Effects of Exercise Therapy on Functional Connectivity in Parkinson's Disease

Forced-rate lower-extremity exercise has recently emerged as a potential safe and low-cost therapy for Parkinson's Disease (PD). The efficacy is believed to be dependent on high rates of exercise. In this study, we use functional connectivity (FC) MRI to further elucidate the mechanism underlying this rate-dependent effect. PD subjects were randomized to complete 8 weeks of forced, voluntary, or no exercise. Changes in brain connectivity were then analyzed as a function of pedaling rate. Changes in task-related FC (trFC) from the most affected motor cortex (*M1) to the ipsilateral thalamus were significantly positively correlated to pedaling rate. Changes in trFC between *M1 and the supplementary motor area were significantly negatively correlated to pedaling rate. This relationship persisted after 4 weeks of follow up. This indicates that patients who pedal faster tend to show stronger increases in cortico-subcortical trFC, and stronger decreases in cortico-cortical trFC.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Sciences (Engineering)

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biomedical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Shah, Chintan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gustafson, Kenneth
• Alberts, Jay

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Neurosciences
• Parkinson's Disease
• exercise
• Functional Connectivity
• fMRI
• fcMRI

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: some rights reserved. It is licensed for use under a Creative Commons license. Specific terms and permissions are available from this document's record in the OhioLINK ETD Center.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1364514398

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:case1364514398