Session Information
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Session Title: Neuroimaging
Session Time: 1:15pm-2:45pm
Location: Les Muses Terrace, Level 3
Objective: To explore type 1 endocannabinoid receptor (CB1R) expression in subjects with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and healthy controls using [18F]FMPEP-d2 PET.
Background: CB1Rs are expressed throughout the brain but especially abundant in basal ganglia making them an interesting target for drug development in movement disorders like PD. CB1R density can be measured in vivo using [18F]FMPEP-d2 PET radioligand.
Method: The study sample included 16 individuals with PD (mean age 65.1 years, SD 6.4, 7 females, 9 males, mean disease duration 9.1 years, SD 5.4) and 10 healthy controls (age mean 66.1 years, SD 8.1, 5 females, 5 males). All subjects underwent a brain 3T MRI and a 120 min dynamic [18F]FMPEP-d2 PET scanning with arterial blood sampling. Subjects with PD discontinued all PD medication at least 12 hours prior to the scan. The distribution volume (VT), an index of receptor density, was calculated according to the two-tissue compartmental model with metabolite corrected arterial plasma samples as input function. The data was analyzed in voxel-based and in an automated ROI-based analysis in which 38 ROIs were defined bilaterally using Freesurfer software. VT values were analyzed using analysis of variance with ROIs as repeated measures, including age, gender as covariates.
Results: The study groups did not differ in age (p=0.8) or gender ( p=0.5). The voxel based Logan plot analysis showed decreased VT of [18F]FMPEP-d2 in the left thalamus and left temporal, parietal and posterior cortical areas in subjects with PD compared to healthy controls. According to the ROI analysis, the PD group had significantly decreased (p<0.05) VT bilaterally in the thalamus, parietal cortex and sensorimotor cortex and additionally in the right precuneus and posterior cingulate cortex and in the left caudate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex compared to healthy controls.
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that subjects with PD have decreased CB1R density compared to healthy controls.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A. Brück, H. Al-Abdulrasul, J. Tuisku, R. Ajalin, J. Hirvonen, J. Rinne. Decreased Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor Density in Parkinson’s Disease: A [18F]FMPEP-d2 PET Study [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2019; 34 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/decreased-cannabinoid-type-1-receptor-density-in-parkinsons-disease-a-18ffmpep-d2-pet-study/. Accessed October 11, 2026.« Back to 2019 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/decreased-cannabinoid-type-1-receptor-density-in-parkinsons-disease-a-18ffmpep-d2-pet-study/