Investigating white matter alterations in Parkinson's disease using multi-shell free-water DTI and NODDI: insights into neurodegeneration and levodopa effects.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. Levodopa remains the primary treatment, temporarily restoring dopamine levels and improving motor symptoms. Advanced diffusion MRI techniques, such as free-water corrected diffusion tensor imaging (fw-DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), provide insights into PD-related microstructural changes beyond conventional DTI.

Methods

This study investigates white matter alterations in PD using multi-shell fw-DTI and NODDI to compare voxel-wise differences between PD patients both OFF and ON levodopa, with comparison to healthy controls (HC). Effect sizes and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses assessed the discr

SUBMITTER: Bergamino M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12283281 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature