title: Posterior cortical brain dysfunction in cognitively impaired patients with Parkinson's disease--a rCBF scintigraphy study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to visualize cortical function in Parkinson's patients with various degrees of cognitive impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven patients with Parkinson's disease and three with Parkinson plus syndromes underwent cognitive assessment and rCBF using (99m)TC-HMPAO-SPECT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost no regional reductions in cerebral blood flow were seen in patients without cognitive impairment (n = 16). Limited, mainly posterior, blood flow reductions were seen in patients with mild cognitive impairment (n = 14), whereas the reductions were extensive and bilaterally symmetric, involving both anterior and posterior brain regions in patients with dementia (n = 10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest a widespread cortical, mainly posterior type of dysfunction and a relationship between the degree of cognitive impairment and the magnitude of the dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg University, Mölndal, Sweden. anders.wallin@neuro.gu.se
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wallin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ekberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milos
authors.forename: A-K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Granérus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Granerus
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon