Increased functional connectivity of thalamic subdivisions in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects 2–3% of the population over the age of 65 with loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra impacting the functioning of basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits. The precise role played by the thalamus is unknown, despite its critical role in the functioning of the cerebral cortex, and the abnormal neuronal activity of the structure in PD. Our objective was to more clearly elucidate how functional connectivity and morphology of the thalamus are impacted in PD (n = 32) compared to Controls (n = 20). To investigate functional connectivity of the thalamus we subdivided the structure into two important regions-of-interest, the first with putative connections to the motor cortices and the second with putative connections to prefrontal cortices. We then investigated potential differences in the size and shape of the thalamus in PD, and how morphology and functional connectivity relate to clinical variables. Our data demonstrate that PD is associated with increases in functional connectivity between motor subdivisions of the thalamus and the supplementary motor area, and between prefrontal thalamic subdivisions and nuclei of the basal ganglia, anterior and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices, as well as the anterior and paracingulate gyri. These results suggest that PD is associated with increased functional connectivity of subdivisions of the thalamus which may be indicative alterations to basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuitry.

Jakabek, DavidUniversity of Wollongong (author)
Power, Brian D.North Metropolitan Health Service,University of Notre Dame Australia (author)
Walterfang, MarkUniversity of Melbourne,Royal Melbourne Hospital (author)
Velakoulis, DennisUniversity of Melbourne,Royal Melbourne Hospital (author)
Van Westen, DanielleLund University,Lunds universitet,Neuroradiologi,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Neuroradiology,Lund University Research Groups,Skåne University Hospital(Swepub:lu)ront-dva (author)
Looi, Jeffrey C.L.Australian National University,Royal Melbourne Hospital,University of Melbourne (author)
Shaw, MarnieAustralian National University (author)
Hansson, OskarLund University,Lunds universitet,Klinisk minnesforskning,Forskargrupper vid Lunds universitet,Clinical Memory Research,Lund University Research Groups,Skåne University Hospital(Swepub:lu)mphy-ohn (author)
Australian National UniversityUniversity of Wollongong (creator_code:org_t)

By the author/editor: Owens-Walton, Co ...; Jakabek, David; Power, Brian D.; Walterfang, Mark; Velakoulis, Denn ...; Van Westen, Dani ...; show more...; Looi, Jeffrey C. ...; Shaw, Marnie; Hansson, Oskar; show less...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Neurology

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