CAPABILITIES OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Abstract. Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic degenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by the progressive loss of neurons in the nigrostriatal system. PD is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that leads to motor impairments, cognitive dysfunction, and autonomic disturbances due to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Clinical diagnosis is usually made after symptom onset; however, modern neuroimaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provide an opportunity for early disease detection. This article analyzes the diagnostic value of MRI in PD, including nigrosome-1 signal detection, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and functional MRI (fMRI). Today, early detection, differential diagnosis, and assessment of disease progression remain crucial challenges in neurology. While traditional clinical diagnostic methods allow for the identification of PD in advanced stages, high-precision neuroimaging techniques are required for the early detection and differentiation of neurodegenerative processes. Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nigrosome-1, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), neurodegeneration.