SPECT findings as potential indicators of antiparkinsonian drug efficacy.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K17247
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Aichi Medical University
• Principal Investigator: TAGUCHI SOUTAROU 愛知医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (50620035)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: パーキンソン病 / 脳血流 / SPECT

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) measurement of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) allows evaluation of temporal changes in brain function, and using SPECT, we aimed to identify motor improvement-related rCBF changes in response to the administration of antiparkinsonian drugs. The rCBF increases in the substantia nigra (SN), lateral geniculate (LG) body, and medial geniculate (MG) body correlated with motor symptom improvement. Specifically, the drug-driven rCBF change in the MG was statistically significant, irrespective of cognitive function, but the significant changes in the LG and SN were not found in subjects with dementia. In conclusion, our SPECT study suggest that rCBF changes in these regions could be considered as candidates for clinical indicators for objective evaluation of disease progression.

Free Research Field

神経内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、パーキンソン病(PD)の運動症候改善に連関した局所脳血流変化を示す領域がPD進行の客観的な臨床指標となり得る可能性を示唆されたほか、我が国で汎用されているSPECTによる簡便で新たな抗PD薬効評価システムの確立につながる一定の成果が得られたものと考える。また、脳血流変化の連関トポロジーを示すことでPD病態の解明につながる新たな知見をもたらしたものとも考えた。