Clinico-physiological correlates of Parkinson's disease from multi-resolution basal ganglia recordings.

Parkinson's disease (PD) has been associated with pathological neural activity within the basal ganglia. Herein, we analyzed resting-state single-neuron and local field potential (LFP) activities from people with PD who underwent awake deep brain stimulation surgery of the subthalamic nucleus (STN; n = 125) or globus pallidus internus (GPi; n = 44), and correlated rate-based and oscillatory features with UPDRSIII off-medication subscores. Rate-based single-neuron features did not correlate with PD symptoms.

Interrogating basal ganglia circuit function in people with Parkinson's disease and dystonia.

Background: The dichotomy between the hypo- versus hyperkinetic nature of Parkinson's disease (PD) and dystonia, respectively, is thought to be reflected in the underlying basal ganglia pathophysiology. In this study, we investigated differences in globus pallidus internus (GPi) neuronal activity, and short- and long-term plasticity of direct pathway projections.

Methods: Using microelectrode recording data collected from the GPi during deep brain stimulation surgery, we compared neuronal spiketrain features between people with PD and those with dystonia, as well as correlated neuronal features with respective clinical scores.

Improving Parkinson's Disease Care through Systematic Screening for Depression.

Background: Depression is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) but is underrecognized clinically. Although systematic screening is a recommended strategy to improve depression recognition in primary care practice, it has not been widely used in PD care.

Methods: The 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was implemented at 5 movement disorders clinics to screen PD patients.

Treatment of Apathy in Parkinson's Disease and Implications for Underlying Pathophysiology.

Apathy is a prevalent and highly debilitating non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) that is often overlooked in clinical practice due to its subtle nature. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence for the treatment of apathy in PD, highlighting recent advancements and emerging therapeutic avenues. In this review, we analyse a diverse array of treatment strategies for apathy in PD, including pharmacological interventions, non-pharmacological approaches, and emerging neuromodulation techniques.

Arm Swing while Walking and Running: A New Clinical Feature to Separate Parkinson's Disease from Functional Parkinsonism.

Background: Functional parkinsonism is an important differential diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Based on anecdotal experience, we hypothesized that arm swing while walking and running could differentiate these two conditions, but this assumption has not been previously explored systematically.

Objectives: To examine differences in arm swing while walking and running between patients with PD and functional parkinsonism.

A comprehensive cognitive analysis of cervical dystonia: A single centre study.

Introduction: Cervical dystonia (CD) presents as a motor disorder but has a number of non-motor features. Studies have demonstrated diverse changes in cognition in patients with CD. The rarity of this disorder, phenotypic heterogeneity, and, in particular, a lack of consistency in cognitive testing measures limits clear definition of cognitive changes in this disorder.

Social cognition deficits are associated with lower quality of life in cervical dystonia: A single centre study.

Background And Objectives: Patients with cervical dystonia (CD) demonstrate significant non-motor symptoms including sensory, psychiatric and cognitive features. It has been shown that the non-motor symptoms have a major influence on quality of life. Social cognition, particularly deficits in Theory of Mind (ToM), can affect the development of interpersonal relationships, understanding of social situations and can affect patient outcomes.

A Phase Ib, Double Blind, Randomized Study of Cannabis Oil for Pain in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Pain is common in Parkinson's disease (PD), but effective therapies are limited.

Objectives: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and safety of formulations of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) for pain in PD.

Methods: In this phase 1b, double-blind, randomized, single-center study, participants were randomized to three formulations of THC/CBD (18:0, 10:10, and 1:20).

Intracranial haemorrhage and falls: cause or effect?

Introduction: A difficult question in autopsy practice is whether intracranial haemorrhage has resulted from or brought about a fall.

Material And Methods: To address this we undertook a retrospective study of all autopsy reports (N = 2126) complied over a 10 year period (2009-2018). Of 720 patients who underwent a comprehensive post mortem neuropathologic examination we found 226 patients who had a history of a fall.

Contemporary Management of Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions.

Coronary artery calcification is increasingly prevalent in our patient population. It significantly limits the procedural success of percutaneous coronary intervention and is associated with a higher risk of adverse cardiovascular events both in the short-term and long-term. There are several modalities for modifying calcified plaque, such as balloon angioplasty (including specialty balloons), coronary atheroablative therapy (rotational, orbital, and laser atherectomy), and intravascular lithotripsy.

Prevalence and outcomes of Covid-19 in Parkinson's disease: Acute settings and hospital.

The global explosion of COVID-19 necessitated the rapid dissemination of information regarding SARS-CoV-2. Hence, COVID-19 prevalence and outcome data in Parkinson's disease patients were disseminated at a time when we only had part of the picture. In this chapter we firstly discuss the current literature on the prevalence of COVID-19 in people with PD.

Clinical Reasoning: A 23-Year-Old Woman Presenting With Cognitive Impairment and Gait Disturbance.

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare inherited lysosomal disorder. The condition progresses relentlessly, with severe disability typically established within 6-14 years of symptom onset. There is no cure, and limited treatment options are available to slow disease progression.

Seeing the Woods for the Trees? Applying Diagnostic Criteria for Dementia with Lewy Bodies to Patients Presenting with Posterior Cortical Atrophy.

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a clinico-radiological syndrome characterised by progressive decline in visual processing and other posterior cognitive functions, relatively preserved memory and language in the early stages, and atrophy of posterior brain regions. Often considered a "visual variant" of Alzheimer's disease, a number of other pathological substrates are recognised. Dementia with Lewy Bodies is the second most common neurodegenerative dementia and there is increasing recognition of presentations with little or no parkinsonism, highlighting significant under-recognition of this condition.