Imaging Parkinson's disease below the neck

Parkinson's disease is a systemic disorder with widespread and early alpha-synuclein pathology in the autonomic and enteric nervous systems, which is present throughout the gastrointestinal canal prior to diagnosis. Gastrointestinal and genitourinary autonomic symptoms often predate clinical diagnosis by several years. It has been hypothesized that progressive alpha-synuclein aggregation is initiated in hyperbranched, non-myelinated neuron terminals, and may subsequently spread via retrograde axonal transport. This would explain why autonomic nerves are so prone to formation of alpha-synuclein pathology. However, the hypothesis remains unproven and in vivo imaging methods of peripheral organs may be essential to study this important research field. The loss of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve terminal function in Parkinson's disease has been demonstrated using radiotracers such as I-123-meta-iodobenzylguanidin, F-18-dopamine, and C-11-donepezil. Other radiotracer and radiological imaging methods have shown highly prevalent dysfunction of pharyngeal and esophageal motility, gastric emptying, colonic transit time, and anorectal function. Here, we summarize the methodology and main findings of radio-isotope and radiological modalities for imaging peripheral pathology in Parkinson's disease.