Visuo‐spatial processing is linked to cortical glutamate dynamics in Parkinson's disease — a 7‐T functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

European Journal of Neurology, vol. 30, pp. 2106–2111

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cognitive decline is a frequent and debilitating non-motor symptom for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Metabolic alterations in the occipital cortex during visual processing may serve as a biomarker for cognitive decline in patients with PD. METHODS: Sixteen patients with PD (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 3, OFF, 38.69 ± 17.25) and 10 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) underwent 7-T functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) utilizing a visual checkerboard stimulation. Glutamate metabolite levels during rest versus stimulation were compared. Furthermore, correlates of the functional MRS response with performance in visuo-cognitive tests were investigated. RESULTS: = 0.245). A diminished glutamate response correlated with poorer performance in the Benton Judgment of Line Orientation test in PD (r = -0.57, p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that functional MRS captures even subtle differences in neural processing linked to the behavioral performance, which would have been missed by conventional, static MRS. Functional MRS thus represents a promising tool for studying molecular alterations at high sensitivity. Its prognostic potential should be evaluated in longitudinal studies, prospectively contributing to earlier diagnosis and individual treatment decisions.

Authors 9

1. Anja Ophey

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Psychology | Neuropsychology and Gender Studies, Center for Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Intervention (CeNDI), University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine University of Cologne Cologne Germany

   Department of Medical Psychology | Neuropsychology and Gender Studies, Center for Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Intervention (CeNDI), University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

2. Ezequiel Farrher

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine 4, INM‐4 Forschungszentrum Jülich Jülich Germany

3. Nora Pagel

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine University of Cologne Cologne Germany

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

4. Aline Seger

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine University of Cologne Cologne Germany

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

5. Christopher E. J. Doppler

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine 3, INM‐3 Forschungszentrum Jülich Jülich Germany

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine University of Cologne Cologne Germany

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

6. Nadim Jon Shah Aachen Department of Neurology

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology RWTH Aachen University Aachen Germany

   Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine 4, INM‐4 Forschungszentrum Jülich Jülich Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 11, INM‐11, JARA Forschungszentrum Jülich Jülich Germany

   JARA – BRAIN – Translational Medicine Aachen Germany

   Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine 4, INM‐4 Forschungszentrum Jülich Jülich Germany

7. Elke Kalbe

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Medical Psychology | Neuropsychology and Gender Studies, Center for Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Intervention (CeNDI), University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine University of Cologne Cologne Germany

   Department of Medical Psychology | Neuropsychology and Gender Studies, Center for Neuropsychological Diagnostics and Intervention (CeNDI), University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

8. Gereon R. Fink

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine 3, INM‐3 Forschungszentrum Jülich Jülich Germany

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine University of Cologne Cologne Germany

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

9. Michael Sommerauer corresponding

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine 3, INM‐3 Forschungszentrum Jülich Jülich Germany

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine University of Cologne Cologne Germany

   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Cologne and Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany