Multimodal MRI assessment of nigro-striatal pathway in multiple system atrophy and Parkinson disease

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are two neurodegenerative alpha-synucleinopathies characterized by severe impairment of the nigro-striatal pathway. Based on T1-, T2*-, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), macro-structural and micro-structural abnormalities in these diseases can be detected. Objective This study was undertaken to compare the nigro-striatal changes that occur in patients...