• Application of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Diagnosing of Parkinson's Disease: A review
  • Mahmoud Mohammadi-Sadr,1,* Amirreza Sadeghinasab,2 Fatemeh Mazaheri,3 Mohammadreza Elhaie,4
    1. Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
    2. Department of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
    3. Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
    4. Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran


  • Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and treatment. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), an advanced MRI technique, has emerged as a valuable tool in the assessment of microstructural changes in the brain associated with PD. This review aims to summarize the current applications of DTI in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease.
  • Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies were selected based on their relevance to the application of DTI in PD diagnosis, focusing on those published in the last decade. Key metrics such as fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were analyzed to evaluate their effectiveness in distinguishing PD patients from healthy controls.
  • Results: The reviewed studies consistently demonstrate that DTI metrics, particularly FA and MD, show significant differences between PD patients and healthy individuals. Reduced FA and increased MD in specific brain regions, such as the substantia nigra and corpus callosum, were commonly reported. These findings suggest that DTI can detect microstructural abnormalities in white matter tracts, which are indicative of PD pathology. Moreover, DTI has shown potential in differentiating PD from other parkinsonian syndromes, enhancing diagnostic accuracy.
  • Conclusion: DTI is a promising non-invasive imaging modality that provides valuable insights into the microstructural alterations in the brain associated with Parkinson’s disease. The consistent findings across multiple studies highlight its potential as a diagnostic tool. Future research should focus on standardizing DTI protocols and exploring its utility in longitudinal studies to monitor disease progression and response to therapy.
  • Keywords: Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Parkinson's Disease, Diagnosis