Neuropsychological profiles associated with subcortical white matter alterations and Parkinson's disease: implications for the diagnosis of dementia.

Despite the emergence of a number of new classification systems, the diagnosis of cerebrovascular dementia remains controversial. Also controversial is the significance of periventricular and deep white matter alterations (WMA) as seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To further clarify this issue, MRI scans were used to regroup patients clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (IVD) into cohorts presenting with either little versus significant WMA on MRI.

Stroke rehabilitation: Outcome and prediction.

Predictors of functional outcome were developed in a group of 114 stroke patients consecutively admitted to a tertiary rehabilitation center. These predictors included a pool of medical data, the age of the patient, psychological tests and the patient's educational level. None of these predictor items showed a correlation with outcome high enough to allow precise prediction of individual outcome.

Stroke: Does rehabilitation affect outcome?

A sample of 114 consecutive stroke admissions to a rehabilitation center was studied statistically to determine functional gains achieved and retained after rehabilitation. In order to provide a measure of function, a functional profile was developed that evaluates seven activities, each according to a five-point scale. It was found that significant gains were achieved which could not be attributed merely to spontaneous recovery.