{
  "abstract": "PurposeDynamic [11C]UCB-J PET can simultaneously provide information about synaptic density and relative perfusion in Parkinsons disease (PD). We investigated whether these complementary biomarkers could explain a higher percentage of motor symptom severity variation in PD and inform other PD-specific physiological alterations and symptomatology.\n\nMethodsBinding potential (BPND) and relative perfusion (R1) images were derived 30 PD and 30 controls imaged with [11C]UCB-J PET. A spatial covariance analysis was used on R1 to derive PDRP-a known metabolic network alteration in PD. Linear models related PD-motor symptom severity to PDRP expression and nigral synaptic losses. Next, whole-brain cluster analyses identified physiological correlates for PD-tremor severity, a prominent motor symptom that does not correlate with dopaminergic losses. Lastly, inter-individual regional correlation alterations in PD were examined for both BPND and R1.\n\nResultsPDRP was identified from R1, with higher expression in PD (p=1.7x10-5, Cohens d=1.2), and its expression correlated with MDS-UPDRS III (r=0.57, p=0.0009). Combining PDRP expression scores with synaptic density in the substantia nigra explained 48% of the total variation in MDS-UPDRS Part III, twice as much as previously reported using nigral synaptic density alone. Two significant large clusters (pk<1x10-6) were identified in the occipital-parietal areas where R1 was negatively correlated with tremor severity (r [~] -0.65, p<0.001). Extensive correlation alterations were observed in synaptic density (prominently involving pallidum) and perfusion (prominently involving thalamus).\n\nConclusionsCombining synaptic and perfusion outcomes for [11C]UCB-J PET explains more physiological alterations associated with PD.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Yale University"
  ],
  "article_type": "PUBLISHAHEADOFPRINT",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "P. Honhar"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Tinaz"
    },
    {
      "name": "F. Ebrahimian Sadabad"
    },
    {
      "name": "J.-D. Gallezot"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Naganawa"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Dias"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Ye"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. Gao"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. Nabulsi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Y. Huang"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. E. Holmes"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. A. Comley"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. T. Hillmer"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. J. Finnema"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Matuskey"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. E. Carson"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8zrzdrharzb92.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.28.26364237",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.26364237v1.full",
  "id": "8zrzdrharzb92",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.26364237v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "medrxiv",
      "neurology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2728|Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214761068",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.26364237v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-28",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8zrzdrharzb92.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:41Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.28.26364237",
      "source": "medrxiv",
      "url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.28.26364237v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "medrxiv:neurology",
      "subfield": "neurology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Alterations in relative perfusion and synaptic patterns in Parkinson's disease using dynamic SV2A PET",
  "title_text": "Alterations in relative perfusion and synaptic patterns in Parkinson's disease using dynamic SV2A PET",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:41Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8zrzdrharzb92",
  "venue": "medRxiv",
  "versions": []
}