Abstract #3416

Chappell M, Watts R, Anderson T, Dalrymple-Alford J, van Stockum S

Cognitive impairment adds a significant burden to Parkinsons disease patients, with many progressing to frank dementia. This diffusion tensor imaging pilot study investigated whether the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) may be suitable markers of this cognitive decline. They were tested for correlation with key neuropsychological measures at each voxel. It was found that ADC was a more sensitive marker than FA, with strong correlations in several regions of the brain, including the periventricular regions, the medial temporal lobe, and the thalamus.