Evaluation of Progression Markers in the Premotor Phase of Parkinson’s Disease: The Progression Markers in the Premotor Phase Study

Background: The clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is proposed to be too late for the application of beneficial neuroprotective treatment. Thus, it is important to identify and follow individuals at risk for PD in order to gain knowledge about the prodromal course of the disease. Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity (SN+) has been confirmed as a risk factor for PD and appears promising as a predictor of PD, particularly in combination with other putative PD markers. We present the design and initial data of a 2-year longitudinal investigation of subjects proposed to be at high risk of developing PD (HR PD ), compared to early PD patients and control subjects. The aim of the presented study is to monitor progression of the neurodegenerative process to motor PD. Methods: In total, 40 HR PD , 16 PD and 41 control individuals were recruited. The HR PD subjects had SN+ and additionally either 1 cardinal PD motor sign or 2 further risk (e.g. positive family history) or prodromal markers (e.g. hyReceived: February 1, 2013 Accepted: June 6, 2013 Published online: September 17, 2013 Daniela Berg, MD Department of Neurodegeneration Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tuebingen Hoppe Seyler-Strasse 3, DE-72076 Tuebingen (Germany) E-Mail daniela.berg @ uni-tuebingen.de © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel 0251–5350/13/0414–0174$38.00/0