Synaptic Density and Glucose Consumption in Patients with Lewy Body Diseases: An [11C]UCB-J and [18F]FDG PET Study

Katrine B Andersen*, Allan K Hansen, Anna Christina Schacht, Jacob Horsager, Hanne Gottrup, Henriette Klit, Erik H Danielsen, Kathleen L Poston, Nicola Pavese, David J Brooks, Per Borghammer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperJournal articleResearchpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)
4 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with Lewy body diseases exhibit variable degrees of cortical and subcortical hypometabolism. However, the underlying causes behind this progressive hypometabolism remain unresolved. Generalized synaptic degeneration may be one key contributor.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether local cortical synaptic loss is proportionally linked to the magnitude of hypometabolism in Lewy body disease.

METHOD: Using in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) we investigated cerebral glucose metabolism and quantified the density of cerebral synapses, as measured with [ 18 F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([ 18 F]FDG) PET and [ 11 C]UCB-J, respectively. Volumes-of-interest were defined on magnetic resonance T1 scans and regional standard uptake value ratios-1 values were obtained for 14 pre-selected brain regions. Between-group comparisons were conducted at voxel-level.

RESULTS: We observed regional differences in both synaptic density and cerebral glucose consumption in our cohorts of non-demented and demented patients with Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies compared to healthy subjects. Additionally, voxel-wise comparisons showed a clear difference in cortical regions between demented patients and controls for both tracers. Importantly, our findings strongly suggested that the magnitude of reduced glucose uptake exceeded the magnitude of reduced cortical synaptic density.

CONCLUSION: Here, we investigated the relationship between in vivo glucose uptake and the magnitude of synaptic density as measured using [ 18 F]FDG PET and [ 11 C]UCB-J PET in Lewy body patients. The magnitude of reduced [ 18 F]FDG uptake was greater than the corresponding decline in [ 11 C]UCB-J binding. Therefore, the progressive hypometabolism seen in Lewy body disorders cannot be fully explained by generalized synaptic degeneration. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Original languageEnglish
JournalMovement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society
Volume38
Issue5
Pages (from-to)796-805
Number of pages10
ISSN0885-3185
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • Parkinson's disease
  • [ C]UCB-J
  • [ F]FDG PET
  • dementia
  • synapse

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