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Neurosciences: NeurologyNeurology Posters |
1 Radiology & Neurology; 2 Radiology; 3 Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
955
Objectives: To investigate the relationship between cerebellar acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and motor impairments in Parkinson disease (PD).
Methods: PD patients (Hoehn and Yahr stages I-III, n=48) underwent a standardized clinical assessment and [C-11]methyl-4-piperidinyl propionate (PMP) AChE brain PET imaging. Patients on dopaminergic drugs were examined in the clinically defined "off" state. K3 hydrolysis rates were calculated using a non-invasive method with the basal ganglia as integrated input function following a modification of the method proposed by Nagatsuka et al. (JCBFM 2001;21:1354-1366).
Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.2±8.6 years (range 51-82) and the mean UPDRS motor score was 26.5±7.2 (range 5-40). There were modest inverse relationships between total (R=0.43, p=0.0024), axial (R=-0.34, P=0.016) and bradykinesia (R=-0.34, P=0.017) UPDRS motor scores and cerebellar AChE hydrolysis rates. There were no significant correlations between cerebellar AChE and UPDRS rigidity or tremor scores. There were also negative correlations between the Timed Up and Go (R=-0.30, P=0.03) and the Chair Rise (R=-0.47, P=0.008) tests and cerebellar AChE activity.
Conclusions: These data suggest that cerebellar cholinergic functions may contribute to balance-mediated motor impairments in PD.
Research Support: Supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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