The paper below demonstrates:5. Conclusions
The present study provides evidence that brain iron and neurometabolite concentrations involved in energy metabolism and neurotransmission are associated with motor dysfunction in PD.
It is a free paper and relates clearly to energy metabolism, that is mitochondrion. A bit small study population, however.Cells. 2019 Jan 29;8(2). pii: E96. doi: 10.3390/cells8020096.Impairment of Motor Function Correlates with Neurometabolite and Brain Iron Alterations in Parkinson'sDisease.
Pesch B1, Casjens S2, Woitalla D3,4, Dharmadhikari S5,6,7, Edmondson DA8,9, Zella MAS10, Lehnert M11, Lotz A12, Herrmann L13, Muhlack S14, Kraus P15, Yeh CL16,17, Glaubitz B18, Schmidt-Wilcke T19,20, Gold R21, van Thriel C22, Brüning T23, Tönges L24, Dydak U25,26.Abstract
We took advantage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) as non-invasive methods to quantify brain iron and neurometabolites, which were analyzed along with other predictors of motor dysfunction in Parkinson'sdisease (PD). Tapping hits, tremor amplitude, and the scores derived from part III of the Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS3 scores) were determined in 35 male PD patients and 35 controls. The iron-sensitive MRI relaxation rate R2* was measured in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra. γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-edited and short echo-time MRS was used for the quantification of neurometabolites in the striatum and thalamus. Associations of R2*, neurometabolites, and other factors with motor function were estimated with Spearman correlations and mixed regression models to account for repeated measurements (hands, hemispheres). In PD patients, R2* and striatal GABA correlated with MDS-UPDRS3 scores if not adjusted for age. Patients with akinetic-rigid PD subtype (N = 19) presented with lower creatine and striatal glutamate and glutamine (Glx) but elevated thalamic GABA compared to controls or mixed PD subtype. In PD patients, Glx correlated with an impaired dexterity when adjusted for covariates. Elevated myo-inositol was associated with more tapping hits and lower MDS-UPDRS3 scores. Our neuroimaging study provides evidence that motor dysfunction in PD correlates with alterations in brain iron and neurometabolites.
