Cortico-cortical connectivity is influenced by levodopa in tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease

This study investigated SMA-M1 connectivity in individuals with PD ON and OFF dopamine medication, and whether SMA-M1 connectivity is implicated in resting tremor. Dual-site transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure SMA-M1 connectivity in PD participants ON and OFF levodopa. Resting tremor was measured using electromyography and accelerometry. Stimulating SMA inhibited M1 excitability OFF levodopa, and facilitated M1 excitability ON levodopa. ON medication, SMA-M1 facilitation was significantly associated with smaller tremor than SMA-M1 inhibition. The current findings contribute to our understanding of the neural networks involved in PD which are altered by levodopa medication and provide a neurophysiological basis for the development of interventions to treat resting tremor.PMID:38679112 | DOI:10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106518

Source: Neurobiology of Disease - April 28, 2024 Category: Neurology Authors: B K Rurak J Tan J P Rodrigues B D Power P D Drummond A M Vallence Source Type: research