A neurologist has used an advanced form of brain imaging to identify
changes in small regions of the brains of living Parkinson's disease
patients for the first time. These scientists analyzed positron
emission tomography (PET) scans of the brains of 41 Parkinson's
patients and 16 normal individuals obtained at the Hammersmith
Hospital, part of the Imperial College of Medicine in London,
England. The scans focused on two small areas found deep in the brain
called the locus coeruleus and raphe, areas that control attention
and wakefulness. The analysis found positive evidence of degeneration
of nerve cells in these areas.


>From the University of Pittsburgh:
Parkinson's symptoms indicated for first time on pet scans of brains
of living patients


PITTSBURGH, April 2 -- A University of Pittsburgh neurologist has
used an advanced form of brain imaging to identify changes in small
regions of the brains of living Parkinson's disease patients for the
first time. These results were presented today at the American
Academy of Neurology meeting being held in Honolulu, Hawaii.


Robert Y. Moore, M.D., Ph.D., Love Family Professor and professor of
neurology and neuroscience and co-director of the National Parkinson
Foundation Center of Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh,
analyzed positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the brains of 41
Parkinson's patients and 16 normal individuals obtained at the
Hammersmith Hospital, part of the Imperial College of Medicine in
London, England. The scans focused on two small areas found deep in
the brain called the locus coeruleus and raphe, areas that control
attention and wakefulness. His analysis found positive evidence of
degeneration of nerve cells in these areas.


"We were able to see changes in these areas for the very first time,"
Dr. Moore said. "Before now, we could only see these changes on post-
mortem examinations. The implications of this are enormous because it
shows that we can now begin to gain a better understanding of the
progression of this disease and treatment using PET."


PET is an imaging method that provides high-resolution pictures of
the chemistry of the brain by measuring the concentration of positron-
emitting radioisotopes. An individual undergoing a PET scan is
administered a radiopharmaceutical - a drug containing a radioactive
isotope specifically formulated to be taken up by specific groups of
nerve cells - intravenously.


"PET scans are important in helping us develop methods to make an
earlier diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and even to identify people
who have no symptoms but are at risk of developing the disease so
that we can begin treatment and prevent severe disability from
occurring," he said. "There are several drugs now in FDA phase I and
II trials that hold promise for this."


An estimated one million people in the United States suffer from
Parkinson's, a degenerative neurological disease that selectively
affects nerve cells producing the chemical dopamine that are
important in the control of movement. The major early signs of
Parkinson's disease include slowness of movement, an abnormal
increase in muscle tone and tremor. Many patients also experience
disruptions of the sleep/wake cycle and their ability to mentally
focus attention.
It is believed that the loss of nerve cells usually begins 5 to 7
years before symptoms develop and the disease is most common in
people over 50 but, in recent years, much younger, high-profile
patients have included actor Michael J. Fox and television talk show
host Montel Williams, who have brought more public attention to the
disease.


Dr. Moore said that while a cure may be years away, a number of
recent advances have improved the treatment of Parkinson's and give
hope for "neuroprotective" therapies that would delay the progression
of the disease.


The University of Pittsburgh has one of the most active research
efforts in Parkinson's disease in the country, with a number of
faculty conducting ongoing investigations.


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SOURCE: Science Blog
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