Differential Implications of Cerebral Hypoperfusion and Hyperperfusion in Parkinson's Disease

BackgroundPatients with Parkinson's disease (PD) exhibit widespread brain perfusion changes. ObjectiveThis study investigated whether cerebral regions with hypoperfusion and hyperperfusion have differential effects on motor and cognitive symptoms in PD using early-phase F-18-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2 & beta;-carboxymethoxy-3 & beta;-(4-iodophenyl) nortropane (F-18-FP-CIT) positron emission tomography (PET) scans. MethodsWe enrolled 394 patients with newly diagnosed PD who underwent dual-phase F-18-FP-CIT PET scans. Indices reflecting associated changes in regional cerebral hypoperfusion and hyperperfusion on early-phase F-18-FP-CIT PET scans were calculated as PD[hypo] and PD[hyper], respectively. The associations of PD[hypo] and PD[hyper] on motor and cognitive symptoms at baseline were assessed using multivariate linear regression. Also, Cox regression and linear mixed models were performed to investigate the effects of baseline PD[hypo] and PD[hyper] on longitudinal outcomes. ResultsThere was a weak correlation between PD[hypo] and PD[hyper] (& gamma; = -0.19, P < 0.001). PD[hypo] was associated with baseline Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III scores (& beta; = -1.02, P = 0.045), rapid increases in dopaminergic medications (& beta; = -18.02, P < 0.001), and a higher risk for developing freezing of gait (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.67, P = 0.019), whereas PD[hyper] was not associated. Regarding cognitive function, PD[hypo] was more relevant to the baseline cognitive performance levels of visuospatial, memory, and frontal/executive function than PD[hyper]. However, greater PD[hyper] was associated with future dementia conversion (HR = 1.43, P = 0.004), whereas PD[hypo] was not associated. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that PD[hypo] and PD[hyper] may differentially affect motor and cognitive functions in patients with PD. & COPY; 2023 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Automated summary

This study investigated the differential effects of hypoperfusion and hyperperfusion in cerebral regions on motor and cognitive symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease. The results showed that hypoperfusion was associated with motor symptoms and cognitive performance levels, while hyperperfusion was associated with future dementia conversion. These findings suggest that hypoperfusion and hyperperfusion have different effects on motor and cognitive functions in patients with Parkinson's disease.