Ultrahigh-Field MRI Shows Potential for Earlier Diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease

New research has revealed that ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides detailed views of a brain area implicated in Parkinson’s disease (PD); possibly leading to earlier detection of a disorder that affects millions worldwide.

The study’s findings are published online March 2014 in the journal Radiology. Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by stiffness, shaking, and impaired balance and coordination. With no imaging modalities available to help in diagnosis, clinicians have had to depend on medical history and neurologic exam. It is frequently problematic to distinguish PD from other disorders using these techniques alone.

Mirco Cosottini, MD, from the University of Pisa (Italy), and colleagues examined the brains of 38 individuals, including 17 PD patients and 21 healthy control subjects, as well as a brain sample from a deceased individual, to help determine the effectiveness of ultra-high-field 7-Tesla MRI for identifying PD.

The investigators, utilizing the 7-Tesla MRI scanning, were able to differentiate a three-layered organization of the substantia nigra (SN), a crescent-shaped mass of cells in the midbrain. PD results from the loss of dopamine-producing cells located in this region of the brain. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter involved in a number of brain functions, including motor and behavioral processes such as addiction, mood, reward, and stress.

Based on abnormalities in the SN identified by the 7-Tesla MRI scanning, the researchers accurately categorized patients with PD with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 96.2%.

According to Dr. Cosottini, the findings show potential for earlier detection of the disease, which could speed the initiation of treatment. “Parkinson’s disease diagnosis remains clinically based, but with the introduction of 7-Tesla MRI into clinical practice, a supporting radiologic diagnosis can be made,” he said.
The researchers also are investigating the clinical usefulness of 7-Tesla MRI in several other neurodegenerative disorders, including mild cognitive impairment, a precursor of Alzheimer’s disease.

Related Links:
University of Pisa