Features of Prodromal Parkinson Disease and Dopaminergic Neurotransmission in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Parkinson disease (PD) pathology begins years before clinical diagnosis. Identifying individuals in this prodromal period is of high priority because they are candidates for clinical trials. Several characteristics of the PD prodrome have been described, but many are nonspecific. Among community-dwelling older adults unselected for PD risk, their relationship to objective measures of nigrostriatal dopaminergic nerve terminal density has not been studied in vivo. We determined prevalence of PD risk factors and prodromal signs/symptoms in community-dwelling older adults, examined their relationship with dopaminergic nerve terminal density, and explored prevalence and distribution of other possible prodromal features. METHODS: C]DTBZ striatal binding was examined. RESULTS: = 0.022). DISCUSSION: Prodromal nonmotor and motor signs/symptoms of PD are common in community-dwelling older adults. Increased probability of prodromal PD is associated with decreased dopaminergic nerve terminal density of the posterior putamen that is also more asymmetric. Our findings support the use of composite measures of prodromal features to identify individuals at the population level who may be at risk for PD.
Source: Neurology
Institutions: University of Pittsburgh, University of Michigan
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4413819071