Journal
NEUROLOGY
Volume 72, Issue 12, Pages 1041-1047Publisher
LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000338699.56379.11
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Funding
- BMBF [01 GO 0511, 01 GO 0512]
- 6th European Framework [EU-LSHB-CT-2006-037544-GENEPARK]
- Volkswagenstiftung
- NWO VIDI [917.76.352]
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Objective: To use a combined neurogenetic-neuroimaging approach to examine the functional consequences of preclinical dopaminergic nigrostriatal dysfunction in the human motor system. Specifically, we examined how a single heterozygous mutation in different genes associated with recessively inherited Parkinson disease alters the cortical control of sequential finger movements. Methods: Nonmanifesting individuals carrying a single heterozygous Parkin (n = 13) or PINK1 (n = 9) mutation and 23 healthy controls without these mutations were studied with functional MRI (fMRI). During fMRI, participants performed simple sequences of three thumb-to-finger opposition movements with their right dominant hand. Since heterozygous Parkin and PINK1 mutations cause a latent dopaminergic nigrostriatal dysfunction, we predicted a compensatory recruitment of those rostral premotor areas that are normally implicated in the control of complex motor sequences. We expected this overactivity to be independent of the underlying genotype. Results: Task performance was comparable for all groups. The performance of a simple motor sequence task consistently activated the rostral supplementary motor area and right rostral dorsal premotor cortex in mutation carriers but not in controls. Task-related activation of these premotor areas was similar in carriers of a Parkin or PINK1 mutation. Conclusion: Mutations in different genes linked to recessively inherited Parkinson disease are associated with an additional recruitment of rostral supplementary motor area and rostral dorsal premotor cortex during a simple motor sequence task. These premotor areas were recruited independently of the underlying genotype. The observed activation most likely reflects a generic compensatory mechanism to maintain motor function in the context of a mild dopaminergic deficit. Neurology (R) 2009; 72: 1041-1047
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