The primary objective of this substudy is to measure the concentration and the regional brain distribution of activated brain microglia/macrophages using the PET ligand \[18F\]DPA-714 in participants enrolled in the UAB Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson's Disease (Clinical Research Core) and Longitudinal \[18F\]DPA-714 Imaging in a Parkinson Disease Cohort studies. The PET tracer \[18F\]DPA-714 binds to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO, also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) in the mitochondria of activated microglia/macrophages and provides a non-invasive measure of neuroinflammation. The amount and distribution of \[18F\]DPA-714 in the brain will be correlated to clinical data acquired through the separate ongoing UAB Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease (Clinical Research Core) and Longitudinal \[18F\]DPA-714 Imaging in a Parkinson Disease Cohort studies. The primary objective of this study is to determine if patients with PD have higher levels of neuroinflammation than healthy controls as measured with \[18F\]DPA-714-PET/MRI.
Enrollment in either the UAB Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson Disease (Clinical Research Core) study or UAB Longitudinal [18F]DPA-714 Imaging in a Parkinson Disease Cohort study under the separate UAB-approved research protocols (IRB-300001745 and IRB-300011684 respectively, PI Yacoubian)
Negative urine or serum Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test within 2 days of [18F]DPA-714-PET administration in women of childbearing potential. Women who are post-menopausal with at least 1 year since last menses or documented surgical sterilization will not require pregnancy testing.
High or mixed affinity binder for TSPO ligands based on genotyping for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6971.
Meets any exclusion criteria for the UAB Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Parkinson's Disease (Clinical Research Core) study or UAB Longitudinal [18F]DPA-714 Imaging in a Parkinson's Disease Cohort study.
Contraindication to MRI and/or PET imaging
Inability to participate in the imaging studies due to severity of PD or other medical comorbidities.
Low-affinity binder for TSPO ligands based on genotyping for SNP rs6971.