White Matter Tract Alterations in Drug-Naive Parkinson's Disease Patients With Impulse Control Disorders Publisher



Zadeh MM^{1, 2} ; Ashrafganjouei A^{1, 2} ; Sherbaf FG^{1, 2} ; Haghshomar M^{1, 2} ; Aarabi MH^{1, 2} Show Affiliations
Source: Frontiers in Neurology Published:2018

Abstract

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are relatively frequent in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), although it is still unclear whether an underlying pathological process plays a significant role in the development of ICD in PD apart from dopaminergic replacement therapy. In this study, we have investigated alterations of white matter tract in drug-naive PD patients with ICDs via diffusion MRI connectometry. Our results showed that disrupted connectivity in the complex network of dynamic connections between cerebellum, basal ganglia, cortex, and its spinal projections serves as the underlying neuropathology of ICD in PD not interfered with the contribution of dopaminergic replacement therapy. These findings provide the first evidence on involved white matter tracts in the neuropathogenesis of ICD in drug-naive PD population, supporting the hypothesis that neural disturbances intrinsic to PD may confer an increased risk for ICDs. Future studies are needed to validate the attribution of the impaired corticocerebellar network to impulsivity in PD. © 2018 Mojtahed Zadeh, Ashraf-Ganjouei, Ghazi Sherbaf, Haghshomar and Aarabi.