Imaging the Nonmotor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease

Int Rev Neurobiol. 2017:133:179-257. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2017.05.001. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is acknowledged to be a multisystem syndrome, manifesting as a result of multineuropeptide dysfunction, including dopaminergic, cholinergic, serotonergic, and noradrenergic deficits. This multisystem disorder ultimately leads to the presentation of a range of nonmotor symptoms, now appreciated to be an integral part of the disease-specific spectrum of symptoms, often preceding the diagnosis of motor Parkinson's disease. In this chapter, we review the dopaminergic and nondopaminergic basis of these symptoms by exploring the neuroimaging evidence based on several techniques including positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography molecular imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and diffusion tensor imaging. We discuss the role of these neuroimaging techniques in elucidating the underlying pathophysiology of NMS in Parkinson's disease.

Keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; In vivo; Magnetic resonance imaging; Nonmotor symptoms; Parkinson's disease; Positron emission tomography; Radioligand; Single-photon emission computed tomography molecular imaging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods*
  • Functional Neuroimaging / methods*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / methods*