Network connectivity determines cortical thinning in early Parkinson’s disease progression

Here we test the hypothesis that the neurodegenerative process in Parkinson’s disease (PD) moves stereotypically along neural networks, possibly reflecting the spread of toxic alpha-synuclein molecules. PD patients ( n = 105) and matched controls ( n = 57) underwent T1-MRI at entry and 1 year later as part of the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative. Over this period, PD patients demonstrate significantly greater cortical thinning than...