Multimodal Neuroimaging and Behavioral Assessment of SNCA Polymorphism rs356219 in Older Adults

The single nucleotide polymorphism rs356219 in the α-synuclein (SNCA) gene has been shown to significantly contribute to an earlier age at onset of Parkinson’s disease (PD), regulate SNCA expression in PD-brain regions, blood and plasma. Here, we used multimodal MRI to study healthy adults with and without the rs356219 risk genotype. Motor and co gnitive tests were administered and all participants underwent functional and structural MRI. Imaging analyses included: 1) task-based functional MRI, 2) task-based functional connectivity, 3) free-water diffusion MRI of the substantia nigra, 4) voxel-based morphometry, 5) surface-based morphometry.

Source: Neurobiology of Aging - February 10, 2018 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Roxana G. Burciu, Rachael D. Seidler, Priyank Shukla, Mike A. Nalls, Andrew B. Singleton, Michael S. Okun, David E. Vaillancourt Source Type: research