Functional Connectivity Parkinson Disease

University of Colorado, Denver86 enrolled

Overview

In this study the investigators are looking at two subtypes of Parkinson Disease (PD); "tremor-dominant" (TD) and postural imbalance and gait disorder (PIGD). This study will use magnet resonance imaging (MRI) to see how the brain reacts while resting and doing a finger-tapping task while on and off PD medication. This study will look at the differences between the two sub-types of PD and healthy volunteers. The investigators will test the hypothesis that connectivity at rest within the motor cortex and between the motor cortex and motor-associated regions such as the supplementary motor area and the pre motor cortex will not be as strong in PIGD compared to TD (increased activity and functional connectivity in TD group)

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 50 YearsMax age: 80 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * English as their primary language * Patients with Parkinson disease and healthy controls will be enrolled * Parkinson patients must be on a dopaminergic medication (levodopa or dopamine agonist) and on a stable dose over the prior month Exclusion Criteria: * If unable to provide informed consent * Pregnancy * Excess of 300lbs * Claustrophobia * Metal in body * Untreated neurological or psychiatric condition, who are delusional or have hallucinations, with cognitive impairment (MOCA\<26), with a history of head injury sufficient to cause a concussion, or with significant systemic medical diseases (e.g. heart failure, liver failure, kidney failure, poorly controlled diabetes, etc.) * Healthy control subjects will be excluded if taking any type of dopaminergic or anti-dopaminergic medication * Subjects who are unable to demonstrate understanding of the study procedures and risks will be excluded

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Correlation coefficients between nodes of the motor network at rest and during a tapping motor task.

A measure of the correlation coefficients between nodes of the motor network at rest and during a tapping motor task between the "OFF" and "ON" dopaminergic medication states in the two motor subtype PD patients.

Time frame: At time of MRI scan: 12 or more hours after their last dose of dopaminergic medication.

Correlation coefficients between nodes of the motor network at rest and during a tapping motor task.

Time frame: At time of 2nd MRI scan: 1 to 3 hours after taking their usual dose(s) dopaminergic medication(s).

Second level contrast between Parkinson Disease (PD) and Healthy Controls (HC).

Differences in connectivity as measured by correlation coefficients between nodes of the motor network at rest and during a tapping motor task in PD patients of two motor subtypes and matched healthy controls.

Time frame: At time of MRI scan: 12 or more hours after their last dose of dopaminergic medication.

Secondary Outcomes

Task-related whole-brain activations.

Secondary outcome measures include task-related whole-brain activations as assessed by changes in blood oxygen-dependent (BOLD) contrast during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning.

Time frame: At time of MRI scan, 12 or more hours after their last dose of dopaminergic medication.

Task-related whole-brain activations.

Secondary outcome measures include task-related whole-brain activations as assessed by changes in blood oxygen-dependent (BOLD) contrast during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning.

Time frame: At time of 2nd MRI scan, 1 to 3 hours after taking their usual dose(s) dopaminergic medication(s).

Connectivity between other motor and non-motor brain regions during the tasks.

Secondary outcome measures include measuring the connectivity between other motor and non-motor brain regions during the tasks.

Time frame: At time of MRI scan,12 or more hours after their last dose of dopaminergic medication.

Correlations of brain activity and functional connectivity to structural connectivity measures and behavioral and clinical assessments

Secondary outcome measures include a measure of the correlations of brain activity and functional connectivity to structural connectivity measures as well as behavioral and clinical assessments.

Time frame: At time of MRI scan. 12 or more hours after their last dose of dopaminergic medication.