Parkinson’s Disease Motor Symptom Progression Slowed with Multisensory Dance Learning over 3-Years: A Preliminary Longitudinal Investigation

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that has a fast progression of motor dysfunction within the first 5 years of diagnosis, showing an annual motor rate of decline of the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) between 5.2 and 8.9 points. We aimed to determine both motor and non-motor PD symptom progression while participating in dance classes once per week over a period of three years. Longitudinal data was assessed for a total of 32 people with PD using MDS-UPDRS scores. Daily motor rate of decline was zero (slope = 0.000146) in PD-Dancers, indicating no motor impairment, whereas the PD-Reference group showed the expected motor decline across three years (p < 0.01). Similarly, non-motor aspects of daily living, motor experiences of daily living, and motor complications showed no significant decline. A significant group (PD-Dancers and PD-Reference) by days interaction showed that PD who train once per week have less motor impairment (M = 18.75) than PD-References who do not train (M = 24.61) over time (p < 0.05). Training is effective at slowing both motor and non-motor PD symptoms over three years as shown in decreased scores of the MDS-UPDRS.

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Relation of chair rising ability to activities of daily living and physical activity in Parkinson’s disease

Archives of Physiotherapy ◽

10.1186/s40945-020-00094-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mon S. Bryant ◽

Gu Eon Kang ◽

Elizabeth J. Protas

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Daily Living ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Motor Impairment ◽

The Elderly ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Many persons living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have difficulty rising from a chair. Impaired ability to perform the chair rise may be associated with low physical activity levels and reduced ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL). Methods Cross-sectional analysis was performed in 88 persons with PD to study the association of chair rising ability with ADL and physical activity. Results We found that the participants who pushed themselves up from the chair had more severe PD, higher motor impairment and more comorbidity than those who rose from a chair normally. The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale ADL (UPDRS-ADL), Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale (SE-ADL) and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) scores for the participants who pushed themselves up to rise (17.20 ± 7.53; 76.67 ± 13.23; 46.18 ± 52.64, respectively) were significantly poorer than for those who rose normally (10.35 ± 3.79; 87.64 ± 8.30; 112.90 ± 61.40, respectively) (all p < .05). Additionally, PASE scores were significantly poorer for participants who pushed themselves up to rise compared to those who rose slowly (95.21 ± 60.27) (p < .01). Pushing up to rise from a chair was a significant predictor of UPDRS-ADL (β = .357; p < .001; R2 = .403), SE-ADL (β = −.266; p = .009; R2 = .257) and PASE (β = −.250; p = .016; R2 = .162). Conclusions Ability to rise from a chair was associated with ADL limitation and physical activity in persons with PD. Poor ability to rise from a chair may prevent persons from living independently and engaging in physical activity.

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Sensor-Based and Patient-Based Assessment of Daily-Living Physical Activity in People with Parkinson’s Disease: Do Motor Subtypes Play a Role?

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s20247015 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (24) ◽

pp. 7015

Author(s):

Irina Galperin ◽

Talia Herman ◽

Mira Assad ◽

Natalie Ganz ◽

Anat Mirelman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Daily Living ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Self Report ◽

Motor Symptom ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Physical Activity Monitoring ◽

Physical Activity Levels

The benefits of daily-living physical activity are clear. Nonetheless, the relationship between physical activity levels and motor subtypes of Parkinson’s disease (PD), i.e., tremor dominant (TD) and postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD), have not been well-studied. It is also unclear if patient perspectives and motor symptom severity are related to objective, sensor-based assessment of daily-living activity in those subtypes. To address these questions, total daily-living physical activity was quantified in 73 patients with PD and 29 healthy controls using a 3D-accelerometer worn on the lower back for at least three days. We found that individuals with the PIGD subtype were significantly less active than healthy older adults (p = 0.007), unlike individuals with the TD subtype. Among the PIGD subtype, higher daily physical activity was negatively associated with more severe ON bradykinesia (rS = -0.499, p = 0.002), motor symptoms (higher ON MDS-UPDRS (Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor examination)-III scores), gait difficulties (rS = -0.502, p = 0.002), motor complications (rS = 0.466, p = 0.004), and balance (rS = 0.519, p = 0.001). In contrast, among the TD subtype, disease-related characteristics were not related to daily-living physical activity. Intriguingly, physical activity was not related to self-report of ADL difficulties (scores of the MDS-UPDRS Parts I or II) in both motor subtypes. These findings highlight the importance of objective daily-living physical activity monitoring and suggest that self-report does not necessarily reflect objective physical activity levels. Furthermore, the results point to important differences in factors related to physical activity in PD motor subtypes, setting the stage for personalized treatment programs.

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Glucocerebrosidase Activity is Reduced in Cryopreserved Parkinson’s Disease Patient Monocytes and Inversely Correlates with Motor Severity

Journal of Parkinson s Disease ◽

10.3233/jpd-202508 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Laura P. Hughes ◽

Marilia M.M. Pereira ◽

Deborah A. Hammond ◽

John B. Kwok ◽

Glenda M. Halliday ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Disease Patient ◽

Motor Symptom ◽

Blood Monocytes ◽

Peripheral Blood Monocytes ◽

Classical Monocytes

Background: Reduced activity of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase is found in brain tissue from Parkinson’s disease patients. Glucocerebrosidase is also highly expressed in peripheral blood monocytes where its activity is decreased in Parkinson’s disease patients, even in the absence of GBA mutation. Objective: To measure glucocerebrosidase activity in cryopreserved peripheral blood monocytes from 30 Parkinson’s disease patients and 30 matched controls and identify any clinical correlation with disease severity. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to measure lysosomal glucocerebrosidase activity in total, classical, intermediate, and non-classical monocytes. All participants underwent neurological examination and motor severity was assessed by the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Results: Glucocerebrosidase activity was significantly reduced in the total and classical monocyte populations from the Parkinson’s disease patients compared to controls. GCase activity in classical monocytes was inversely correlated to motor symptom severity. Conclusion: Significant differences in monocyte glucocerebrosidase activity can be detected in Parkinson’s disease patients using cryopreserved mononuclear cells and monocyte GCase activity correlated with motor features of disease. Being able to use cryopreserved cells will facilitate the larger multi-site trials needed to validate monocyte GCase activity as a Parkinson’s disease biomarker.

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Association between White Matter Lesions and Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson Disease

Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽

10.1159/000489311 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (2-3) ◽

pp. 127-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jeong-Yoon Lee ◽

Ji Sun Kim ◽

Wooyoung Jang ◽

Jinse Park ◽

Eungseok Oh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

White Matter ◽

Parkinson Disease ◽

Cognitive Dysfunction ◽

Rating Scale ◽

White Matter Lesions ◽

Motor Dysfunction ◽

Motor Symptoms ◽

Non Motor Symptoms

Background: There are only few studies exploring the relationship between white matter lesions (WMLs) and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson disease (PD). This study aimed to investigate the association between WMLs and the severity of non-motor symptoms in PD. Methods: The severity of motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and non-motor symptoms was assessed by various scales in 105 PD patients. We used a visual semiquantitative rating scale and divided the subjects into four groups: no, mild, moderate, and severe WMLs. We compared the means of all scores between the four groups and analyzed the association between the severity of WMLs and the specific domain of non-motor symptoms. Results: The non-motor symptoms as assessed by the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale, Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and Parkinson Fatigue Scale (PFS) were significantly worse in the patients with moderate and severe WMLs than in those without WMLs. Compared with the no WML group, the scores for motor dysfunction were significantly higher in the mild, moderate, and severe WML groups. The scores for cognitive dysfunction were significantly higher in the patients with severe WMLs than in those without WMLs. The severity of WMLs showed linear associations with PFS, BDI, BAI, NPI, and PDQ-39 scores. The severity of WMLs also correlated linearly with scores for motor and cognitive dysfunction. Conclusions: Among the non-motor symptoms, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and quality of life were significantly affected by WMLs in PD. Confirmation of the possible role of WMLs in non-motor symptoms associated with PD in a prospective manner may be crucial not only for understanding non-motor symptoms but also for the development of treatment strategies.

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Abnormal Olfaction in Parkinson’s Disease Is Related to Faster Disease Progression

Behavioural Neurology ◽

10.1155/2015/976589 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Sara Cavaco ◽

Alexandra Gonçalves ◽

Alexandre Mendes ◽

Nuno Vila-Chã ◽

Inês Moreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Freezing Of Gait ◽

Motor Symptom ◽

Identification Test ◽

Disease Rating ◽

Abnormal Performance ◽

Smell Identification

Introduction. A possible association between olfactory dysfunction and Parkinson’s disease (PD) severity has been a topic of contention for the past 40 years. Conflicting reports may be partially explained by procedural differences in olfactory assessment and motor symptom evaluation.Methods. One hundred and sixty-six nondemented PD patients performed the Brief-Smell Identification Test and test scores below the estimated 20th percentile as a function of sex, age, and education (i.e., 80% specificity) were considered demographically abnormal. Patients underwent motor examination after 12 h without antiparkinsonian medication.Results. Eighty-two percent of PD patients had abnormal olfaction. Abnormal performance on the Brief-Smell Identification Test was associated with higher disease severity (i.e., Hoehn and Yahr, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-III, Freezing of Gait questionnaire, and levodopa equivalent dose), even when disease duration was taken into account.Conclusions. Abnormal olfaction in PD is associated with increased severity and faster disease progression.

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Microelectrode-guided posteroventral medial radiofrequency pallidotomy for Parkinson's disease

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1997.87.1.0052 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 52-59 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Oleg Kopyov ◽

Deane Jacques ◽

Christopher Duma ◽

Galen Buckwalter ◽

Alex Kopyov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Side Effects ◽

Daily Living ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Target Region ◽

Content Type ◽

Significant Control ◽

Yahr Scale ◽

Disease Rating

✓ The outcome of radiofrequency-guided posteroventral medial pallidotomy was investigated in 29 patients with recalcitrant Parkinson's disease. Extracellular recordings were obtained in the target region to differentiate the internal from the external globus pallidus, and distinct waveforms were recorded in each region. Stimulation of the target site further verified the lesion location. Of the 29 patients treated during the course of 1 year, none showed any adverse side effects (such as hemianopsia or hemiparesis) from the procedure. Significant and immediate improvement in motor involvement (dyskinesia, rigidity, dystonia, freezing, and tremor) was observed as measured by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and the Hoehn and Yahr scale. Patients experienced improvements in their condition as measured on a self-rating scale, and their ability to perform the activities of daily living was also significantly improved. Although the onset and duration of the effect of a single dose of levodopa did not change, the number of hours in an “off” state of dyskinesia per day was significantly decreased. These results provide further evidence, in a large group of patients, that posteroventral medial pallidotomy results in significant control of the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease with a minimum of undesirable side effects.

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Προσδιορισμός των επιπέδων της α-συνουκλεΐνης στο εγκεφαλονωτιαίο υγρό και το πλάσμα ασθενών με νόσο Parkinson, άνοια της νόσου Parkinson και άνοια με σωμάτια Lewy

10.12681/eadd/46798 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Αναστασία Μπουγέα

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Daily Living ◽

Mini Mental State Examination ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Neuropsychiatric Inventory ◽

Clinical Dementia Rating ◽

Compulsive Disorder ◽

Disease Rating ◽

State Examination

Θεωρητικό υπόβαθρο: Η νόσος του Πάρκινσον(PD), η άνοια στη νόσο του Πάρκινσον (PDD) και η άνοια με τα σώματα Lewy (DLB) αποτελούν κλινικά σύνδρομα γνωστά ως διαταραχές των σωματίων Lewy (LBD) επειδή έχουντα σωμάτια Lewyως κοινό παθολο-ανατομικό χαρακτηριστικό. Δεδομένου ότι η διάγνωσή τους παραμένει κυρίως κλινική, υπάρχει μεγάλο ενδιαφέρον για τη χρήση ενός ή περισσοτέρων βιοδεικτών για την έγκαιρη και έγκυρη διάγνωση και τη διαφορική διάγνωση μεταξύ αυτών των διαφορετικών μορφών παρκινσονισμού. Η α-συνουκλεΐνη (α-Syn) έχει κερδίσει την προσοχή ως εν δυνάμει βιοδείκτηςγια τις συνουκλεϊνοπάθειες. Ωστόσο,ο προσδιορισμός της ολικής α-Syn στο εγκεφαλονωτιαίο υγρό (ΕΝΥ) με τη μέθοδο ELISA και άλλες παρόμοιες τεχνικές απέδωσε αντικρουόμενα αποτελέσματα. Αντίστοιχες μελέτες της α-Syn στο πλάσμα/ορό έχουν επίσης δώσει αβέβαια αποτελέσματα. Τέτοιες αποκλίσεις έχουν συχνά αποδοθεί σε προ-αναλυτικούς και αναλυτικούς συγχυτικούς παράγοντες (ημερήσια διακύμανση, κεφαλοουραία διαβάθμιση της συγκλεντρωσης εντός του κεντρικού νευρικού συστήματος, το φύλο, την ηλικία και, κυρίως, η επιμόλυνση του ΕΝΥ από αίμα), στις διαφορετικές μεθόδους ELISA και στη μέτρηση διαφορετικών τύπων της α-Syn στο ΕΝΥ και το πλάσμα. Σκοπός: Έτσι, λαμβάνοντας υπόψη τις αδυναμίες των προηγούμενων ερευνών, η παρούσα διατριβή στοχεύει να ελέγξει για πιθανή διαφορά των επιπέδων της α-Syn στο ΕΝΥ, τον ορό και το πλάσμα ανάμεσα σε ασθενείς με νόσο PD, PDD, DLB και υγιείς μάρτυρες και τη διαγνωστική της αξία χρησιμοποιώντας βέλτιστες δυνατές μεθόδους και αυστηρή τήρηση των προαναλυτικών και αναλυτικών κατευθυντήριων οδηγιών.Μεθοδολογία: Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν 77 ασθενείς (30 με PD, 18 με PDD και 29 με DLB) οι οποίοι νοσηλευτηκαν στην Α΄ Νευρολογική κλινική του Αιγινητείου Νοσοκομείου της Ιατρικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου Αθηνών. Η διάγνωση ετέθη βάσει των πλέον πρόσφατων διαγνωστικών κλινικών κριτηρίων. Σε όλους τους ασθενείς ελήφθη πλήρες ιστορικό και διενεργήθηκε ενδελεχής αντικειμενική νευρολογική εξέταση. Επίσης υποβλήθησαν σε πλήρη κλινικοεργαστηριακό και απεικονιστικό έλεγχο, συμπεριλαμβανομένου τομοσπινθηρογραφήματος βασικών γαγγλίων με 123Ι-ioflupane (SPECT). Επίσης διενεργήθηκε νευροψυχολογικός έλεγχος με τις κάτωθι δοκιμασίες: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), CLOX 1-2, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI),Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorder in Parkinson's Disease-Rating Scale (QUIP) και Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Η κινητική αναπηρία των παρκινσονικών ασθενών αξιολογήθηκε με βάση την κλίμακα Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS Ι-ΙV), η σταδιοποίησή τους με τις κλίμακες των Hoehn και Yahrκαι των Schwab και England. Η ομάδα ελέγχου αποτελείται από 30 υγιή άτομα χωρίς ιστορικό νευρολογικής ή ψυχιατρικής νόσου και φυσιολογική βαθμολογία στις ανωτέρω δοκιμασίες και κλίμακες. Όλοι οι συμμετέχοντες υποβλήθηκαν σε οσφυϊκή παρακέντηση μεταξύ 9-12 π.μ. μετά από ολονύκτια νηστεία. Δείγματα ΕΝΥ και πλάσματος/ ορού ελήφθησαν σε σωληνάρια από πολυπροπυλένιο, φυγοκεντρήθηκαν σε 2000xg για 10 λεπτά και αποθηκεύτηκαν στους -80 ° C μέχρι την ανάλυση. Δείγματα ΕΝΥ με περισσότερα από 50 ερυθρά αιμοσφαίρια απορρίφθηκαν. Αποτελέσματα: Η ηλικία κατά την έναρξη της νόσου ήταν μεγαλύτερη στους ασθενείς με DLB και οι βαθμολογίες MMSE ήταν υψηλότερες σε ασθενείς με PD. Μεγαλύτερες μέσες τιμές UPDRS-III καταγράφηκαν στους PDD και χαμηλότερες σε ασθενείς με PD. Μετά τη διόρθωση του Bonferroni διαπιστώθηκαν σημαντικά χαμηλότερες τιμές του Αβ42 σε ασθενείς με DLB σε σύγκριση με μάρτυρες (p = 0,002), ασθενείς με PD (p <0,001) και ασθενείς με PDD (p = 0,021). Επιπλέον, ηΤΡ-181 είχε σημαντικά χαμηλότερες τιμές σε ασθενείς με PD σε σύγκριση με ασθενείς με DLB (p = 0,028). Μεγαλύτερες τιμές α-Syn στο ΕΝΥ βρέθηκαν σε ασθενείς με DLB σε σύγκριση με τους μάρτυρες (p <0,001), ασθενείς με PD (p <0,001) και με PDD (p <0,001). Η ομάδα έλεγχου είχε σημαντικά χαμηλότερες τιμές α-Syn ορού σε σύγκριση με τους ασθενείς με PD (p <0,001), με PDD (p <0,001) και με DLB (p <0,001). Επιπλέον, οι ασθενείς με PDD είχαν σημαντικά υψηλότερες τιμές του πλάσματος α-Syn σε σύγκριση με τους μάρτυρες (p= 0,023). Ανεξαρτήτως ομάδας ασθενών, τα επίπεδα της α-Syn στο ΕΝΥ συσχετίζονταν σημαντικά με την Aβ42, ενώ τα επίπεδα της α-Syn στο πλάσμα συσχετίζονταν με την Τp-181. Αφαιρώντας τους 7 ασθενείς με DLB με προφιλ ΕΝΥ παθολογίας τύπου Alzheimer (Τt≥ 376, Aβ42≤580 and ΤP-181≥ 62.5 pg/ml) ανεύρεθηκαν σημαντικά υψηλότερες τιμές για την α-Syn ορού και πλάσματος αλλά οριακά για την πρωτεϊνη ΤP-181 στην ομάδα των LBDs συγκριτικά με την ομάδα ελέγχου. Η ανάλυση ROC έδειξε ότι οι α-Syn και Αβ42 στο ΕΝΥ είχαν την καλύτερη διακριτική ικανότητα μεταξύ PD και DLB. Επιπλέον, η διακριτική ικανότητα μεταξύ PDD και DLB ήταν παρόμοια για τις α-Syn και Αβ42 στο ΕΝΥ. Η α-Syn στον ορό έδειξε την καλύτερη διακριτική ικανότητα μεταξύ των PD και μαρτύρων ή μεταξύ PDD και μαρτύρων. Προέκυψαν τέλος οριακές συσχετίσεις μεταξύ βιοδεικτών της α-Syn και της Τp-181 και συγκεκριμένων νευροψυχολογικών/συμπεριφορικών κλιμάκων. Συμπεράσματα: Η α-Syn και η Αβ42 στο ΕΝΥ και τον ορο θα μπορούσαν να θεωρηθουν εν δυναμει βιοδεικτες για την διαφοροδιαγνωση των ασθενών στο φάσμα της LBD αφού έδειξαν την καλύτερη διακριτική ικανότητα μεταξύ των ομάδων PD- PDD και DLB. Εφ’ όσον επιβεβαιωθούν τα αποτελέσματα, η α-Syn του ορού, και, σε μικρότερο βαθμό, του πλάσματος, θα μπορούσαν να θεωρηθούν βιοδείκτες διάγνωσης των LBDs, καθώς εμφανίζουν υψηλότερες τιμές σε σχέση με άτομα ελέγχου.

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Measurement and correlation of fatigue and sleep quality in Parkinson’s disease: a cross sectional study

Manual Therapy Posturology & Rehabilitation Journal ◽

10.17784/mtprehabjournal.2018.16.556 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Wildja de Lima Gomes ◽

Laize Gabriele Castro Silva ◽

Neildja Maria da Silva ◽

Robison Carlos Silva Costa ◽

Roberta de Oliveira Cacho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Daily Activities ◽

Motor Symptom ◽

Disease Stage ◽

Measuring Instruments ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Prevalence

Background: Fatigue corresponds to a non-motor symptom of high prevalence in Parkinson’s disease (PD) affecting about one thirdof patients with the disease. This symptom negatively affects daily activities, contributing to the deterioration of the quality of life ofthese subjects. Objectives: To estimate fatigue in PD and to correlate with demographic characteristics, sleep, disease stage, motorfunction and daily activities. Methods: The sample consisted of patients with PD. The following measuring instruments were used for thestudy:Hoehn and Yahr scale, Fatigue Rating Scale, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale. Results: Thisstudy highlights the high prevalence of fatigue in subjects with PD, and the screening and treatment of this symptom is extremelyrelevant in clinical practice. There were no significant correlations between fatigue and other variables analyzed. Conclusions: Mostparticipants reported fatigue as a relevant problem, so it is important the use of instruments for fatigue screening in clinical practiceand the need to develop therapies related to this symptom in the PD.

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Motoric impairment versus iron deposition gradient in the subthalamic nucleus in Parkinson’s disease

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2020.5.jns201163 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Weiyuan Huang ◽

Richard Ogbuji ◽

Liangdong Zhou ◽

Lingfei Guo ◽

Yi Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Subthalamic Nucleus ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Motor Impairment ◽

Iron Deposition ◽

Severe Motor ◽

Severe Motor Impairment ◽

The Right

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between the quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) signal gradient of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and motor impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).METHODSAll PD patients who had undergone QSM MRI for presurgical deep brain stimulation (DBS) planning were eligible for inclusion in this study. The entire STN and its three functional subdivisions, as well as the adjacent white matter (WM), were segmented and measured. The QSM value difference between the entire STN and adjacent WM (STN-WM), between the limbic and associative regions of the STN (L-A), and between the associative and motor regions of the STN (A-M) were obtained as measures of gradient and were input into an unsupervised k-means clustering algorithm to automatically categorize the overall boundary distinctness between the STN and adjacent WM and between STN subdivisions (gradient blur [GB] and gradient sharp [GS] groups). Statistical tests were performed to compare clinical and image measurements for discrimination between GB and GS groups.RESULTSOf the 39 study patients, 19 were categorized into the GB group and 20 into the GS group, based on quantitative cluster analysis. The GB group had a significantly higher presurgical off-medication Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III score (51.289 ± 20.741) than the GS group (38.5 ± 16.028; p = 0.037). The GB group had significantly higher QSM values for the STN and its three subdivisions and adjacent WM than those for the GS group (p < 0.01). The GB group also demonstrated a significantly higher STN-WM gradient in the right STN (p = 0.01). The GB group demonstrated a significantly lower L-A gradient in both the left and the right STN (p < 0.02).CONCLUSIONSAdvancing PD with more severe motor impairment leads to more iron deposition in the STN and adjacent WM, as shown in the QSM signal. Loss of the STN inner QSM signal gradient should be considered as an image marker for more severe motor impairment in PD patients.

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Corneal nerve fiber loss relates to cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson’s disease

npj Parkinson s Disease ◽

10.1038/s41531-021-00225-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ning-Ning Che ◽

Qiu-Huan Jiang ◽

Guan-Xiao Ding ◽

Si-Yuan Chen ◽

Zhen-Xiang Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Nerve Fiber ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Motor Dysfunction ◽

Control Group ◽

Corneal Confocal Microscopy ◽

Corneal Nerve

AbstractCognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD) adversely influences quality of life. There is currently no available biomarker to predict cognitive decline in PD. Corneal confocal microscopy (CCM) has been used as a non-invasive tool for quantifying small nerve damage in PD. The present study investigated whether corneal nerve measures were associated with cognitive function in PD. Patients with PD were classified into those with normal cognitive function (PD-CN), mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), and dementia (PDD). Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD), corneal nerve branch density (CNBD), and corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) were quantified with CCM and compared with a control group. Sixty-five PD patients and thirty controls were studied. CNFD was decreased and CNBD was increased in PD patients compared to controls (P < 0.05). CNBD and CNBD/CNFD ratio was higher in PD-CN compared to controls. CNFD was positively correlated with the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) score (r = 0.683, P < 0.001), but negatively associated with unified Parkinson disease rating scale (UPDRS)-part III (r = −0.481, P < 0.001) and total UPDRS scores (r = −0.401, P = 0.001) in PD patients. There was no correlation between CNFD and Levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) (r = 0.176, P = 0.161). CNFD, CNBD, CNFL, and CNBD/CNFD ratio was lower with increasing Hoehn and Yahr stage. PD patients show evidence of corneal nerve loss compared with controls and corneal nerve parameters are associated with the severity of cognitive and motor dysfunction in PD. CCM could serve as an objective in vivo ophthalmic imaging technique to assess neurodegeneration in PD.

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