Publications by authors named "Gregorio Rungger"
Background And Purpose: Different algorithms aiming to identify individuals at risk of Parkinson disease (PD) have been proposed. Comparative studies of these scores and their recent updates in the general elder population are needed.
Methods: We have previously applied the "basic" PREDICT-PD algorithm, designed for remote screening, and the original and updated Movement Disorder Society (MDS) criteria for prodromal PD to the longitudinal population-based Bruneck study cohort.
Extensive scientific and clinical microbiome studies have explored contemporary variation and dynamics of the gut microbiome in human health and disease, yet the role of long-term life history effects has been underinvestigated. Here, we analyzed the current, quantitative microbiome composition in the older adult Bruneck Study cohort (Italians, Bruneck, n = 304 (male, 154; female, 150); age 65-98 years) with extensive clinical, demographic, lifestyle and nutritional data collected over the past 26 years. Multivariate analysis of historical variables indicated that medication history, historical physical activity, past dietary habits and specific past laboratory blood parameters explain a significant fraction of current quantitative microbiome variation in older adults, enlarging the explanatory power of contemporary covariates by 33.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Recurrent falls represent a major source of serious adverse health outcomes in the general older population. Gait impairment has been linked to recurrent falls, but there are only limited long-term data on this association.
Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate the association of gait disorders (GDs) and gait tests with future falls in an existing longitudinal population-based cohort.
Rationale: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) circulates in a free and lipoprotein-bound form, yet the functional consequence of the association between PCSK9 and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) remains unexplored.
Objective: This study sought to interrogate the novel relationship between PCSK9 and HDL in humans.
Methods And Results: Comparing lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profiles by nuclear magnetic resonance and targeted mass spectrometry measurements with PCSK9 levels in the community-based Bruneck (n=656) study revealed a positive association of plasma PCSK9 with small HDL, alongside a highly significant positive correlation between plasma levels of PCSK9 and apolipoprotein-C3, an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase.
Decreased cognitive performance is a hallmark of brain aging, but the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic avenues remain poorly understood. Recent studies have revealed health-protective and lifespan-extending effects of dietary spermidine, a natural autophagy-promoting polyamine. Here, we show that dietary spermidine passes the blood-brain barrier in mice and increases hippocampal eIF5A hypusination and mitochondrial function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Gait impairment is a major issue in parkinsonian syndromes, with increased variability linked to instability and fall risk.
- The study compared gait variability at different walking speeds among patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), and older adult controls using sensor-based analysis.
- Results indicated that MSA patients exhibited greater gait variability across all speeds compared to controls and PD patients, particularly in swing time and stride length, pointing to significant postural instability in the MSA group.
Background: Identifying individuals at risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD) is critical to define target populations for future neuroprotective trials.
Objective: The objective of this study was to apply the PREDICT-PD algorithm of risk indicators for PD in a prospective community-based study (the Bruneck study), representative of the general elderly population.
Methods: PREDICT-PD risk scores were calculated based on risk factor assessments obtained at baseline (2005, n = 574 participants).
Background Dickkopf-1 and sclerostin have been implicated in atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. We aimed to quantify the association of their serum levels with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. Methods and Results Among 706 participants of the prospective, population-based Bruneck Study, mean±SD of serum levels were 44.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Associations of substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity on transcranial sonography, olfactory dysfunction, and mild parkinsonian signs (MPS) with incident Parkinson's disease (PD) have only been studied over limited periods of follow-up and their long-term predictive properties are unclear. We aimed to prospectively assess the risk for incident PD over 10 years in community-dwelling elderly individuals with these risk markers.
Methods: SN-hyperechogenicity, olfactory function, and MPS were assessed in the prospective population-based Bruneck Study (2005 in-person assessment; n = 574, aged 55-94 years).
Objective: We aimed to identify prodromal Parkinson's disease (PD) and its predictive accuracy for incident PD in an unselected elderly population and to estimate the relevance of this approach for future neuroprotection trials.
Methods: We applied the recently published Movement Disorders Society (MDS) research criteria for prodromal PD to participants of the prospective population-based Bruneck Study of the 2005 assessment (n = 574, ages 55-94 years). Cases of incident PD were identified at 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year follow-up visits.
Background Migraine is one of the most common pain symptoms in childhood, a chronic disease with recurrent symptoms that lead to a reduction of daily activities during the intercritical periods, with an impact of the quality of life. Objective The aim of this publication is to investigate, in which extent migraine affects the quality of life of children and adolescents, how strong they are restricted in everyday life and in which areas such restrictions can be found. Results The parents of children with FSH (frequent or severe headaches) reported that the children had difficulties with emotions, concentration, behaviour, and were unable to get along with others.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Recently, the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society has defined research criteria for prodromal Parkinson's disease (PD), but to date their predictive value has not yet been tested in population-based cohorts.
Methods: We retrospectively applied these criteria to the longitudinal Bruneck Study cohort aged 55-94 years using recorded data on all included risk and prodromal markers that are quick and easily assessable.
Results: After excluding participants with idiopathic PD or secondary parkinsonism, prevalence of probable prodromal PD in the remaining 539 participants was 2.
Background: Although gait disorders are common in the elderly, the prevalence and overall burden of these disorders in the general community is not well defined.
Methods: In a cross-sectional investigation of the population-based Bruneck Study cohort, 488 community-residing elderly aged 60-97 years underwent a thorough neurological assessment including a standardized gait evaluation. Gait disorders were classified according to an accepted scheme and their associations to falls, neuropsychological measures, and quality of life were explored.
Background: The clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is currently anchored in its cardinal motor symptoms. According to hospital-based studies, an enlarged echogenicity in the area of the substantia nigra (SN) assessed with transcranial sonography (TCS) may represent a useful biomarker in the diagnosis of PD.
Objective: To evaluate SN hyperechogenicity as a marker for PD in the Bruneck Study cohort, which is representative of the general elderly community.