Roberta Biundo

Having five main research interests related to Parkinsons and other movement disorders. The first is to understand and define cognitive and behavioural changes in parkinsonisms (PSP, MSA, CBS, DLB, HD) and their clinical predictors. In this regard, aiming 1) to identify the feasibility and sensitivity of cognitive tests in detecting and monitoring cognitive decline in dementia patients; 2) to implement Italian validation “PD with mild cognitive” criteria; and 3) to build up a healthy subjects database with valid information about cognitive and brain alterations progression from a healthy population-based study. This effort has been recently awarded by an NHS GR-2016-02361986 grant. The second is neuroimaging, with particular focus on the definition of specific brain neurochemical and network changes associated with neurodegeneration. MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose PET are used to understand alterations in brain networks and connectivity. The third is the neuromodulation by transcranial magnetic stimulation, to identify indicators of neurorehabilitation treatment efficacy. The fourth is development of innovative rehabilitation strategies and home monitoring. This effort has been recently awarded by a Horizon 2020 research grant. The fifth is focused on genetic profiles associated with cognitive and behavioural symptoms in degenerative disorders. Also aiming to improve quality of life and resilience of patients using short-term tools and Well-Being Therapy approach (such as Autogenic Training, Psychoeducation, powering a sense of self-esteem and self-control, Habit Reversal Training (HRT) etc.).

Cognitive/behavioral characterization

Boel, J. A., de Bie, R., Schmand, B. A., Dalrymple-Alford, J. C., Marras, C., Adler, C. H., Goldman, J. G., Tröster, A. I., Burn, D. J., Litvan, I., Geurtsen, G. J., & MDS Study Group Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease (2022). Level I PD-MCI Using Global Cognitive Tests and the Risk for Parkinson's Disease Dementia. Movement disorders clinical practice, 9(4), 479–483. doi.org/10.1002/mdc3.13451

Hoogland J, van Wanrooij LL, Boel JA, Goldman JG, Stebbins GT, Dalrymple-Alford JC, Marras C, Adler CH, Junque C, Pedersen KF, Mollenhauer B, Zabetian CP, Eslinger PJ, Lewis SJG, Wu RM, Klein M, Rodriguez-Oroz MC, Cammisuli DM, Barone P, Biundo R, de Bie RMA, Schmand BA, Tröster AI, Burn DJ, Litvan I, Filoteo JV, Geurtsen GJ, Weintraub D; IPMDS Study Group “Validation of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson Disease”. Detecting Mild Cognitive Deficits in Parkinson's Disease: Comparison of Neuropsychological Tests. Mov Disord. 2018 Nov;33(11):1750-1759. doi: 10.1002/mds.110. Epub 2018 Sep 14.  

Biundo R¹, Ph.D; Weis L¹, Ph.D; Bostantjopoulou S. ²,MD, Ph.D; Stefanova E. ³, MD, Ph.D;  Falup-Pecurariu C. ⁴, MD, Ph.D;  Kramberger M.G.⁵, MD, Ph.D; Geurtsen G. J. ⁶, Ph.D;  Antonini A. ¹, MD, Ph.D; Weintraub D. ⁷, MD; Aarsland D. ⁸, MD, Ph.D on behalf of the DLB consortium. MMSE and MoCA in Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies: a multicenter 1-year follow-up study. J Neural Transm. 2016 Feb. DOI: 10.1007/s00702-016-1517-6,

Fiorenzato E, Antonini A, Wenning G, Biundo R. Cognitive impairment in multiple system atrophy. Mov Disord. 2017 Jul 3. doi: 10.1002/mds.27085

Biundo R, Weis L, Antonini A. Cognitive decline in Parkinson’s disease: the complex picture. Nature Partner Journals. (2016) doi:10.1038/npjparkd.2016.18.

Biundo, R; Weis L; Facchini S; Formento-Dojot F; Vallelunga A; Pilleri M; Antonini A. Cognitive profiling of Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2014 Apr;20(4):394-9. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2014.01.009. Epub 2014 Jan 22

Neuroimaging biomarkers

Fiorenzato E, Strafella AP, Kim J, Schifano R, Weis L, Antonini A, Biundo R. Dynamic functional connectivity changes associated with dementia in Parkinson's disease. Brain. 2019 Sep 1;142(9):2860-2872. doi: 10.1093/brain/awz192. PMID: 31280293; PMCID: PMC6736370

Garon M, Weis L, Pistonesi F, Cagnin AC, Bertoldo A, Anglani M, Cecchin D, Antonini A, Biundo R. Quantification of brain beta-amyloid load in Parkinson disease with Mild Cognitive Impairment: a PET/MRI study. Frontiers in Neurology (2022)

Biundo R, Weis L, Fiorenzato E, Pistonesi F, Cagnin A, Bertoldo A, Anglani M, Cecchin D, Antonini A.The contribution of beta-amyloid to dementia in Lewy body diseases: a 1-year follow-up study. Brain Commun. 2021 Aug 19;3(3):fcab180. doi: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab180. eCollection 2021

Biundo R, Weis L, Facchini S, Formento-Dojot P, Vallelunga A, Pilleri M, Weintraub D, Antonini A. Patterns of cortical thickness associated with impulse control disorders in Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2015 Apr 15;30(5):688-95. doi: 10.1002/mds.26154. Epub 2015 Feb 4

Non-pharmacological Treatment

Rektorova I, Biundo R. Non-invasive brain stimulation to treat cognitive symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2019 Sep;66:1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.09.012. Epub 2019 Sep 14. PMID: 31542281

Biundo R, Weis L, Fiorenzato E, Giovanni G, Giglio M, Schifano M, MC Campo, V Marcon, PM-Martin, P. Bisiacchi, A Antonini. Double-blind randomized trial of t-DCS versus sham in Parkinson patients with mild cognitive impairment receiving cognitive training.  Brain Stimulation, 2015 Aug 6. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2015.07.043.  

European project-PD manager. Horizon 2020PHC-26 topic: Self-management of health and disease. Grant N.: 643706. Co-Investigator (Responsible of definition of cognitive evaluations and home treatments) PI: Prof. Angelo Antonini Grant value:4.300.000