Cholinergic modulation of MEG resting-state oscillatory activity in Parkinson's disease related dementia.
OBJECTIVE
EEG and MEG studies in Parkinson's disease (PD) related dementia (PDD) have shown a slowing of resting-state, oscillatory activity compared to non demented PD. Aim of the present MEG study was to determine whether treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine would reverse this slowing of resting-state activity in PDD patients.


METHODS
In eight PDD patients, whole head MEG was recorded in a resting-state condition before and after treatment with rivastigmine. Relative spectral power was calculated in the delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands in fronto-central, parieto-occipital and temporal regions.


RESULTS
After treatment with rivastigmine, PDD patients demonstrated an increase in relative power in the alpha range in parieto-occipital and temporal regions together with a diffuse increase in beta power. Furthermore, a decrease of delta power in fronto-central and parieto-occipital regions was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine at least partly counteracts the slowing of resting-state brain activity that is known to occur in PD related dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations emphasize the prominent role of degeneration of the cholinergic system in the pathophysiology of dementia in PD. In the future, MEG might contribute to the selection of PD patients who may optimally benefit from cholinergic treatment.
Bosboom
J L W
JL
Department of Neurology, VU University Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands. bosboom@vumc.nl
Stoffers
D
D
Stam
C J
CJ
Berendse
H W
HW
Wolters
E Ch
ECh
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D048448:Phenylcarbamates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068836:Rivastigmine; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D000109:Acetylcholine; D000068836:Rivastigmine