Degeneration of Motor Cortical Areas in Parkinsons Disease: A Follow Up fMRI Study

Mohit Saxena¹, S. Senthil Kumaran², Vinay Goyal¹, Madhuri Behari¹

Parkinsons disease is characterized by motor dysfunction. In this functional MRI study, we attempt to study the BOLD activation pattern with respect to the progression of the disease and the dopamine therapy. The enhanced activation of primary motor cortex in PD in the off state could be normalized to an extent by dopaminergic therapy. Compensatory mechanisms involving cerebellum and areas other than sensorimotor cortex are observed with the progression of the disease.