Abnormalities in the BNST-Cortex Circuit and Lymphocyte Function in Parkinson's Disease with Depression: An fMRI and DTI-ALPS Study

Motivation: The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease with depression (PDD) remain unclear. Goal(s): To investigate the differences in lymphocyte function and BNST-cortex circuit functional connectivity(FC) across three groups: PDD, PDND and HC. Approach: DTI-ALPS metrics and seed-based FC were extracted and statistical analysis was performed to investigate the differences in lymphocyte function and BNST-cortex circuit FC among three groups. Results: Our results revealed significant abnormalities in both the BNST-cortex circuit FC and lymphocyte function in PDD patients, with a correlation observed with HAMD scores. Impact: These findings provide valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of PDD and hold important clinical implications for the early identification of depression in Parkinson's disease patients.