MEGA-PRESS Detects the Changes of Metabolite in Parkinson's Disease with Depression

Motivation: Altered λ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels have been observed in Parkinson's disease (PD), and these discrepancies may depend in differences of clinical symptoms. However, the role o GABA and glutamate concentrations of depression in Parkinson's disease (DPD) remains unexplored. Goal(s): To explore the changes of GABA+, glutamate and glutamate (Glx) in DPD. Approach: We utilized MEGA-PRESS to measure GABA+ and Glx levels in the medial frontal cortex (MFC) and thalamus among PD patients with and without depression, along with aged-matched healthy participants. Results: GABA+ levels were found to be elevated within MFC in individuals with DPD, independent of the presence of Parkinson’s disease. Impact: These findings suggest that GABAergic alterations in specific brain regions might be linked to the clinical symptoms of PD. Modulating GABAergic function could be a potential approach for treating DPD.