GENERALIZED MITOCHONDRIAL DYSFUNCTION IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE DETECTED BY MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY OF MUSCLE

Objective: To explore mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) using P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy of resting muscle. De sign: Case-control study (28 PD patients and 28 normal controls) deter mining resting forearm inorganic phosphate/phosphocreatine (P-i/PCr) r atio. Results: Significant difference (p = 0.004, one-tailed test) in P-i/PCr ratio between PD patients (0.122) and controls (0.104). No cor relation of P-i/PCr ratio with duration, severity, or speed of onset o f disease. Positive correlation of P-i/PCr ratio with age in control g roup; reversed in PD group. Conclusions: Suggests small generalized mi tochondrial defect in PD. The possibility that earlier onset of diseas e is associated with more severe mitochondrial dysfunction needs furth er study.