Brain metabolic alterations herald falls in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Ioannis U. Isaias, Joachim Brumberg, Nicoló Gabriele Pozzi, Chiara Palmisano, Andrea Canessa, Giorgio Marotta, Jens Volkmann, Gianni Pezzoli
Abstract
Pathophysiological understanding of gait and balance disorders in Parkinson's disease is insufficient and late recognition of fall risk limits efficacious follow-up to prevent or delay falls. We show a distinctive reduction of glucose metabolism in the left posterior parietal cortex, with increased metabolic activity in the cerebellum, in parkinsonian patients 6-8 months before their first fall episode. Falls in Parkinson's disease may arise from altered cortical processing of body spatial orientation, possibly predicted by abnormal cortical metabolism.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineParkinson's diseaseDiseaseBioinformaticsNeurosciencePathologyBiologyParkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsNeurological disorders and treatmentsNeurological and metabolic disorders