Whole Brain Voxel-based MRI Morphometric Study Of Early-onset Parkinson’s Disease And Late-onset Parkinson’s Disease

Objective:Early-onset Parkinson’ s disease (EOPD) is distinct from the classic late-onset Parkinson’s disease (LOPD) because of its slower disease progression and less cognitive impairment. The aim of the study is to compare the whole-brain changes in EOPD with that in LOPD with the same disease duration, through Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) study, which will improve the understanding of patho-physiology mechanism, clinical characteristics and disease monitoring in EOPD.Method:Thirty-nine patients, sixteen EOPD(<50years) and twenty-three LOPD(>50years), matched for disease duration were scanned with VBM in a S.OTesla MRI scanner and assessed in clinic with standard PD scales. The data was collected and analyzed bv SPM8to generate gray matter density map.Result: There are no significant differences in United Parkinson Disease Rating Scale-Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ) score. Hoehn-Yahn grading (H-Y grading). Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score and onset side comparing EOPD to LOPD. However. VBM reveals increased gray matter density in left superior and medial frontal gyrus. left parahippocampus gyrus and cingulate gyrus in EOPD.Conclusion:The gray matter density differences in left superior and medial frontal gyrus may remind a compensatory mechanism in PD. And the increased gray matter in left parahippocampus gyrus and cingulate gyrus in EOPD may be related to its less mental impairment. Both of the results provide a probable morphological proof to the clinical manifestation of EOPD.