Beta Amyloid Peptide: Research Paper: Structural and Functional Thalamic Changes in Parkinson's Disease With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Structural and Functional Thalamic Changes in Parkinson's Disease With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Background: The thalamus is a key node of deep gray matter and previous studies have demonstrated that it is involved in the modulation of cognition.

Purpose: To investigate the volume changes of the thalamus and its subregions and altered thalamus functional connectivity patterns in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Study type: Prospective.

Population: Thirty-three patients with MCI (PD-MCI), 36 PD patients having no cognitive impairment (PD-NCI), 21 healthy controls (HCs).

Sequence: 3.0T MRI scanner; 3D T1 -weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo (3D T1 -FSPGR); resting-state fMRI ASSESSMENT: Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was performed to calculate the volume of the thalamus and its subregions. The left and right total thalamus were considered seeds and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) was analyzed. Additionally, correlations between volumes and cognitive performance and between FC values and cognitive performance were examined separately.

Statistical test: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA); two-sample t-tests; partial correlation analysis.

Results: The volumes of the total thalamus (PD-MCI vs. PD-NCI vs. HCs: 18.39 ± 1.67 vs. 19.63 ± 1.79 vs. 19.47 ± 1.35) and its subregions were significantly reduced in PD-MCI as compared to PD-NCI (total thalamus: P = 0.002) and HCs (total thalamus: P = 0.012). Compared with PD-NCI, PD-MCI showed increased FC between the thalamus and bilateral middle cingulate cortex and left posterior cingulate cortex, and decreased FC between thalamus and the left superior occipital gyrus, left cuneus, left precuneus, and left middle occipital gyrus. Volumes of thalamus and the subregions, as well as the FC of thalamus with the identified regions, were significantly correlated (P < 0.05, FDR-corrected) with neuropsychological scores in PD patients.

Data conclusion: We noted volume loss and altered FC of thalamus in PD-MCI patients, and these changes were correlated with global cognitive performance.

Level of evidence: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:1207-1215.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; functional connectivity; mild cognitive impairment; thalamus; voxel-based morphometry.

© 2020 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

This article originally appeared in the "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32557988/" and has their copyrights. We do not claim copyright on the content. This information is for research purposes only. This Blog is made available by publishers for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding , not to provide specific advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no client relationship between you and the Blog publisher. The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent research advice.