Posterior cortical brain dysfunction in cognitively impaired patients with Parkinson's disease--a rCBF scintigraphy study.
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.
Wallin
A
A
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg University, Mölndal, Sweden. anders.wallin@neuro.gu.se
Ekberg
S
S
Lind
K
K
Milos
V
V
Granérus
A-K
AK
Granerus
G
G
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