Abstract #0592

Magnetization Transfer & Adiabatic R1ρ MRI in the Brainstem of Parkinson Disease

Silvia Mangia¹, Andrew Tyan¹, Paul Tuite², Michael Lee³, Michael Garwood¹, Shalom Michaeli¹

¹CMRR - Dept. of Radiology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; ²Dept. of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; ³Dept. of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States

In addition to classic midbrain pathology, Parkinson disease (PD) is accompanied by changes in pontine and medullary brainstem structures. Using novel rotating frame adiabatic R_1ρ (i.e., measurements of longitudinal relaxation during adiabatic full passage pulses) and modified magnetization transfer (MT) MRI mapping, we sought to identify brainstem alterations in nine individuals with mild-moderate PD (off medication) and ten age-matched controls at 4 Tesla. We observed significant differences in MRI parameters within midbrain and medullary brainstem structures of PD patients as compared to controls that may be due to early stages of the disease.