Current research status of imaging markers for cognitive impairment in Parkinson′s disease

Parkinson′s disease (PD), the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, has shown an increasing incidence in recent years, significantly impacting the quality of life of elderly individuals and their families. The onset of cognitive impairment and Parkinson′s disease dementia (PDD) are critical milestones in the progression of PD. Imaging examinations, serving as essential detection and evaluation tools for neurodegenerative diseases, have been increasingly applied to PD-related research. Different imaging techniques demonstrate distinct advantages and features in screening cognitive dysfunction in PD. Choosing a reliable imaging method not only maximizes the advantages of the examination, enhancing the sensitivity and specificity in identifying PD patients at risk of cognitive impairment, but also reduces the frequency of examinations and the radiation dose received by patients. This review summarizes the existing findings on imaging markers of cognitive impairment in PD from three aspects, structural imaging, functional imaging, and multimodal techniques. Furthermore, it explores future research directions, aiming to provide powerful imaging support for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PD.