Category: Parkinson's disease: Neuroimaging
Objective: The overall aim of the study is to identify MRI markers that best distinguish between at-risk cohorts for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and healthy controls. The present cross-sectional analysis compared baseline subcortical brain volumes.
Background: PD is preceded by a heterogeneous prodromal phase, with early signs like olfactory loss, depression, and constipation lacking individual specificity and are therefore combined in algorithms like the Movement Disorder Society research criteria for prodromal PD (MDS-pPD). Polysomnography-confirmed isolated REM-sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is the strongest predictor of synucleinopathies, with > 95% conversion risk. In addition, carriers of specific mutations in the GBA1 and LRRK2 genes have also an increased risk for developing PD. While MRI markers are becoming increasingly important in differentiating PD from its mimics, there is currently no reliable surrogate MRI marker for prodromal PD (pPD).
Method: Participants were enrolled in the prospective observational MUMFORD study, conducted at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre (Israel) and the Medical University of Innsbruck (Austria). Motor function (MDS-UPDRS), cognitive (MoCA) assessments, and olfactory testing (Sniffin’ Sticks/UPSITS) were performed, and volumes of ten subcortical brain regions were estimated using 3.0 Tesla MRI and FreeSurfer software. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for age and sex was performed, with Bonferroni correction applied for multiple comparisons. The significance level was set at 0.05.
Results: 129 participants (48.8% male, median 61.0 years) divided into four groups (1. PD: disease duration ≤ 3 years; 2. genetic: confirmed asymptomatic GBA1/LRKK2 carriers; 3. pPD: confirmed iRBD/MDS-pPD ≥ 10% + hyposmia/MDS-pPD ≥ 30%; 4. healthy controls [HC]: MoCA ≥ 25) were included in this preliminary baseline analysis. Age distribution differed significantly between the groups with the genetic cohort being the youngest (median 54.0 years). Subcortical brain volumes did not differ significantly between the groups after age- and sex adjustment.
Conclusion: In this first analysis within the MUMFORD-study, regional brain volumes were comparable across groups. Longitudinal analyses will assess progression over two years, while additional potential MRI markers of pPD are being analyzed.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
F. Jagusch, S. Leiter, A. Droby, A. Mirelman, K. Marini, C. Theyer, V. Sidoroff, C. Horlings, M. Aktan-Süzgün, A. Stefani, B. Högl, R. Steiger, A. Grams, E. Gizewski, C. Scherfler, B. Heim, K. Seppi, P. Mahlknecht, F. Krismer, A. Thaler. Comparison of Subcortical Brain Volumes in Different At-risk Cohorts of Parkinson’s Disease – Preliminary Data from the MUMFORD Study. [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/comparison-of-subcortical-brain-volumes-in-different-at-risk-cohorts-of-parkinsons-disease-preliminary-data-from-the-mumford-study/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/comparison-of-subcortical-brain-volumes-in-different-at-risk-cohorts-of-parkinsons-disease-preliminary-data-from-the-mumford-study/