Evaluating the Prognostic Potential of High-Water Content Regions in Parkinson's Cognitive Impairment Progression

Motivation: White matter damage has been known to accumulate prior to the onset of white matter hyperintensity, but there is currently no way to calculate the extent of damage. Goal(s): Quantification of high-water content regions in Parkinson's patients based on proton spin density maps provides a new biomarker for mapping tissue damage and interpretation of WMH evolution.Approach: Distribution of high-water content regions and WMH were mapped for Parkinson patients with different cognitive levels. Heatmaps were created for groups. Results: High water content regions were mainly distributed along the ventricular wall. Water content and WMH correlated with CSF volumes with significant differences between groups. Impact: Segmentation of the high-water content regions based on proton spin density maps provides the ability to interpret WMH evolution and provide a new potential biomarker to guide the early detection. These effects were dramatically seen in Parkinson’s patients with dementia.