MRI Signature of PD Heterogeneity

PI: Schuff

The proposed study aims to identify a sensitive and robust biomarker for Parkinson’s disease (PD), which accurately reflects not only motor deficits but also a host of cognitive dysfunctions seen frequently in PD. To effectively capture the biological correlates of the concurrent motor and cognitive deficits in PD, the proposal uses multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including mapping of brain structure, function, perfusion, white matter integrity. These comprehensive measurements are expected to yield a MRI signature of PD which improves diagnosis of the disease and identifies PD subtypes for more effective tailored treatment strategies.