PET Scanning in Parkinson s Disease

June 5, 2026 updated by: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scanning in Dopamine Disorders: Parkinson's Disease and Schizophrenia

This is an in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) study of regional cerebral dopamine and blood flow in normal volunteers, persons with Parkinson s disease (both familial and sporadic), and those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The latter also sign consent for NIH approved protocol 89-M-0160, "Inpatient Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Patients," PI: Daniel Eisenberg, M.D. Using PET with 6-[F-18] Fluoro-L-dopa (FDOPA) and (15)0-H2O in a single scan session, both presynaptic dopaminergic function and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) are assessed. The kinetic rate constant (Ki) for presynaptic dopaminergic uptake in striatum and other regions is calculated. We compare Ki across subject groups and relate the findings to rCBF. Findings are also related to allelic variation in genes of interest, for determination of which participants sign separate consent for NIH approved protocol 95-M-0150 Neurobiological Investigation of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Their Siblings, PI: Karen F. Berman, MD. We also draw comparisons between subjects with inherited vs. sporadic Parkinson s disease to determine whether the PET phenotype is the same in both groups, and we compare system-level, circuit-based pathophysiology across PD and schizophrenia groups. Each subject is further screened with an MRI to rule out structural abnormalities and also to further delineate areas of interest in the PET scans.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is an in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) study of regional cerebral dopamine and blood flow in normal volunteers, persons with Parkinson s disease (both familial and sporadic), and those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The latter also sign consent for NIH approved protocol 89-M-0160, "Inpatient Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Patients," PI: Daniel Eisenberg, M.D. Using PET with 6-[F-18] Fluoro-L-dopa (FDOPA) and (15)0-H2O in a single scan session, both presynaptic dopaminergic function and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) are assessed. The kinetic rate constant (Ki) for presynaptic dopaminergic uptake in striatum and other regions is calculated. We compare Ki across subject groups and relate the findings to rCBF. Findings are also related to allelic variation in genes of interest, for determination of which participants sign separate consent for NIH approved protocol 95-M-0150 Neurobiological Investigation of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and Their Siblings, PI: Karen F. Berman, MD. We also draw comparisons between subjects with inherited vs. sporadic Parkinson s disease to determine whether the PET phenotype is the same in both groups, and we compare system-level, circuit-based pathophysiology across PD and schizophrenia groups. Each subject is further screened with an MRI to rule out structural abnormalities and also to further delineate areas of interest in the PET scans.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

502

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 90 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

This is an in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) study of regional cerebral dopamine and blood flow in normal volunteers, persons with Parkinson's disease (both familial and sporadic), and those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Description

  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:
  • Age between 18 and 90 years
  • Ability to give informed consent
  • Ability to read and write
  • Ability to give adequate medical and neuropsychiatric history.

PARKINSONS DISEASE:

  • Individuals over the age of 18 from families in which an autosomal dominant form of Parkinson's disease is suspected based on pedigree analysis.
  • Each subject will have a medical history and brief neurological examination.
  • The diagnosis in probands must be supported by accepted clinical criteria: tremor, bradykinesia, and responsiveness to L-DOPA.
  • Equivocally affected individuals will also be included in order to aid in their phenotypic classification as will at risk individuals who show no neurological signs.
  • Individuals with sporadic Parkinson's disease will also be scanned. These will be over the age of 50 years and will have no known family history of Parkinson's disease or any other movement disorder.
  • PD patients will have an admission physical exam and medical history as well as laboratory tests deemed necessary on the basis of history and physical exam.

SCHIZOPHRENIA:

- Members of this patient group will have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizophrenia spectrum disorder as determined by the SCID and will be currently enrolled in NIH approved protocol 89-M-0160 (Inpatient Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Patients) under which they will have received admission work-up.

HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS:

  • A large cohort of healthy volunteers will also have a PET scan.
  • Volunteers will be age, gender and handedness-matched to patients for statistical purposes.
  • Volunteers, who are enrolled as healthy controls under protocol 95-M-0150 "Neurobiological Investigation of Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders and their Siblings" will receive admission workup through that protocol.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Will include medical illness that would affect cerebral blood flow or dopamine
  • Current pregnancy
  • Current breast feeding
  • Possible exposure to radiation exceeding RSC guidelines
  • History of any (excepting nicotinerelated) DSM5-defined moderate to severe substance use disorder (or DSM-IV-defined substance dependence).
  • Cumulative lifetime history of any (excepting nicotine-related) DSM5-defined mild substance use disorder (or any DSM-IV-defined substance abuse),either in excess of 5 years total or not in remission for at least 6 months,
  • Inability to stay caffeine- and nicotine-free for 4 hours
  • Current suicidality or assaultiveness
  • History of movement disorder
  • History of head injury requiring hospitalization
  • History of coma
  • Inability to meet general safety criteria for MRI study (as determined by standardized Nuclear Medicine Research (NMR) Center screening)
  • Previously demonstrated inability or unwillingness to comply with a study protocol.

PARKINSONS DISEASE:

- Individuals not capable of understanding the consent will be excluded.

HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS:

- Healthy volunteers will be unable to participate if they have been treated with psychotropic medication within the three months prior to scanning, are undergoing current psychiatric treatment, have any history of major psychiatric or movement disorder, have a first degree relative with schizophrenia, or have a family history of PD.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Healthy volunteers
Healthy volunteers.
Drug: O-15 Water
Patients - Parkinsons
Patients with Parkinsons
Drug: O-15 Water
Drug: 18F-Fluoro-L-dopa
Patients - schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Drug: O-15 Water
Drug: 18F-Fluoro-L-dopa

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To explore with positron emission tomography (PET) the pathophysiology and cerebral consequences of dopaminergic dysregulation.
Time Frame: Ongoing
To explore with positron emission tomography (PET) the pathophysiology and cerebral consequences of dopaminergic dysregulation.
Ongoing

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Karen F Berman, M.D., National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 15, 2002

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 23, 2001

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 22, 2001

First Posted (Estimated)

September 24, 2001

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 5, 2026

Last Verified

November 18, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 010232
  • 01-M-0232

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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