Appreciation of humor is decreased among patients with Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To test whether appreciation of humor might be a non-motor function affected by Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: Thirty-nine PD patients and 38 healthy controls participated in this study. Appreciation of humor and effect of the presentation method utilized were assessed.

Quality of life in patients older than 75 years following major head and neck surgery.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of patients older than 75 years undergoing major head and neck surgery.

Methods: Three groups of patients were included: elderly patients (>75, n = 35) and younger patients (65 to 75 years, n = 30) undergoing major head and neck surgery and healthy controls (>75, n = 40). Measurements were made using the SF-12 health survey, the University of Washington QOL questionnaire, and measurements of the "sense of burden" on the caregiver.