Increase in Cerebral Oxygen Extraction Fraction in Early Parkinson’s Patients

Motivation: Parkinson's disease is the fastest growing neurological disorder. However, comorbidities of the disease complicates its diagnosis and creates need for the discovery more biomarkers to help with diagnosis. Goal(s): Our aim is to noninvasively measure the cerebral oxygen extraction fraction which is an important metric for cerebral oxygen metabolism and see if it can be utilized as a biomarker for early Parkinson's Disease. Approach: MRI scans from early Parkinson's patients and healthy controls were obtained. Oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) maps for subjects were generated and two groups' oxygen metabolism was compared. Results: An overall increase in cerebral OEF was observed for Parkinson's patients. Impact: This study will potentially help with the diagnosis of early Parkinson's by providing another quantifiable biomarker. Additionally, difference in oxygen metabolism can help to understand Parkinson's disease better.