title: Subcortical matter in the α-synucleinopathies spectrum: an MRI pilot study.
abstract: α-Synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), are characterized by α-synuclein accumulation from brainstem structures to the neocortex. PD and DLB are clinically distinguishable, while discrimination between Parkinson Disease Dementia (PDD) and DLB can be subtle and based on the temporal relationship between motor and cognitive symptoms. To explore patterns of subcortical atrophy in PD, PDD and DLB, and assess specific differences between PD and PDD, and between DLB and PDD. 16 PD, 11 PDD and 16 DLB patients were recruited and underwent 1.5 Tesla structural MRI scanning. Segmentation of subcortical structures was performed with a well-validated, fully-automated tool, and volume and shape for each structure were compared between groups. PDD and DLB patients showed global subcortical atrophy compared to PD patients. Greater hippocampal atrophy was the specific trait that distinguished PDD from PD, while greater atrophy of the pallidi discriminated DLB from PDD. Vertex analysis revealed specific shape differences in both structures. Our results suggest that automated, time-sparing, subcortical volumetry may provide diagnostically useful information in α-synucleinopathies. Future studies on larger samples and with iron-sensitive MRI contrasts are needed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gazzina
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Premi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turrone
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Acosta-Cabronero
authors.affiliation: S. Isidoro Hospital-FERB Onlus, Trescore Balneario, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rizzetti
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Valle Camonica Hospital, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cotelli
authors.affiliation: Neuroradiology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasparotti
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padovani
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. bborroni@inwind.it.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Borroni
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003704:Dementia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007558:Italy; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051844:alpha-Synuclein
keywords: Basal ganglia; FIRST; Lewy body dementia; Parkinson disease