Screening for Early Stages of Nigrostriatal Alteration (II): Gait Pattern in Healthy Subjects with Increased Echogenicity of the Substantia Nigra

Background: The majority of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) show an increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) [1]. In healthy subjects, these abnormalities could be found in 9%. 60% of them had a malfunction of the nigrostriatal system as demonstrated by reduced putaminal 18F-Dopa uptake values [2, 3]. These findings have been suggested to represent a risk factor for PD. Objective: We have studied the gait pattern in healthy subjects with increased SN echogenicity. Methods: 31 healthy male subjects were studied. 16 had an increased SN echogenicity (mean age 58±5.4 years, range: 51–67 years), 15…