Advances with MRI in Parkinson disease

Degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra and intracellular deposition of Lewy body inclusions are the pathologic hallmarks of Parkinson disease (PD). Depletion of dopamine and other neurotransmitters results in motor (rest tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity) and nonmotor (cognitive impairment, sleep disorders, fatigue, and depression) symptoms.