Functional and connectivity correlates associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis: a systematic review

• Published in: Brain communications 2024-11, Vol.6 (6), p.fcae358
• Main Authors: Pisani, Sara, Gunasekera, Brandon, Lu, Yining, Vignando, Miriam, Ffytche, Dominic, Aarsland, Dag, Chaudhuri, K R, Ballard, Clive, Lee, Jee-Young, Kim, Yu Kyeong, Velayudhan, Latha, Bhattacharyya, Sagnik
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Review
• ISSN: 2632-1297; 2632-1297
• DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae358

Abstract Neural underpinnings of Parkinson’s disease psychosis remain unclear to this day with relatively few studies and reviews available. Using a systematic review approach, here, we aimed to qualitatively synthesize evidence from studies investigating Parkinson’s psychosis-specific alterations in brain structure, function or chemistry using different neuroimaging modalities. PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases were searched for functional MRI (task-based and resting state), diffusion tensor imaging, PET and single-photon emission computed tomography studies comparing Parkinson’s disease psychosis patients with Parkinson’s patients without psychosis. We report findings from 29 studies (514 Parkinson’s psychosis patients, mean age ± SD = 67.92 ± 4.37 years; 51.36% males; 853 Parkinson’s patients, mean age ± SD = 66.75 ± 4.19 years; 55.81% males). Qualitative synthesis revealed widespread patterns of altered brain function across task-based and resting-state functional MRI studies in Parkinson’s psychosis patients compared with Parkinson’s patients without psychosis. Similarly, white matter abnormalities were reported in parietal, temporal and occipital regions. Hypo-metabolism and reduced dopamine transporter binding were also reported whole brain and in sub-cortical areas. This suggests extensive alterations affecting regions involved in high-order visual processing and attentional networks. This systematic review aimed at summarizing studies on functional and connectivity correlates of Parkinson’s disease psychosis. Pisani et al. reviewed 29 studies, revealing altered functional substrates encompassing mostly attentional networks across occipital, parietal and temporal areas. This underscores the need for comprehensive and multiple neuroimaging approaches in future research. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract