Advanced Imaging and Biomarkers in Dopamine Dysfunction: Unravelling Neurodegenerative and Neurological Disorders

Neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease can be better understood with the use of modern imaging and biomarkers in dopamine study. The neurotransmitter dopamine is associated with a wide range of movement problems; it also regulates cognition, emotion, and movement. The use of modern imaging techniques, such as MRI and PET scans, makes these issues more common. Brain structural and functional abnormalities connected to dopamine anomalies can be better understood with the use of these scans. In order to identify and define dopaminergic neurodegeneration, functional imaging biomarkers such as FPET scans and DAT scans are utilized. Dopamine neuron loss can be visualized with their help. Dopamine depletion also impacts the substantia nigra, which is why MRI and DTI are utilized to study structural abnormalities in this area. Early disease detection and treatment outcomes are improved with the use of imaging biomarkers in conjunction with genetic and metabolic data. Nevertheless, imaging data can be supplemented with inflammatory chemicals and oxidative stress indicators to provide a better explanation for dopamine anomalies. Personalized medicine and differential diagnosis can both benefit from the integration of these ground-breaking approaches with machine learning. Physiological and pathological systems, such as PD and epilepsy, can now have their dopamine functions predicted by neurobiology thanks to biomarkers and multimodal imaging. This chapter delves into the topic of advanced imaging techniques and biomarkers that can be used to diagnose dopamine dysfunctions. The primary goals include providing a foundational knowledge of imaging techniques, the biomarkers that are accountable for them, and another major advancement along with associated obstacles.