MRI studies in patients with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Objective To explore the changes of rest-state functional MRI (fMRI) features in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods Twelve patients with Parkinson's disease, collected in our hospital from September 2013 to March 2014, and 12 volunteers (controls) were recruited. The fMRI based on blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) was performed at resting state; the differences of amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were statistically analyzed; and the correlations of values of ALFF and ReHo with uniformed Parkinsonism rating scale (UPDRS) scores and Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) grading were analyzed. Results PD patients exhibited increased ALFF values in the limbic lobe, the right parahippocampal gyrus and the right middle temporal pole, and reduced ALFF values in the left thalamus as compared with the controls. PD patients exhibited increased ReHo values in the superior medial frontal gyrus, the left middle frontal gyrus, brodmann area (BA) 9 and medial frontal gyrus, and reduced ReHo values in the left rolandic, the left superior temporal gyrus and insula lobe as compared with the controls. ALFF values were positively correlated with the UPDRS III scores in the right posterior cerebellum lobe and cerebellar tonsil. ALFF values and H-Y grading were negatively correlated on the left superior frontal gyrus. Negative correlation was noted between the ReHo values and UPDRS III scores in the right superior temporal gyrus and insular lobe. Positive correlation was noted between the ReHo values and H-Y grading in medial frontal gyrus, limbic lobe, anterior cingulate, medial orbitofrontal area, middle superior frontal gyrus, BA32, left superior frontal gyrus and BA10. Conclusion By resting-state fMRI, abnormal brain function in Parkinson's disease was noted; ReHo and ALFF showed abnormal changes in the connection of neuronal networks, and the compensatory response may lead to the increased brain function. Key words: Parkinson’s disease; Functional MR imaging; Regional homogeneity; Amplitude of low frequency fluctuation