Abstracto

Neuroimaging biomarkers for parkinsonian disorders and its diagnosis.

Joseph Walker

Parkinsonian disorders are the most common neurodegenerative diseases after Alzheimer's disease. In about 20% of patients, parkinsonism is not due to Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology, which then is commonly referred to as an atypical parkinsonian disorder (AP). The most frequent forms of underlying neurodegenerative pathologies in AP are progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). Neuronal degeneration is generally much more aggressive and symptomatic therapy is much less effective in these disorders than in PD. This does not only lead to a significantly shorter survival but also to a dramatically steeper loss of function, for example, in activities of daily living. From a neuropathological perspective, parkinsonian disorders are proteinopathies and distinguishable with regard to the form and localization of pathological protein aggregates.