GBA-associated PD. Neurodegeneration, altered membrane metabolism, and lack of energy failure.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate possible mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration in patients with glucocerebrosidase (GBA)-associated Parkinson disease (PD) using combined proton ((1)H) and phosphorus ((31)P) magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) in vivo.

METHODS: (1)H and (1)H-decoupled (31)P MRSI was performed in 13 patients with PD with heterozygous GBA mutations (GBA-PD) and 19 age- and sex-matched healthy controls to investigate metabolite concentrations in the mesostriatal target regions of PD pathology. NAA as marker of neuronal integrity, choline and ethanolamine containing compounds as markers of membrane phospholipid metabolism, and energy metabolites (notably high-energy phosphates) were quantified.

RESULTS: Compared to controls, NAA was significantly reduced in the putamen (p = 0.012) and in the midbrain of GBA-PD (p = 0.05). The choline concentration obtained from (1)H MRSI was significantly decreased in the midbrain of GBA-PD (p = 0.010). The phospholipid degradation product glycerophosphoethalonamine was increased in the putamen of GBA-PD (p = 0.05). Changes of energy metabolism were not detected in any region of interest.

CONCLUSION: The pattern of neurodegeneration in GBA-associated PD is more pronounced in the putamen than in the midbrain. Our MRSI findings suggest that the neurodegenerative process in GBA-PD is associated with alterations of membrane phospholipid metabolism which might be also involved in abnormal α-synuclein aggregation.