# Independent brain metabolic patterns in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

> **NIH NIH R03** · MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER · 2020 · $159,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rapidly progressive disabling neurodegerative tauopathy with a
universally fatal outcome. Thus far no disease-modifying therapy exists. Initially thought to be associated with a
single syndrome known as Richardson syndrome, we now know that several clinical syndromes can result
from PSP, such as progressive gait freezing, postural instability, parkinsonism, frontal behavioral syndrome,
corticobasal syndrome, apraxia of speech, and progressive aphasia. Often multiple and overlapping symptoms
exist in the same patient, making clinical diagnosis and prognostication challenging. Currently there are no
disease specific biomarkers. Accurate identification of patients is also integral for development of effective tau
targeted treatments and understanding the natural history of this condition. In this R03 we propose data driven
independent component analysis of 18F fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) across
the clinical spectrum of PSP with the main aim of identifying independent metabolic patterns and thereby
distinct clinical profiles. We hypothesize that these metabolic patterns will correlate with unique clinical profiles.
Secondly, this project will explore whether the FDG-PET metabolic patterns generated from Aim 1 can predict
PSP pathology and distinguish PSP pathology from other causes of Parkinsonism, especially highly
overlapping conditions like corticobasal degeneration and Lewy body disease. We will utilize 2 independent
cohorts, a clinical cohort for aim 1 and an autopsy-confirmed cohort for aim 2. Patterns of brain
hypometabolism on FDG-PET have the potential of serving as a biomarker for diagnosis and longitudinal
monitoring of PSP subtypes. Classification of PSP according to brain metabolic patterns, as opposed to purely
clinical symptoms, will overcome the challenge in clinical characterization of patients with multiple or evolving
phenotypes and potentially provide longitudinal dynamic data on progression, prognosis and predict
neuropathology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9869425
- **Project number:** 1R03NS114365-01
- **Recipient organization:** MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Farwa Ali
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $159,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9869425

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9869425, Independent brain metabolic patterns in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (1R03NS114365-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9869425. Licensed CC0.

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