Delay Discounting of Reward and Caudate Nucleus Volume in Individuals with α-Synuclein Gene Duplication before and after the Development of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Impaired reward-related decision making and caudate volume loss are not detectable in the presymptomatic stage in SNCA duplication carriers. These behavioral and neuroanatomical alterations are observed after the development of clinical symptoms when there is extensive neurodegeneration. Study limitations include a small sample size as well as the potential confounding effect of general cognitive decline.