Predictability of inter-regional cerebral perfusion similarity on dopamine responsiveness and the moderation role of cognition in PD patients

Abstract

Background: Large heterogeneity can be found in dopamine responsiveness of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Instantly and objectively understanding dopamine responsiveness of patients may help clinical practice.

Purpose: This PD study explored the predictability of off-state inter-regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) perfusion similarity on patient's dopamine responsiveness and tested whether the predictive power could be moderated by patient's cognitive status.

Materials and method: The PD cohort with 192 patients (containing off state and on state (PD-off and PD-on)) and the normal control (NC) cohort with 92 subjects were included. The intra-individual CBF relative variation networks were constructed and compared between PD-off and PD-on, PD-off and NC to identify the alterations caused by dopamine depletion. Based on that, regression analysis of off-state inter-regional CBF perfusion similarity on patient's dopamine responsiveness was performed. Finally, moderation analysis was conducted to test the moderation role of cognition on the regression model.

Results: In the PD-off cohort, a total of 82 edges in the network were identified that affected by dopamine depletion. Off-state inter-regional CBF perfusion similarity was found that had a significant influence on patient's dopamine responsiveness. Cognitive status was validated that positively moderated the relationship between off-state inter-regional CBF perfusion similarity and dopamine responsiveness.

Conclusion: Dopamine responsiveness of PD patient could be predicted by off-state inter-regional CBF perfusion similarity. Patient's cognitive status might have a positive moderation effect on his/her dopamine responsiveness.

Keywords: Arterial spin labeling; Cerebral blood flow; Cognition; Dopamine responsiveness; Parkinson's disease.