New Imaging Markers for Movement Disorders.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: For decades, identifying in vivo imaging biomarkers to accurately differentiate between various movement disorders as well as to understand their underlying pathophysiological abnormalities has been the aim of scientific work. Recent advances in multimodal imaging enable the visualization of structural and functional brain changes in these pathological conditions, thus raising the value of imaging techniques as powerful tools to improve sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnoses. This article reviews well-established and recent developments in imaging markers for movement disorders.

RECENT FINDINGS: Whereas several imaging approaches seem to be promising, many modalities are still under development and may not provide decisive answers. Thus, the use of combined imaging modalities as well as the acquisition of methodological consensus in the scientific community may provide more conclusive findings in the future of biomarkers. Although a single biomarker has yet not been identified, multiple markers derived from different imaging modalities may represent the right approach.