Relationship between cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and structural brain network properties in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Pathological accumulation of α-synuclein, amyloid-β , and tau proteins in the brain is considered critical for development of various neurodegenerative diseases.

Objectives: We investigated the association between CSF levels of these biomarkers, brain structural connectivity, and the UPDRS in PD.

Methods: Diffusion tensor images and CSF biomarkers (α-synuclein, amyloid-β , total tau, and phosphorylated tau181) from 132 drug-naïve, nondemented PD patients and 61 healthy controls were obtained from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative database.