Levodopa imparts a normalizing effect on default-mode network connectivity in non-demented Parkinson's disease. (13th July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhong, Jianguo; Guan, Xiaojun; Zhong, Xia; Cao, Fang; Gu, Quanquan; Guo, Tao; Zhou, Cheng; Zeng, Qiaoling; Wang, Jiaqiu; Gao, Ting; Zhang, Minming
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 705(2019)
• Page Start: 159
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2019-07-13
• Subjects: Parkinson's disease -- Resting-state functional MRI -- Default mode network -- Functional connectivity; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.04.042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Non-demented PD patients showed disrupted DMN connectivity. Levodopa imparts a normalizing effect on the DMN integrity in PD patients. The PCC showed decreased FC after administration of levodopa. Abstract: Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized with reduced dopamine level in the brain, resulting from the nigral degeneration. It is commonly accepted that the function of default mode network (DMN) is disturbed in PD, even in those who have no significant cognitive impairment. However, the relationship between the depletion of dopamine and DMN dysconnectivity is not fully clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the seed-based DMN connectivity and the influence of dopaminergic therapy on the DMN integrity in non-demented PD by using resting-state fMRI. Material and methods: Resting-state fMRI data was collected from 24 non-demented PD patients before and after taking levodopa and 36 healthy controls (HCs). Functional connectivity (FC) was examined by a seed-based correlation approach. Results: Compared with HCs, decreased DMN connectivity in PD patients was observed, a number of which were significantly improved after taking levodopa therapy. Moreover, by directly comparing the DMN connectivity between ON- and OFF-medication conditions, we found significantly enhanced FC in a set of regions of DMN in the ON- medication condition. Conversely, we also found that the PCC revealed decreased FC with left inferior temporal. Conclusion: DMN connectivity was found to be impaired in no-demented PD patients, and levodopa has the ability to impart a normalizing effect on DMN connectivity.