Objective: To investigate the possible relationship between height and the density of neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc).

Background: The dopaminergic system modulates growth hormone secretion and previous results have suggested a link between short stature and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) [1].

Method: In 36 Lewy body spectrum disease (LBD) cases and 19 controls, nigral TH-positive neuron densities were measured postmortem from midbrain sections and corrected with the Abercrombie method as described [2]. Body measurements were collected from autopsies or patient records.

Results: SNc neuron density (n/mm²) had an inverse association with height, (R²=0.317, p < 0.0001) in patients. The association was not explained by weight, age, sex, brain weight, medication, or disease motor severity. The association was also separately observed in patients with PD (n=22), but not in subjects who died without diagnosed neurological diseases.

Conclusion: Individual adult height may be connected to nigral neuron numbers in patients with LBDs, including PD.

References: [1] P. Ragonese, M. D’Amelio, G. Callari, F. Aiello, L. Morgante, and G. Savettieri, “Height as a potential indicator of early life events predicting Parkinson’s disease: a case-control study,” Mov Disord, vol. 22, no. 15, pp. 2263-7, Nov 15 2007, doi: 10.1002/mds.21728.
[2] L. Saari, L. Heiskanen, M. Gardberg, and V. Kaasinen, “Depression and Nigral Neuron Density in Lewy Body Spectrum Diseases,” Ann Neurol, vol. 89, no. 5, pp. 1046-1050, May 2021, doi: 10.1002/ana.26046.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/height-and-nigral-neuron-density-in-parkinsons-disease/