Inter-group comparisons for anthropometric, PSD-EEG, PET/CT and neuropsychological parameters
There was no significant difference between the PD and HCO group in age 65.4 ± 4.5 vs. 63.4 ± 4.6 years (p = 0.337, t = 0.983), body mass 72.2 ± 12.4 vs. 74.1 ± 18.9 kg (p = 0.792, t = -0.267) and height 168.7 ± 8.9 vs. 166.4 ± 8.9 cm (p = 0.558,t = 0.595) (Table 1), respectively.
Compared with the HCO group, the PD group exhibited: (i) significantly higher PSD-EEG theta and lower-alpha band and maximal peaks values for: C21 (SMA), D05 (PFC), and D10 (M1) (p < 0.05) (Figure 1A and Figure 1B); and (ii) significantly lower values of [18F]FDOPA PET/CT uptake ratio in the putamen (p < 0.001, t = -10.14; Figure 2A), and caudate nucleus (p < 0.001, t = -6.16; Figure 2B).
Inter-group comparison of cognitive tests parameters in PD vs. HCO showed (i) significantly worse executive function reflected in longer performance times of TMT-A (p = 0.012, t = 2.75; Figure 2C) and TMT-B (p = 0.004, t = 3.22; Figure 2D), and (ii) a lack of significant inter-group differences for the ST-I (p = 0.864, t = 0.173; Figure 2E) and ST-II (p = 0.074,t = 1.89; Figure 2F), although there was a clear tendency of longer (19% inter-group difference) ST-II performance time in PD group (Figure 2F).