Diffusion Tensor Imaging reveals microstructural brain changes in patients with Progressive supranuclear palsy

Introduction: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is an atypical Parkinson syndrome associated with progressive, postural axial rigidity, which often leads to fall and vertical supranuclear gaze palsy. Neuropathologically PSP is defined by the accumulation of neurofibrillary tau tangles in neurons and glial cells in basal ganglia, diencephalon, brainstem. Additionally atrophy is described in the subthalamic nucleus and brainstem, especially the midbrain tectum and the superior cerebellar peduncle. However, routine clinical MRI does not correspond to those findings. We used whole-head Diffusion Tensor Imaging (D…