Neuroimaging evidence for a dopamine-independent association between motor cortex microstructure and Parkinson’s disease severity

We determined brain microstructure alterations in early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) using diffusion tensor imaging and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI). Additionally, dopamine transporter (DAT) PET in PD was also performed to evaluate whether microstructural changes and dopaminergic losses within the brain contribute independently to PD motor severity. Mean diffusivity was significantly higher in PD in many mid-brain, nigrostriatal, sub-cortical, cortical and white matter regions. However, Viso (NODDI outcome for cerebrospinal-fluid volume fraction) in the motor cortices and parietal lobe were more strongly correlated (r ~ 0.5, p < 0.01) with PD motor severity. Most DAT PET and diffusion MRI measures were uncorrelated and stepwise multiple linear regression analysis determined a combination of DAT availability in the putamen and Viso in the precentral gyrus (motor cortex) as the best predictor of PD motor severity (55% variance explained); inclusion of Viso in precentral gyrus independently accounted for 11% variance in motor severity.