title: Mindfulness based intervention in Parkinson's disease leads to structural brain changes on MRI: a randomized controlled longitudinal trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study is to investigate structural changes on brain MRI using voxel based morphometry (VBM) related to an eight-week mindfulness based intervention (MBI) in Parkinson's Disease (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 27 out of 30 PD patients completed a randomized controlled longitudinal trial. Fourteen patients participated in a structured eight-week program of MBI. Thirteen patients received usual care (UC) alone. MRI data sets of the brain were obtained at baseline and after eight weeks follow-up. VBM analysis was performed using DARTEL from the SPM8 software. The resulting difference maps were statistically compared to examine gray matter density (GMD) differences. Results were reported at p<0.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased GMD was found in the MBI compared to the UC group in the region of interest (ROI) analysis in the right amygdala, and bilaterally in the hippocampus. Whole brain analysis showed increased GMD in the left and right caudate nucleus, the left occipital lobe at the lingual gyrus and cuneus, the left thalamus, and bilaterally in the temporo-parietal junction. In contrast, GMD differences were found in the UC group in the left anterior lobe and dentate nucleus of the cerebellum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge this is the first quantitative analysis of neurobiological effects of MBI in PD. Increased GMD was found in the MBI group in the neural networks that have been postulated to play an important role in PD. These areas have also been implicated in the functional networks mediating the benefits of meditation.
authors.affiliation: University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem, Belgium; Department of Neurology and Memory Clinic, Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerp, Lindendreef 1, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium; Born Bunge Institute, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium. Electronic address: barbara.pickut@ua.ac.be.
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Pickut
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kerckhofs
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mariën
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanneste
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cras
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000679:Amygdala / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D057832:Watchful Waiting
keywords: Gray matter density; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mindfulness based intervention; Mindfulness based stress reduction; Parkinson's disease