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- Prasuhn, Jannik, et al.
(författare)
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Exploring neurodegenerative disorders using advanced magnetic resonance imaging of the glymphatic system
- 2024
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Psychiatry. - 1664-0640. ; 15
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The glymphatic system, a macroscopic waste clearance system in the brain, is crucial for maintaining neural health. It facilitates the exchange of cerebrospinal and interstitial fluid, aiding the clearance of soluble proteins and metabolites and distributing essential nutrients and signaling molecules. Emerging evidence suggests a link between glymphatic dysfunction and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease. These disorders are characterized by the accumulation and propagation of misfolded or mutant proteins, a process in which the glymphatic system is likely involved. Impaired glymphatic clearance could lead to the buildup of these toxic proteins, contributing to neurodegeneration. Understanding the glymphatic system's role in these disorders could provide insights into their pathophysiology and pave the way for new therapeutic strategies. Pharmacological enhancement of glymphatic clearance could reduce the burden of toxic proteins and slow disease progression. Neuroimaging techniques, particularly MRI-based methods, have emerged as promising tools for studying the glymphatic system in vivo. These techniques allow for the visualization of glymphatic flow, providing insights into its function under healthy and pathological conditions. This narrative review highlights current MRI-based methodologies, such as motion-sensitizing pulsed field gradient (PFG) based methods, as well as dynamic gadolinium-based and glucose-enhanced methodologies currently used in the study of neurodegenerative disorders.
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| 2. |
- Prasuhn, Jannik, et al.
(författare)
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Task matters-challenging the motor system allows distinguishing unaffected Parkin mutation carriers from mutation-free controls
- 2021
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Ingår i: Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. - : Elsevier. - 1353-8020 .- 1873-5126. ; 86, s. 101-104
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Heterozygous carriers of Parkin mutations are suggested to be at risk of developing Parkinson's disease, while biallelic variants are associated with typical autosomal recessive early-onset PD. Investigating unaffected heterozygous mutation carriers holds the potential of a deeper understanding of monogenic PD and has implications for PD in general, in particular regarding the prodromal phase.Objectives: To discriminate healthy Parkin mutation carriers from healthy non-mutation carriers using a multimodal approach.Methods: Twenty-seven healthy heterozygous Parkin mutation carriers (13 female. age: 48 +/- 13 years) and 24 healthy non-mutation carriers (14 female. age: 48 +/- 15 years) from the CHRIS study (Cooperative Health Research in South Tyrol) were recalled based on their genetic profile and underwent a blinded assessment of motor and non-motor PD symptoms, transcranial sonography and sensor-based posturography and gait analyses under different conditions with increasing difficulty. For the latter, gradient-boosted trees were used to discriminate between carriers and non-carriers. The classification accuracy and the area under the curve of the receiver-operator characteristics curve were calculated.Results: We observed no differences concerning motor or non-motor symptoms and substantia nigra hyperechogenicity. The best gradient-boosted trees-based model on posturography measurements (tandem feet, eyes closed, firm surface), however, showed a classification accuracy of up to 86%. The best-performing gradientboosted trees-based model for gait analyses showed a balanced accuracy of up to 87% (dual-tasking).Conclusions: Sensor-based quantification of movements allows to discriminate unaffected heterozygous mutation carriers from mutation-free controls. Thereby, it is crucial to challenge the motor system with more difficult tasks to unmask subtle motor alterations.
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