scholarly journals Cardiac Changes in Parkinson’s Disease: Lessons from Clinical and Experimental Evidence

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13488
Author(s):  
Lorena Cuenca-Bermejo ◽  
Pilar Almela ◽  
Javier Navarro-Zaragoza ◽  
Emiliano Fernández Villalba ◽  
Ana-María González-Cuello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Orthostatic Hypotension ◽  
Side Effect ◽  
Geriatric Patients ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Negative Inotropic Effect ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Cardiac Damage

Dysautonomia is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Most dysautonomic symptoms appear due to alterations in the peripheral nerves of the autonomic nervous system, including both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The degeneration of sympathetic nerve fibers and neurons leads to cardiovascular dysfunction, which is highly prevalent in PD patients. Cardiac alterations such as orthostatic hypotension, heart rate variability, modifications in cardiogram parameters and baroreflex dysfunction can appear in both the early and late stages of PD, worsening as the disease progresses. In PD patients it is generally found that parasympathetic activity is decreased, while sympathetic activity is increased. This situation gives rise to an imbalance of both tonicities which might, in turn, promote a higher risk of cardiac damage through tachycardia and vasoconstriction. Cardiovascular abnormalities can also appear as a side effect of PD treatment: L-DOPA can decrease blood pressure and aggravate orthostatic hypotension as a result of a negative inotropic effect on the heart. This unwanted side effect limits the therapeutic use of L-DOPA in geriatric patients with PD and can contribute to the number of hospital admissions. Therefore, it is essential to define the cardiac features related to PD for the monitorization of the heart condition in parkinsonian individuals. This information can allow the application of intervention strategies to improve the course of the disease and the proposition of new alternatives for its treatment to eliminate or reverse the motor and non-motor symptoms, especially in geriatric patients.

Lack of Association of Locus Coeruleus Pathology with Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson’s Disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Qiang Tong ◽  
Liam Chen
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Substantia Nigra ◽  
Orthostatic Hypotension ◽  
Locus Coeruleus ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Postmortem Brains ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain

Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and is linked with increased mortality risk among the elderly. Although the locus coeruleus (LC) is the major source of noradrenaline (NA) modulation in the brain, its role in the pathogenesis of OH in PD remains largely elusive. Here we examined 44 well characterized postmortem brains of PD patients and available clinical data to explore the relationship between OH and LC pathology in PD. Our results failed to indicate that the LC pathology as well as the substantia nigra pathology were robustly associated with the presence of OH in PD patients, suggesting targeting LC norepinephrinergic system alone may not be sufficient to treat OH in PD.

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

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.

scholarly journals Life with Parkinson’s Disease During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Pressure Is “OFF”

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Trine HØrmann Thomsen ◽  
Susanna M. Wallerstedt ◽  
Kristian Winge ◽  
Filip Bergquist
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Symptom Scores ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Swedish Cohort

People with Parkinson’s disease (PwP) have been suggested to be more vulnerable to negative psychological and psycho-social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to assess the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in PwP. A Danish/Swedish cohort of 67 PwP was analysed. Health-related quality of life (HRQL), depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep and motor symptom-scores were included in the analysis. Additionally, the Danish participants provided free-text descriptions of life during the pandemic. Overall, the participants reported significantly better HRQL during the COVID-19 period compared with before. Reduced social pressure may be part of the explanation. Despite worsened anxiety, night sleep improved.

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

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 895
Author(s):  
Karolina A. Bearss ◽  
Joseph F. X. DeSouza
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Daily Living ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Motor Impairment ◽  
Motor Dysfunction ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Rate Of Decline ◽  
Symptom Progression

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.

scholarly journals Cannabis and its derivatives for the use of motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628642110185
Author(s):  
Susan J. Thanabalasingam ◽  
Brandan Ranjith ◽  
Robyn Jackson ◽  
Don Thiwanka Wijeratne
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Symptom Improvement ◽  
Motor Symptoms

Background: Recent changes to the legal status of cannabis across various countries have renewed interest in exploring its use in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The use of cannabinoids for alleviation of motor symptoms has been extensively explored in pre-clinical studies. Objective: We aim to systematically review and meta-analyze literature on the use of medical cannabis or its derivatives (MC) in PD patients to determine its effect on motor function and its safety profile. Methods: We reviewed and analyzed original, full-text randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. Primary outcomes were change in motor function and dyskinesia. Secondary outcomes included adverse events and side effects. All studies were analyzed for risk of bias. Results: Fifteen studies, including six RCTs, were analyzed. Of these, 12/15 (80%) mention concomitant treatment with antiparkinsonian medications, most commonly levodopa. Primary outcomes were most often measured using the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) among RCTs and patient self-report of symptom improvement was widely used among observational studies. Most of the observational data lacking appropriate controls had effect estimates favoring the intervention. However, the controlled studies demonstrated no significant motor symptom improvement overall. The meta-analysis of three RCTs, including a total of 83 patients, did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in UPDRS III score variation (MD −0.21, 95% CI −4.15 to 3.72; p = 0.92) with MC use. Only one study reported statistically significant improvement in dyskinesia ( p < 0.05). The intervention was generally well tolerated. All RCTs had a high risk of bias. Conclusion: Although observational studies establish subjective symptom alleviation and interest in MC among PD patients, there is insufficient evidence to support its integration into clinical practice for motor symptom treatment. This is primarily due to lack of good quality data.

Impaired empathy: A non-motor symptom associated with advanced stages of Parkinson's disease

Basal Ganglia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Nele Schmidt ◽  
Laura Paschen ◽  
Günther Deuschl ◽  
Karsten Witt
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Motor Symptom ◽  
Advanced Stages

Lower vascular tone and larger plasma volume in Parkinson's disease with orthostatic hypotension

2011 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. T. Groothuis ◽  
R. A. J. Esselink ◽  
J. P. H. Seeger ◽  
M. J. H. van Aalst ◽  
M. T. E. Hopman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Orthostatic Hypotension ◽  
Vascular Resistance ◽  
Plasma Volume ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Dilution Method ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Head Up Tilt

The pathophysiology of orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease (PD) is incompletely understood. The primary focus has thus far been on failure of the baroreflex, a central mediated vasoconstrictor mechanism. Here, we test the role of two other possible factors: 1) a reduced peripheral vasoconstriction (which may contribute because PD includes a generalized sympathetic denervation); and 2) an inadequate plasma volume (which may explain why plasma volume expansion can manage orthostatic hypotension in PD). We included 11 PD patients with orthostatic hypotension (PD + OH), 14 PD patients without orthostatic hypotension (PD − OH), and 15 age-matched healthy controls. Leg blood flow was examined using duplex ultrasound during 60° head-up tilt. Leg vascular resistance was calculated as the arterial-venous pressure gradient divided by blood flow. In a subset of 9 PD + OH, 9 PD − OH, and 8 controls, plasma volume was determined by indicator dilution method with radiolabeled albumin (125I-HSA). The basal leg vascular resistance was significantly lower in PD + OH (0.7 ± 0.3 mmHg·ml−1·min) compared with PD − OH (1.3 ± 0.6 mmHg·ml−1·min, P < 0.01) and controls (1.3 ± 0.5 mmHg·ml−1·min, P < 0.01). Leg vascular resistance increased significantly during 60° head-up tilt with no significant difference between the groups. Plasma volume was significantly larger in PD + OH (3,869 ± 265 ml) compared with PD − OH (3,123 ± 377 ml, P < 0.01) and controls (3,204 ± 537 ml, P < 0.01). These results indicate that PD + OH have a lower basal leg vascular resistance in combination with a larger plasma volume compared with PD − OH and controls. Despite the increase in leg vascular resistance during 60° head-up tilt, PD + OH are unable to maintain their blood pressure.

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