7T MRS in Parkinson's Disease

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Parkinson's Disease at 7 Tesla

This study is looking for healthy controls and patients with Parkinson's (PD) to perform an MR scan.

1. The neurochemical profile of the SN of patients with PD as measured by high field MRS will differ from that of healthy controls, in that glutathione will be lower due to oxidative stress, lactate will be higher due to mitochondrial dysfunction, the gliosis markers myo-inositol and glutamine will be higher due to inflammation (glial activation) and N-acetylaspartate and glutamate will be lower due to neuronal loss/damage.
2. There will be a relationship between neurochemical changes and disease severity.

Inclusion Criteria:

Parkinson's disease Group

• Parkinson's disease (clinical diagnostic criteria)
• Age 45-75 years inclusive
• Able to safely undergo MRI scanning
• Absence of diabetes and smoking
• Capable of giving informed consent

Healthy Control Group

• Age 45-75 years inclusive
• Able to safely undergo MRI scanning
• Absence of diabetes and smoking
• Capable of giving informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Parkinson's disease Group

• Dementia (clinically determined by PI Dr. Tuite)
• Diagnosis of atypical parkinsonism
• Inability to safely undergo MRI scanning
• Inability to give informed consent
• Unstable medical conditions
• Present smoker
• Diabetic (on oral or injectable medications for diabetes)
• Taken coenzyme Q10 or Vitamin E in the 2 weeks prior to the scan
• Does not meet age criteria

Healthy Control Group

• Has a 1st degree relative with PD
• Dementia (clinically determined by PI Dr. Tuite)
• Inability to safely undergo MRI scanning
• Inability to give informed consent
• Unstable medical conditions
• Present smoker
• Diabetic (on oral or injectable medications for diabetes)
• Taken coenzyme Q10 or Vitamin E in the 2 weeks prior to the scan
• Does not meet age criteria