Cerebral Amyloid Burden and Hoehn and Yahr Stage 3 Scoring in Parkinson Disease

J Parkinsons Dis. 2017;7(1):143-147. doi: 10.3233/JPD-160985.

Abstract

Background: Progression to Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage 3 marks the transition to advanced disease staging and disability in Parkinson disease (PD).

Objective/methods: We conducted a case-control study of 36 PD subjects at HY stage 2.5 or 3, with groups matched for gender, age, and disease duration. Positron Emission tomography (PET) imaging included dihydrotetrabenazine [11C]DTBZ and Pittsburgh Compound B [11C]PiB.

Results: Subjects with HY 2.5 differed from HY 3.0 in mean cortical PiB distribution volume ratio (1.14 vs. 1.23; Wilcoxon two-sample Z = 2.36, p = 0.024) but not striatal DTBZ PET.

Conclusion: Cortical amyloid burden differentiates subjects below and at HY stage 3. These results suggest that cortical amyloid accumulation influences the transition from HY2.5 to HY3 and that cortical amyloidopathy may be a therapeutic target in PD.

Keywords: Parkinson disease; amyloid; cerebral cortex; positron emission tomography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cerebrum / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebrum / metabolism*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disease Progression*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Severity of Illness Index*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Carbon Radioisotopes