Subcortical Atrophy Is Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Mild Parkinson Disease: A Combined Investigation of Volumetric Changes, Cortical Thickness, and Vertex-Based Shape Analysis

• DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a4055
• Publication Date: 2014-08-01T02:52:01Z
• Authors: E. Mak; N. Bergsland; M.G. Dwyer; R. Zivadinov; N. Kandiah
• Keywords: Putamen

<h3>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:</h3> The involvement of subcortical deep gray matter and cortical thinning associated with mild Parkinson disease remains poorly understood. We assessed thickness volumes in patients without dementia evaluated their associations cognitive dysfunction. <h3>MATERIALS METHODS:</h3> study included 90 dementia. Neuropsychological assessments classified the sample into impairment (<i>n</i> = 25) 65). Volumetric data for structures were obtained by using FMRIB Integrated Registration Segmentation Tool while whole-brain, white estimated Structural Image Evaluation, Normalization Atrophy. Vertex-based shape analyses performed to investigate differences structures. Vertex-wise group also assessed. comparisons between no ANCOVA. Associations both function severity linear regression models. <h3>RESULTS:</h3> Compared impairment, demonstrated reduced thalamus (<i>P</i> .03) nucleus accumbens .04). Significant found putamen performances on attention/working memory domains &lt; .05) language 2 groups did not differ measures or thickness. <h3>CONCLUSIONS:</h3> Patients volumes, which deficits. thalamus, accumbens, may serve as potential biomarkers disease–mild impairment.