BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Parkinson's is often diagnosed based on movement and/or motor symptoms, such as a tremor. However, the disease may begin prior to the onset of movement and/or motor symptoms and it can often be difficult to distinguish between forms of Parkinsonism. Treatment of the disease may be more effective if treatment were to begin in the earliest stages of the disease. Additionally, understanding of the earliest stages and the progression of the disease require identification of individuals with the disease or at an increased risk of developing the disease prior to the onset of noticeable movement and/or motor symptoms. Additionally, to develop medications and/or other therapeutic treatments that effectively treat the disease, a technique for measuring disease progression is required. Effective measurements of disease progression will facilitate future clinical trials testing therapies for Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonism.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

An example embodiment of the present invention provides one or more progression biomarkers of Parkinson's disease and/or other parkinsonian diseases. For example, in an example embodiment, a progression score for an individual may be determined over a period of time based on one or more biomarkers. In an example embodiment, biomarkers and tools for determining which people are at a greater risk for developing Parkinson's disease and/or other parkinsonian diseases and/or early diagnosis of Parkinson's and/or other parkinsonian diseases are provided. In particular, in various embodiments, these biomarkers may comprise and/or relate to the free-water fraction in one or more areas of an individual's brain. In an example embodiment, the free-water fraction in one or more areas of an individual's brain may be determined based on analysis of one or more instances of imaging information/data corresponding to a diffusion magnetic radiation imaging (dMRI) scan of the individual's brain. In an example embodiment, the one or more instances of imaging information/data corresponding to the dMRI scan of the individual's brain are analyzed using a bi-tensor analysis model and pipeline for normalization and quantifying images.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for determining a free-water pattern of an individual is provided. In an example embodiment, the method comprises receiving at a computing entity an instance of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of an individual's brain; and using by the computing entity at least one of (a) a free-water pattern template or (b) 2D or 3D threshold requirements to determine a free-water pattern for one or more areas of the individual's brain based on at least a portion of the instance of imaging information/data. The free-water pattern may be used to determine the individual's parkinsonian state.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for determining a treatment efficacy score for treating a parkinsonian disease in an individual is provided. In an example embodiment, the method comprises receiving at a computing entity a first set of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of an individual's brain and associated with a first time; and receiving at the computing entity a second set of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of the individual's brain and associated with a second time. The individual underwent the treatment for a time period, the time period comprising at least a portion of the time between the first time and the second time. The method further comprises determining by the computing entity an expected change between the first time and the second time based on a natural progression of the parkinsonian disease; analyzing by the computing entity at least a portion of the first set of imaging information/data to determine a first free-water pattern; analyzing by the computing entity at least a portion of the second set of imaging information/data to determine a second free-water pattern; based on the first free-water pattern and the second free-water pattern, determining by the computing entity a disease progression score; and based on the disease progression score and the expected change between the first time and the second time, determining a treatment efficacy score for treating the individual with the treatment. In an example embodiment, a treatment plan for the individual is determined based on the treatment efficacy score.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for determining a free-water pattern of an individual is provided. In an example embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one processor, a communications interface configured for communicating via at least one network, and at least one memory storing computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least receive an instance of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of an individual's brain; and use at least one of (a) a free-water pattern template or (b) 2D or 3D threshold requirements to determine a free-water pattern for one or more areas of the individual's brain based on at least a portion of the instance of imaging information/data. The free-water pattern may be used to determine the individual's parkinsonian state.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for determining a treatment efficacy score for treating a parkinsonian disease in an individual is provided. In an example embodiment, the apparatus comprises at least one processor, a communications interface configured for communicating via at least one network, and at least one memory storing computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least receive a first set of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of an individual's brain and associated with a first time; and receive a second set of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of the individual's brain and associated with a second time. The individual underwent the treatment for a time period, the time period comprising at least a portion of the time between the first time and the second time. The at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least determine an expected change between the first time and the second time based on a natural progression of the parkinsonian disease; analyze at least a portion of the first set of imaging information/data to determine a first free-water pattern; analyze at least a portion of the second set of imaging information/data to determine a second free-water pattern; based on the first free-water pattern and the second free-water pattern, determine a disease progression score; and based on the disease progression score and the expected change between the first time and the second time, determine a treatment efficacy for treating the individual with the treatment. In an example embodiment, a treatment plan for the individual is determined based on the treatment efficacy score.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer program product for determining a free-water pattern of an individual is provided. In an example embodiment, the computer program product comprises at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein. The computer-readable program code portions comprise executable portions configured, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, to cause the apparatus to receive an instance of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of an individual's brain; and use at least one of (a) a free-water pattern template or (b) 2D or 3D threshold requirements to determine a free-water pattern for one or more areas of the individual's brain based on at least a portion of the instance of imaging information/data The free-water pattern may be used to determine the individual's parkinsonian state.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer program product for a treatment efficacy score for treating a parkinsonian disease in an individual is provided. In an example embodiment, the computer program product comprises at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein. The computer-readable program code portions comprise executable portions are configured, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, to cause the apparatus to receive a first set of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of an individual's brain and associated with a first time; and receive a second set of imaging information/data associated with a dMRI scan of the individual's brain and associated with a second time. The individual underwent a treatment for a time period, the time period comprises at least a portion of the time between the first time and the second time. In an example embodiment, the computer-readable program code portions further comprise executable portions are configured, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, to cause the apparatus to determine an expected change between the first time and the second time based on a natural progression of the parkinsonian disease; analyze at least a portion of the first set of imaging information/data to determine a first free-water pattern; analyze at least a portion of the second set of imaging information/data to determine a second free-water pattern; based on the first free-water pattern and the second free-water pattern, determine a disease progression score; and based on the disease progression score and the expected change between the first time and the second time, determine a treatment efficacy for treating the individual with the treatment.

