Association of stressful life events with incident falls and fractures in older men: the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study

Age Ageing. 2013 Sep 3. [Epub ahead of print]

Fink HA, Kuskowski MA, Marshall LM.

Source

VA Medical Center, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, One Veterans Drive, 11-G, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

small, retrospective studies suggest that major life events and/or sudden emotional stress may increase fall and fracture risk. The current study examines these associations prospectively.

METHODS:

a total of 5,152 men aged ≥65 years in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study self-reported data on stressful life events for 1 year prior to study Visit 2. Incident falls and fractures were ascertained for 1 year after Visit 2. Fractures were centrally confirmed.

RESULTS:

a total of 2,932 (56.9%) men reported ≥1 type of stressful life event. In men with complete stressful life event, fall and covariate data (n = 3,949), any stressful life event was associated with a 33% increased risk of incident fall [relative risk (RR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-1.49] and 68% increased risk of multiple falls (RR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.40-2.01) in the year following Visit 2 after adjustment for age, education, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, stroke, instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) impairment, chair stand time, walk speed, multiple past falls, depressive symptoms and antidepressant use. Risk increased with the number of types of stressful life events. Though any stressful life event was associated with a 58% increased age-adjusted risk for incident fracture, this association was attenuated and no longer statistically significant after additional adjustment for total hip bone mineral density, fracture after age 50, Parkinson's disease, stroke and IADL impairment.

CONCLUSIONS:

in this cohort of older men, stressful life events significantly increased risk of incident falls independent of other explanatory variables, but did not independently increase incident fracture risk.

Integrated multidisciplinary care in Parkinson's disease: a non-randomised, controlled trial (IMPACT)

Lancet Neurol. 2013 Aug 23. pii: S1474-4422(13)70196-0. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70196-0. [Epub ahead of print]

van der Marck MA, Munneke M, Mulleners W, Hoogerwaard EM, Borm GF, Overeem S, Bloem BR; for the IMPACT study group.

Source

Department of Neurology, Nijmegen Centre for Evidence Based Practice, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A multidisciplinary approach is thought to be the best way to manage the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, but how such care should be delivered is unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, we assessed the effectiveness of an integrated multidisciplinary approach compared with usual care.

METHODS:

We recruited patients for our non-randomised controlled trial from six community hospitals in the Netherlands (two in regions where the integrated care intervention was available and four in control regions that administered usual care). Eligible patients were those with Parkinson's disease, aged 20-80 years, and without severe cognitive impairment or comorbidity. Patients in the intervention group were offered an individually tailored comprehensive assessment in an expert tertiary referral centre and subsequent referrals to a regional network of allied health professionals specialised in Parkinson's disease. Primary outcomes were activities of daily living (Academic Medical Center linear disability score [ALDS]) and quality of life (Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire [PDQL]) measured at 4, 6, and 8 months. Secondary outcomes included motor functioning (unified Parkinson's disease rating scale, part III [UPDRS III], at 4 months), caregiver burden (belastungsfragebogen Parkinson angehörigen-kurzversion [BELA-A-k] at 4 and 8 months), and costs (during whole study period). Primary analysis was by intention to treat and included scores over 4, 6, and 8 months, with correction for baseline score. The trial is registered at Clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT00518791.

FINDINGS:

We recruited 301 patients (150 patients in the intervention group and 151 in the control group) between August, 2007, and December, 2009, of whom 285 completed follow-up (last follow-up was July, 2010). 101 (67%) patients in the intervention group visited the expert centre; 49 (33%) opted not to visit the expert centre. The average ALDS score from months 4, 6, and 8, with correction for baseline score, was greater in the intervention group than in the control group (difference 1·3 points, 95% CI -2·1 to 2·8; corresponding raw logit score difference 0·1, 95% CI 0·003 to 0·2) as was the average PDQL score (difference 3·0 points, 0·4 to 5·6). Secondary analysis with correction for baseline disease severity showed no differences between groups for ALDS (difference 0·9 points, 95% CI -0·6 to 2·4; corresponding raw logit score difference 0·1, -0·02 to 0·3) or PDQL (difference 1·7 points, -1·2 to 4·6). Secondary outcomes did not differ between groups (UPDRS III score difference 0·6 points, 95% CI -1·4 to 2·6; BELA-A-k score difference 0·8 points, -0·2 to 1·8; cost difference €742, -€489 to €1950).

INTERPRETATION:

This integrated care approach offered only small benefits to patients with Parkinson's disease, and these disappeared after correction for baseline disease severity. These results suggest that different approaches are needed to achieve more substantial health benefits.

FUNDING:

NutsOhra Foundation, Stichting Parkinson Nederland, National Parkinson Foundation.

Gender differences in non-motor symptoms in early, drug naïve Parkinson's disease

J Neurol. 2013 Aug 30. [Epub ahead of print]

Picillo M, Amboni M, Erro R, Longo K, Vitale C, Moccia M, Pierro A, Santangelo G, De Rosa A, De Michele G, Santoro L, Orefice G, Barone P, Pellecchia MT.

Source

Department of Neurological Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.

Abstract

Gender differences in brain structure and function may lead to differences in the clinical expression of neurological diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Few studies reported gender-related differences in the burden of non-motor symptoms (NMS) in treated PD patients, but this matter has not been previously explored in drug-naïve PD patients. This study is to assess gender differences in the prevalence of NMS in a large sample of early, drug-naïve PD patients compared with age and sex-matched healthy controls. Two hundred early, drug-naïve PD patients and ninety-three age and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Frequency of NMS was evaluated by means of the Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire. The difference in gender distribution of NMS was evaluated with the χ 2 exact test; multiple comparisons were corrected with the Benjamini-Hochberg method. Male PD patients complained of problems having sex and taste/smelling difficulties significantly more frequently than female PD patients. Furthermore, men with PD complained more frequently of dribbling, sadness/blues, loss of interest, anxiety, acting during dreams, and taste/smelling difficulties as compared to healthy control men, while female PD patients reported more frequently loss of interest and anxiety as compared with healthy control women. This study shows specific sex-related patterns of NMS in drug-naïve PD. In contrast with previous data, female PD patients did not present higher prevalence of mood symptoms as compared to male PD patients. Comparison with healthy controls showed that some NMS classically present in premotor and early stage of disease (i.e., acting out during dreams, taste/smelling difficulties) are more frequent in male than in female patients.

The Relationship between Thermoregulation and REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder in Parkinson's Disease

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 21;8(8):e72661. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072661.

Zhong G, Bolitho S, Grunstein R, Naismith SL, Lewis SJ.

Source

Parkinson's Disease Research Clinic, Brain and Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This study explored the relationship between symptoms of rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder, thermoregulation and sleep in Parkinson's Disease.

METHODS:

The study group comprised 12 patients with Parkinson's Disease and 11 healthy age-matched controls. We investigated markers of thermoregulation (core-body temperature profile), circadian rhythm (locomotor actigraphy) and sleep (polysomnography).

RESULTS:

The mesor (the mean value around which the core temperature rhythm oscillates) of the core-body temperature in patients with Parkinson's Disease was significantly lower than that of controls. In addition, the nocturnal fall in CBT (the difference between the mesor and the nadir temperature) was also significantly reduced in PD patients relative to controls. Furthermore, in patients the reduction in the amplitude of their core-body temperature profile was strongly correlated with the severity of self-reported rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder symptom, reduction in the percentage of REM sleep and prolonged sleep latency. By contrast, these disturbances of thermoregulation and sleep architecture were not found in controls and were not related to other markers of circadian rhythm or times of sleep onset and offset.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggest that the brainstem pathology associated with disruption of thermoregulation in Parkinson's disease may also contribute to rapid eye movement sleep behavioural disorder. It is possible that detailed analysis of the core-body temperature profile in at risk populations such as those patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder might help identify those who are at high risk of transitioning to Parkinson's Disease.

The applause sign in Parkinson's disease patients is related to dysexecutive syndrome.

J Clin Neurosci. 2013 Aug 20. pii: S0967-5868(13)00226-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2013.02.024. [Epub ahead of print]

Tomic S, Vladetic M, Solic K, Misevic S, Soldo SB.

Source

Department of Neurology, Osijek University Hospital Center, J. Huttlera 4, HR-31000 Osijek, Croatia. 

Abstract

Recent publications report that a positive applause sign is not only present in patients with neurodegenerative diseases where the subcortical structures are affected but also in patients with cortical dementia. The nature of this sign remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the frequency of the applause sign and its correlation with cognitive impairment in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The study included 30 non-depressed patients diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Study patients underwent the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part III, Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices, and Mill Hill Vocabulary tests. Statistical analysis was performed by use of the parametric Student's t-test, nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test, with the level of significance set at p<0.05. Negative applause sign was recorded in 66.7% and positive applause sign in 33.3% of patients. There were no between-group differences according to age, disease duration, or severity of motor symptoms. The positive applause sign group had significantly lower scores on the initiation/perseveration subscale of the DRS and a significantly higher frequency of scores below the cut-off score on the conceptualization and construction subscales of the DRS. The applause sign appears to be part of a broader dysexecutive syndrome in idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

The use of University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease in Italy

Neurol Sci. 2013 Aug 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Picillo M, Pellecchia MT, Erro R, Amboni M, Vitale C, Iavarone A, Moccia M, Allocca R, Orefice G, Barone P.

Source

Department of Neurological Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.

Abstract

Hyposmia is a common finding in Parkinson's disease (PD). The 40-item University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT-40) has been adapted and administered in several countries as a diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of PD. We have developed a culturally adapted version of the UPSIT-40 and applied it to 61 nondemented Italian controls and to 68 PD patients. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the factors that independently influence UPSIT-40 and logistic regression analysis was employed to study the usefulness of UPSIT-40 to predict PD diagnosis. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that PD diagnosis (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.006), gender (p = 0.003) and smoking status (p = 0.03) were significant independent predictors of the UPSIT-40 total score. Using diagnosis as dependent variable, logistic regression analysis showed that UPSIT-40 total score (p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of PD. Using a score ≤21/40 as a cut-off point for assigning subjects to PD group, the UPSIT-40 total score differentiated PD and control subjects with 82 % sensitivity and 88.2 % specificity. The adapted version of UPSIT-40 may be useful in addition to clinical examination to improve accuracy of diagnosis of PD in Italian population.

Association of Cerebrospinal Fluid β-Amyloid 1-42, T-tau, P-tau181, and α-Synuclein Levels With Clinical Features of Drug-Naive Patients With Early Parkinson Disease

JAMA Neurol. 2013 Aug 26. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.3861. [Epub ahead of print]

Kang JH, Irwin DJ, Chen-Plotkin AS, Siderowf A, Caspell C, Coffey CS, Waligórska T, Taylor P, Pan S, Frasier M, Marek K, Kieburtz K, Jennings D, Simuni T, Tanner CM, Singleton A, Toga AW, Chowdhury S, Mollenhauer B, Trojanowski JQ, Shaw LM; and the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative.

Source

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia2Department of Pharmacology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

IMPORTANCE We observed a significant correlation between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of tau proteins and α-synuclein, but not β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ1-42), and lower concentration of CSF biomarkers, as compared with healthy controls, in a cohort of entirely untreated patients with Parkinson disease (PD) at the earliest stage of the disease studied so far. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the baseline characteristics and relationship to clinical features of CSF biomarkers (Aβ1-42, total tau [T-tau], tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 [P-tau181], and α-synuclein) in drug-naive patients with early PD and demographically matched healthy controls enrolled in the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) study. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cross-sectional study of the initial 102 research volunteers (63 patients with PD and 39 healthy controls) of the PPMI cohort. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The CSF biomarkers were measured by INNO-BIA AlzBio3 immunoassay (Aβ1-42, T-tau, and P-tau181; Innogenetics Inc) or by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (α-synuclein). Clinical features including diagnosis, demographic characteristics, motor, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive assessments, and DaTscan were systematically assessed according to the PPMI study protocol. RESULTS Slightly, but significantly, lower levels of Aβ1-42, T-tau, P-tau181, α-synuclein, and T-tau/Aβ1-42 were seen in subjects with PD compared with healthy controls but with a marked overlap between groups. Using multivariate regression analysis, we found that lower Aβ1-42 and P-tau181 levels were associated with PD diagnosis and that decreased CSF T-tau and α-synuclein were associated with increased motor severity. Notably, when we classified patients with PD by their motor phenotypes, lower CSF Aβ1-42 and P-tau181 concentrations were associated with the postural instability-gait disturbance-dominant phenotype but not with the tremor-dominant or intermediate phenotype. Finally, we found a significant correlation of the levels of α-synuclein with the levels of T-tau and P-tau181. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this first report of CSF biomarkers in PPMI study subjects, we found that measures of CSF Aβ1-42, T-tau, P-tau181, and α-synuclein have prognostic and diagnostic potential in early-stage PD. Further investigations using the entire PPMI cohort will test the predictive performance of CSF biomarkers for PD progression.

Inpatient management of Parkinson disease: current challenges and future directions

Neurohospitalist. 2012 Jan;2(1):28-35. doi: 10.1177/1941874411427734.

Oguh O, Videnovic A.

Source

Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.

Abstract

Parkinson disease (PD) is usually managed through outpatient clinical care. Reasons for hospital admissions are either directly related to PD or may reflect comorbidities. When hospitalized, patients with PD may face many challenges. Most commonly these are related to medication management, falls, mental status changes, infections, and emergence of psychiatric symptoms. Timely recognition and proper management of PD-specific hospitalization-related problems may be delayed, given the common lack of expertise in PD management of hospital physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. With increasing prevalence of PD, it is expected that more patients will require inpatient hospital care. It is therefore very important to recognize problems that may arise upon hospitalization of a patient with PD and provide education to health care professionals involved in the inpatient care of patients with PD. This approach may lead to reductions in complication rates and duration of hospital stays.

AIM:

In this review, we outline the most common reasons for hospitalization of patients with PD, discuss challenges related to inpatient hospital care of patients with PD, and comment on future directions aimed at optimizing hospitalization outcomes in the population with PD.

"Getting this right is vitally important for people with PD. Inappropriate admissions and mis-management can result in lengthy hospital stays for people with PD" - Alastair Noyce

The Contribution of Apathy and Increased Learning Trials to Risky Decision-Making in Parkinson's Disease

Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2013 Aug 21. [Epub ahead of print]

Buelow MT, Frakey LL, Grace J, Friedman JH.

Source

Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University Newark, Newark, OH, USA.

Abstract

Impairments in executive functioning are commonly found in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, the research into risky decision making has been mixed. The present study sought to investigate three potential hypotheses: difficulty learning the task probabilities, levodopa equivalent dose (LED), and the presence of apathy. Twenty-four individuals with idiopathic PD and 13 healthy controls completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale to assess current apathy, the Iowa Gambling Task, and the Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART). Results indicated that individuals with PD selected more from Deck B, a disadvantageous deck. However, with an additional set of trials, participants with PD and apathy selected more from the most risky deck (Deck A). Apathy was not related to the BART, and LED was not related to either task. Results indicate that apathy is associated with decision-making in PD, and providing additional learning trials can improve decision-making in PD without apathy.

Nintendo Wii rehabilitation ("Wii-hab") provides benefits in Parkinson's disease

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2013 Aug 19. pii: S1353-8020(13)00268-X. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2013.07.014. [Epub ahead of print]

Herz NB, Mehta SH, Sethi KD, Jackson P, Hall P, Morgan JC.

Source

Movement Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Georgia Regents University, 1429 Harper Street, HF-1154, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) impairs both activities of daily living (ADLs) and motor function and has adverse effects on mood in many patients. While dopaminergic medications are quite helpful for motor and ADLs impairments in PD, complementary therapies are also important in helping patients achieve maximum benefits and quality of life. We hypothesized that the Nintendo Wii (Wii) is a useful tool in improving motor and non-motor aspects in patients with PD, given its ability to drive functional movements and interactive nature. We enrolled twenty subjects with early to mid-stage PD in an open-label within-subjects study design where each subject was evaluated at baseline and then re-evaluated after playing the Wii three times per week for four weeks. Subjects were then re-evaluated one month later after not playing the Wii for a month to see if effects carried over. Subjects demonstrated significant improvements in the primary outcome measure (Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Test (NEADL)), quality of life (PDQ-39) and motor function (UPDRS), and a trend toward improved mood (HAM-D) after four weeks of Wii therapy. Follow-up assessments one month later showed continued improvement for quality of life and UPDRS scores. The results demonstrate that Wii therapy provides short-term motor, non-motor, and quality of life benefits in PD. Further studies are needed to determine if there are long-term benefits of Wii therapy in PD.

Baseline [123 I]FP-CIT SPECT (DaTSCAN) severity correlates with medication use at 3 years in Parkinson's disease

Acta Neurol Scand. 2013 Aug 20. doi: 10.1111/ane.12178. [Epub ahead of print]

Nissen T, Malek N, Grosset KA, Newman EJ, Patterson J, Hadley D, Grosset DG.

Source

Department of Neurology, Klinikum Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Germany.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Presynaptic dopaminergic deficiency on dopamine transporter imaging supports a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and correlates with the severity of rigidity and bradykinesia. Baseline dopaminergic deficiency predicts clinical severity, but the relationship with subsequent medication use has not been reported.

METHODS:

A randomly selected cross section of 83 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who had [123 I] FP-CIT SPECT at the time of clinical diagnosis was identified. Dopaminergic deficiency was graded 1, 2 or 3 with increasing severity using visual assessment and by semiquantitative analysis of putamen and caudate uptake. Antiparkinson medication usage and clinical severity by Hoehn and Yahr were noted annually to 3 years.

RESULTS:

In 83 patients (66% male, median age 65.0 years, IQ 55.4-71.8), [123 I]FP-CIT SPECT was grade 1 in 20 (24%), grade 2 in 53 (64%) and grade 3 in 10 patients (12%). Dopamine transporter uptake ratios were inversely associated with antiparkinson medication usage (r = -0.26, P = 0.0201) and Hoehn Yahr stage (r = -0.32, P = 0.0029) at 3 years from baseline, but there was considerable variation in drug usage in individual patients. At 3 years, patients with grade 1 scans at baseline received a median dose of 325 levodopa equivalent units (LEU) (interquartile range 175-433); grade 2 scan patients 400 LEU (interquartile range 300-635); and grade 3 scan patients 460 LEU (interquartile range 252-658).

CONCLUSION:

The degree of reduction in presynaptic dopaminergic uptake at baseline is associated with higher antiparkinson drug dosage at follow-up, but the wide variation means that the baseline FP-CIT SPECT does not reliably predict drug use in individual cases.