Clinical Practices and Opinions toward Gastrostomy Use in Patients with Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes: A National Survey in the UK.

Background: Severe dysphagia poses a significant challenge for clinicians regarding feeding tube choices, practices, and timing due to a lack of evidence-based guidance.

Objectives: To assess national clinical practices and opinions on gastrostomy use in patients with atypical parkinsonian syndromes (APS) across the UK.

Methods: Online survey was administered to clinicians and allied health professionals regarding availability of services, current use, perceived advantages, and problems associated with gastrostomy insertion.

Biallelic NAA60 variants with impaired n-terminal acetylation capacity cause autosomal recessive primary familial brain calcifications.

Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is characterized by calcium deposition in the brain, causing progressive movement disorders, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive decline. PFBC is a heterogeneous disorder currently linked to variants in six different genes, but most patients remain genetically undiagnosed. Here, we identify biallelic NAA60 variants in ten individuals from seven families with autosomal recessive PFBC.

Frequency and outcomes of gastrostomy insertion in a longitudinal cohort study of atypical parkinsonism.

Background: Multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS) show a high prevalence and rapid progression of dysphagia, which is associated with reduced survival. Despite this, the evidence base for gastrostomy is poor, and the optimal frequency and outcomes of this intervention are not known. We aimed to characterise the prevalence and outcomes of gastrostomy in patients with these three atypical parkinsonian disorders.

Progression of atypical parkinsonian syndromes: PROSPECT-M-UK study implications for clinical trials.

The advent of clinical trials of disease-modifying agents for neurodegenerative disease highlights the need for evidence-based end point selection. Here we report the longitudinal PROSPECT-M-UK study of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), multiple system atrophy (MSA) and related disorders, to compare candidate clinical trial end points. In this multicentre UK study, participants were assessed with serial questionnaires, motor examination, neuropsychiatric and MRI assessments at baseline, 6 and 12 months.

Multiple system atrophy.

This is a practical guide to diagnosing and managing multiple system atrophy (MSA). We explain the newly published Movement Disorders Society Consensus Diagnostic Criteria, which include new 'Clinically Established MSA' and 'Possible Prodromal MSA' categories, hopefully reducing time to diagnosis. We then highlight the key clinical features of MSA to aid diagnosis.

Not to Miss: Intronic Variants, Treatment, and Review of the Phenotypic Spectrum in -Related Disorder.

is one of four human homologs of the gene (). Biallelic pathogenic variants in the gene are associated with spastic ataxia or spastic paraplegia. Here, we report two patients with intronic pathogenic variants: one patient with early onset severe spastic ataxia and debilitating tremor, which is compound-heterozygous for a canonical (NM_018156.

Phenotypic continuum of NFU1-related disorders.

Bi-allelic variants in Iron-Sulfur Cluster Scaffold (NFU1) have previously been associated with multiple mitochondrial dysfunctions syndrome 1 (MMDS1) characterized by early-onset rapidly fatal leukoencephalopathy. We report 19 affected individuals from 10 independent families with ultra-rare bi-allelic NFU1 missense variants associated with a spectrum of early-onset pure to complex hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) phenotype with a longer survival (16/19) on one end and neurodevelopmental delay with severe hypotonia (3/19) on the other. Reversible or irreversible neurological decompensation after a febrile illness was common in the cohort, and there were invariable white matter abnormalities on neuroimaging.

Neurofilament light levels predict clinical progression and death in multiple system atrophy.

Disease-modifying treatments are currently being trialled in multiple system atrophy. Approaches based solely on clinical measures are challenged by heterogeneity of phenotype and pathogenic complexity. Neurofilament light chain protein has been explored as a reliable biomarker in several neurodegenerative disorders but data on multiple system atrophy have been limited.

Diagnosing Premotor Multiple System Atrophy: Natural History and Autonomic Testing in an Autopsy-Confirmed Cohort.

Background And Objectives: Nonmotor features precede motor symptoms in many patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). However, little is known about differences between the natural history, progression, and prognostic factors for survival in patients with MSA with nonmotor vs motor presentations. We aimed to compare initial symptoms, disease progression, and clinical features at final evaluation and investigate differences in survival and natural history between patients with MSA with motor and nonmotor presentations.

Combining biomarkers for prognostic modelling of Parkinson's disease.

Background: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have variable rates of progression. More accurate prediction of progression could improve selection for clinical trials. Although some variance in clinical progression can be predicted by age at onset and phenotype, we hypothesise that this can be further improved by blood biomarkers.

Spastic paraplegia preceding -related familial Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: We investigated the frequency, neuropathology, and phenotypic characteristics of spastic paraplegia (SP) that precedes dementia in presenilin 1 () related familial Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) in 60 probands with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) phenotype that was negative for variants in known HSP-related genes. Where mutation was identified, brain biopsy was performed.

Mitochondrial DNA Analysis from Exome Sequencing Data Improves Diagnostic Yield in Neurological Diseases.

A rapidly expanding catalog of neurogenetic disorders has encouraged a diagnostic shift towards early clinical whole exome sequencing (WES). Adult primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs) frequently exhibit neurological manifestations that overlap with other nervous system disorders. However, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is not routinely analyzed in standard clinical WES bioinformatic pipelines.

Low Prevalence of NOTCH2NLC GGC Repeat Expansion in White Patients with Movement Disorders.

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of the GGC-repeat expansion in NOTCH2NLC in whites presenting with movement disorders.

Methods: We searched for the GGC-repeat expansion in NOTCH2NLC using repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction in 203 patients with essential tremor, 825 patients with PD, 194 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia, 207 patients with "possible" or "probable" MSA, and 336 patients with pathologically confirmed MSA. We also screened 30,008 patients enrolled in the 100,000 Genomes Project for the same mutation using ExpansionHunter, followed by repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction.

A novel frameshift deletion in autosomal recessive SBF1-related syndromic neuropathy with necklace fibres.

Objective: To identify the genetic cause of complex neuropathy in two siblings from a consanguineous family.

Methods: The patients were recruited from our clinic. Muscle biopsy and whole-exome sequencing (WES) were performed.

An update on MSA: premotor and non-motor features open a window of opportunities for early diagnosis and intervention.

In this review, we describe the wide clinical spectrum of features that can be seen in multiple system atrophy (MSA) with a focus on the premotor phase and the non-motor symptoms providing an up-to-date overview of the current understanding in this fast-growing field. First, we highlight the non-motor features at disease onset when MSA can be indistinguishable from pure autonomic failure or other chronic neurodegenerative conditions. We describe the progression of clinical features to aid the diagnosis of MSA early in the disease course.