[Autism and neuroscience].

The understanding of autism has improved with neurosciences, especially with genetics, molecular biology and cerebral neuroimaging. This trouble looks much more heterogenous than expected, from a clinical and an etiological point of view as well. No clear pathopsychological model about the syndromes of the autistic spectrum can so far be proposed but several scientific breakthroughs seem interesting.

Speech arrest with stimulation may not reliably predict language deficit after epilepsy surgery.

The authors present a patient in whom electrical cortical stimulation of the posterior temporal cortex induced speech arrest, comprehension deficits, and other language-related impairments. This area was ultimately resected because of persistence of a severe seizure disorder. No postoperative aphasia was observed despite the cortical stimulation results, and the patient is since seizure free.

[Benefits of a new galenic form of levodopa and benserazide in the treatment of patients with Parkinson disease].

We describe a new, water-soluble formulation of levodopa plus benserazide (Madopar LIQ) for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Two dosage strengths are available: 100 mg levodopa plus 25 mg benserazide and 50 mg levodopa plus 12.5 mg benserazide.

[Mental suffering IN patients with parkinsonism].

Comprehensive treatment of patients with parkinson's disease demands that not only motoric dysfunctions but also psychosocial aspects have to be considered. The scope of this review is to cover not only the frequent dementia and depressive states associated with this disease, but also the drug-induced behavioral abnormalities, insomnia, conflicts with those providing care and implications for professional activities. The fundamental pathophysiological and psychopathological mechanisms are explained and illustrated by examples.

[Sleep disorders in the elderly].

Insomnia dominates the sleep disorders of the elderly. Sleep apnea, the restless legs syndrome and nocturnal agitation represent other facets. After eliminating the possibility of painful or degenerative organic disease, iatrogenic cause and mode of life, other symptoms should be sought, namely mental and personality-related.