Multiple-region Gray Matter Atrophy contribute to freezing of gait in Parkinson’s Disease

Objective The aim of our study was to detect the localization of gray matter atrophy in FOG PD patients compared with nFOG PD patients. Methods A total of 155 PD patients (110 men and 45 women) were included in the current study. Forty-five patients were classified as FOG and one hundred and ten patients were classified as nFOG. A voxel-based morphometry approach was used to investigate the atrophy area of voxel clusters in the gray matter which is associated with FOG. Results FOG and nFOG PD patients were not significantly different in gender, average age, educational years, disease duration or UPDRS-part I. Compared with nFOG PD patients, FOG patients showed gray matter atrophy in right Inferior frontal gyrus (opercular part), left Superior frontal gyrus, left Superior temporal gyrus, left Amygdala, left Insula, left Medial superior frontal gyrus and left Medial frontal gyrus (orbital gyrus). Conclusion Our study identified new gray matter atrophy areas in FOG PD patients compared with nFOG patients.