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Neuroimaging correlates of blinking abnormalities in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy
Author(s) -
Bologna Matteo,
Piattella Maria Cristina,
Upadhyay Neeraj,
Formica Alessandra,
Conte Antonella,
Colosimo Carlo,
Pantano Patrizia,
Berardelli Alfredo
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.26470
Subject(s) - progressive supranuclear palsy , neuroimaging , white matter , magnetic resonance imaging , psychology , neuroscience , brainstem , medicine , voxel based morphometry , palsy , atrophy , pathology , radiology , alternative medicine
Objective We aimed to identify the possible relationship between blinking abnormalities and neuroimaging changes in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. Methods We studied 18 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy and 13 healthy subjects. Voluntary and spontaneous blinking were recorded using kinematic techniques. Changes in brain structures were detected by T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging and voxel‐based morphometry. We then sought possible correlations between blinking and neuroimaging abnormalities in patients. Results Kinematic analysis indicated several abnormalities during voluntary blinking and a markedly reduced spontaneous blink rate in patients compared with healthy subjects. Neuroimaging showed gray matter loss in cortical and subcortical structures and lower white matter volume in the brainstem. Gray matter loss in subcortical structures correlated with the prolonged pause duration between the closing and opening phases, during voluntary blinking. Conclusions This study provides a more specific insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying blinking abnormalities in progressive supranuclear palsy. © 2015 Movement Disorder Society