Features of Prodromal Parkinson Disease and Dopaminergic Neurotransmission in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

Background and objectives: Parkinson disease (PD) pathology begins years before clinical diagnosis. Identifying individuals in this prodromal period is of high priority because they are candidates for clinical trials. Several characteristics of the PD prodrome have been described, but many are nonspecific. Among community-dwelling older adults unselected for PD risk, their relationship to objective measures of nigrostriatal dopaminergic nerve terminal density has not been studied in vivo. We determined prevalence of PD risk factors and prodromal signs/symptoms in community-dwelling older adults, examined their relationship with dopaminergic nerve terminal density, and explored prevalence and distribution of other possible prodromal features.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study of community-dwelling older adults without diagnosed neurologic disorders in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Participants were assessed for 5 PD risk markers and ≤8 prodromal signs/symptoms, and underwent dopaminergic imaging with dihydrotetrabenazine ([¹¹C](+)-α-DTBZ)-PET to assess nigrostriatal dopamine terminal density. Probability of prodromal PD based on Movement Disorders Society criteria was calculated. Possible prodromal PD (pPD) was defined as an estimated posterior probability for prodromal PD of >30%. The relationship between prodromal probability and age-adjusted and sex-adjusted [¹¹C]DTBZ striatal binding was examined.

Results: A total of 231 participants were included, mean (SD) age 75.1 (4.5) years, 94 (40.7%) men. More than 1 prodromal sign/symptom was present in 131 (56.7%), with cognitive deficit being the most common. pPD was present in 18 (7.8%) of the sample. Compared with the not pPD group, the pPD group had lower mean age-adjusted and sex-adjusted predicted [¹¹C]DTBZ posterior putamen binding (2.45 [0.119] vs 2.38 [0.150], p = 0.014) and greater left-right asymmetry (0.027 [0.006] vs 0.030 [0.007], p = 0.014). Hyposmia was significantly associated with lower posterior putamen binding compared with normosmia (β = -0.179, 95% CI -0.332 to -0.026, p = 0.022).

Discussion: Prodromal nonmotor and motor signs/symptoms of PD are common in community-dwelling older adults. Increased probability of prodromal PD is associated with decreased dopaminergic nerve terminal density of the posterior putamen that is also more asymmetric. Our findings support the use of composite measures of prodromal features to identify individuals at the population level who may be at risk for PD.