Early Caudate Dysfunction in Parkinson Disease

Many patients with early PD had imaging evidence of caudate dysfunction, which increased risk for later cognitive impairment and depression.

Caudate dopaminergic dysfunction in Parkinson disease (PD) has been less recognized and less appreciated as a potential early change in the disease course. Investigators examined caudate dopaminergic dysfunction in patients with PD diagnosed within 2 years, using ¹²³I-FP-CIT single photon emission computed tomography (DaT). The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database (including 397 patients with PD) provided scans and clinical information to measure the association between caudate involvement and development of cognitive impairment, depression, and sleep or gait problems during 4 years of follow-up. Scans with a dopamine transporter loss of two standard deviations or more compared with healthy (slightly younger) controls …

Reviewing Author

Michael S. Okun, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardParkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America

Speaker’s BureauMedscape/WebMD CME, Movement Disorders Society CME, American Academy of Neurology CME

RoyaltiesBooks4Patients; Demos; Cambridge; Taylor and Francis; Robert Rose; Public Affairs

Grant/Research SupportNational Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation; Tourette Association of America; University of Florida Foundation

Editorial BoardsTremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements; JAMA Neurology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesParkinson’s Foundation (Medical Advisor)