Discordance Between Balance Ability and Perception Is Associated With Falls in Parkinson's Disease: A Coordinated Analysis.

Background: The congruence or discordance between actual and perceived balance ability has been proposed to be linked to functional outcomes such as falls. However, gaps remain in our ability to quantify discordance, and its relationship to relevant outcomes.

Objective: To investigate a novel quantification of concordance/discordance between balance performance and perception and determine the relationship to falls among people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD).

Dual-Task Performance and Brain Morphologic Characteristics in Parkinson's Disease.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) reduces an individual's capacity for automaticity which limits their ability to perform two tasks simultaneously, negatively impacting daily function. Understanding the neural correlates of dual tasks (DTs) may pave the way for targeted therapies. To better understand automaticity in PD, we aimed to explore whether individuals with differing DT performances possessed differences in brain morphologic characteristics.

The Use of Telerehabilitation to Improve Movement-Related Outcomes and Quality of Life for Individuals With Parkinson Disease: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) can improve their overall mobility and participation in daily activities as they engage in frequent exercise. Despite the need for individually tailored exercises, persons with PD often face barriers to accessing physical rehabilitation professionals who can provide them. Telerehabilitation (TR) may facilitate access to necessary and individually tailored rehabilitation for individuals with PD.

A summary of the main themes and findings presented at the ASM Intermountain Branch meeting (2024).

The annual meeting for the Intermountain Branch was held in April 2024 on the campus of Brigham Young University. There were 127 branch members from Utah, Idaho, and Nevada who attended the meeting and were composed of undergraduate students, graduate or medical students, and faculty. This report highlights the diversity of, and the emerging trends in, the research conducted by American Society for Microbiology members in the Intermountain Branch.

Dual-task gait has prognostic value for cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Cognitive decline frequently occurs in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), but the clinical methods to predict the onset of cognitive changes are limited. Given preliminary evidence of the link between gait and cognition, the purpose of this study was to determine if dual task (DT) gait was related to declines in cognition over two years in PD.

Methods: A retrospective two-year longitudinal study of 48 individuals with PD using data from the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative of the Michael J.

The psychometric properties of the modified fear of falling avoidance behavior questionnaire in Parkinson's disease and older adults.

Introduction: The Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire (FFABQ) has good psychometric properties. However, we have recently modified the FFABQ (mFFABQ) to improve the clarity of the questions and Likert responses. This study aimed to examine the reliability and validity of this modified version in older adults and people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Freezing of Gait Is Associated with Daily Activity Limitations among Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment.

This study investigated the relationship between freezing of gait and daily activities among individuals with mild cognitive impairment due to Parkinson's disease by determining differences in caregiver-reported daily activity performance between individuals with and without freezing of gait. Cross-sectional baseline data from a longitudinal cohort study were used with 24 participants. Caregivers completed the Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ).

Cognitive-motor dual-task interference in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and prodromal neurodegeneration: A scoping review.

Background: Cognitive-motor interference (CMI) is a common deficit in Alzheimer's (AD) disease and Parkinson's disease (PD) and may have utility in identification of prodromal neurodegeneration. There is lack of consensus regarding measurement of CMI resulting from dual task paradigms.

Research Question: How are individuals with AD, PD, and prodromal neurodegeneration impacted by CMI as measured by dual-task (DT) performance?

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in six datasets using the PRISMA guidelines.

Cortical thickness is related to cognitive-motor automaticity and attention allocation in individuals with Alzheimer's disease: a regions of interest study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a distinct pattern of cortical thinning and resultant changes in cognition and function. These result in prominent deficits in cognitive-motor automaticity. The relationship between AD-related cortical thinning and decreased automaticity is not well-understood.

Topological reorganization of functional hubs in patients with Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait.

Background And Purpose: Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) studies in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with freezing of gait (FOG) have implicated dysfunctional connectivity over multiple resting-state networks (RSNs). While these findings provided network-specific insights and information related to the aberrant or altered regional functional connectivity (FC), whether these alterations have any effect on topological reorganization in PD-FOG patients is incompletely understood. Understanding the higher order functional organization, which could be derived from the "hub" and the "rich-club" organization of the functional networks, could be crucial to identifying the distinct and unique pattern of the network connectivity associated with PD-FOG.

A meta-analysis of exercise intervention and the effect on Parkinson's Disease symptoms.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is distinguished by tremors at rest, bradykinesia, hypokinesia, and postural instability, resulting in a progressive decline in performance of everyday activities. The non-motor symptoms that occur can include pain, depression, cognitive dysfunction, sleep issues, and anxiety (among others). Functionality is tremendously impaired by physical as well as non-motor symptoms.

Psychological Factors Associated With Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior in Parkinson's Disease: The Role of Depression, Anxiety, and Catastrophizing.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological factors (depression, anxiety, and catastrophizing) and fear of falling avoidance behavior (FFAB) among individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 59 individuals with PD using hierarchical multiple regression.

Results: Disease severity (Movement Disorder Society - Unified PD Rating Scale) and catastrophizing (Consequences of Falling Questionnaire (CoF)) explained approximately 48.

Fear of Falling Avoidance Behavior in Parkinson's Disease: Most Frequently Avoided Activities.

Background: Fear of falling avoidance behavior (FFAB) is common in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives: The objectives of the study are to determine what activities are most avoided due to FFAB among people with PD and whether any associations exist with demographic factors or fall history.

Method: Cross-sectional analysis of 174 individuals with PD using the Modified FFAB Questionnaire.

Dual Task Performance Is Associated with Amyloidosis in Cognitively Healthy Adults.

Background: Preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) provides an opportunity for the study and implementation of interventions and strategies aimed at delaying, mitigating, and preventing AD. While this preclinical state is an ideal target, it is difficult to identify efficiently and cost-effectively. Recent findings have suggested that cognitive-motor dual task paradigms may provide additional inference.

A Novel Way of Measuring Dual-Task Interference: The Reliability and Construct Validity of the Dual-Task Effect Battery in Neurodegenerative Disease.

Background: Decreased automaticity is common among individuals with neurodegenerative disease and is often assessed using dual-task (DT) paradigms. However, the best methods for assessing performance changes related to DT demands remain inconclusive.

Objective: To investigate the reliability and validity of a novel battery of DT measures (DT Effect-Battery (DTE-B)) encompassing three domains: task-specific interference, task prioritization, and automaticity.

Factors predicting fear of falling avoidance behavior in parkinsonisms.

Background: Fear of falling avoidance behavior (FFAB) is common in parkinsonisms and results in potentially mitigable downstream consequences.

Objective: Determine the characteristics of individuals with parkinsonisms most associated with FFAB.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted from medical records data of 142 patients with parkinsonisms.

A vicious cycle of fear of falling avoidance behavior in Parkinson's disease: A path analysis.

Background: Postural instability (PI) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with several negative downstream consequences.

Objective: The purpose was to explore the validity of a theoretical model of these downstream consequences arranged in a vicious cycle wherein PI leads to decreased balance confidence, which in turn leads to increased fear of falling (FOF) avoidance behavior, which in turn leads to decreased physical conditioning, which then feeds back and negatively affects PI.

Methods: A path analysis of cross-sectional data from 55 participants with PD was conducted.

Fear-of-falling activity-avoidance behavior in people with Parkinson's disease: a scoping review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review is to explore existing literature related to fear of falling activity avoidance behavior and identify what is known about this phenomenon in people with Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Falling and fear of falling are significant concerns for persons with Parkinson's disease. Fear of falling is a significant problem over and above falling itself and can lead to activity avoidance.

Unprecedented reduction in air pollution and corresponding short-term premature mortality associated with COVID-19 lockdown in Delhi, India.

Countries around the world introduced strict restrictions on movement and activities known as 'lockdowns' to restrict the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from the end of 2019. A sudden improvement in air quality was observed globally as a result of these lockdowns. To provide insight into the changes in air pollution levels in response to the COVID-19 restrictions we have compared surface air quality data in Delhi during four phases of lockdown and the first phase of the restriction easing period (25 March to 30 June 2020) with data from a baseline period (2018-2019).

Physical Therapy for Gait, Balance, and Cognition in Individuals with Cognitive Impairment: A Retrospective Analysis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if a pragmatic physical therapy (PT) program was associated with improved cognition, gait, and balance in individuals with cognitive impairment. This study investigated these associations for individuals with Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in order to better characterize outcomes to PT for each diagnostic group.

Methods: Data before and after one month of physical therapy were extracted from patient records (67 with AD, 34 with VaD, 35 with DLB, and 37 with MCI).

Brain volumes and dual-task performance correlates among individuals with cognitive impairment: a retrospective analysis.

Cognitive impairment (CI) is a prevalent condition characterized by loss of brain volume and changes in cognition, motor function, and dual-tasking ability. To examine associations between brain volumes, dual-task performance, and gait and balance in those with CI to elucidate the mechanisms underlying loss of function. We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with CI and compared brain volumes, dual-task performance, and measures of gait and balance.

Modulation of Neurally Mediated Vasodepression and Bradycardia by Electroacupuncture through Opioids in Nucleus Tractus Solitarius.

Stimulation of vagal afferent endings with intravenous phenylbiguanide (PBG) causes both bradycardia and vasodepression, simulating neurally mediated syncope. Activation of µ-opioid receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) increases blood pressure. Electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of somatosensory nerves underneath acupoints P5-6, ST36-37, LI6-7 or G37-39 selectively but differentially modulates sympathoexcitatory responses.

Role of TRPV1 in acupuncture modulation of reflex excitatory cardiovascular responses.

We have shown that acupuncture, including manual and electroacupuncture (MA and EA), at the P5-6 acupoints stimulates afferent fibers in the median nerve (MN) to modulate sympathoexcitatory cardiovascular reflexes through central regulation of autonomic function. However, the mechanisms underlying acupuncture activation of these sensory afferent nerves and their cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are unclear. Transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) is present in sensory nerve fibers distributed in the general region of acupoints like ST36 and BL 40 located in the hindlimb.

Reasserting the primacy of human needs to reclaim the 'lost half' of sustainable development.

The concept of sustainable development evolved from growing awareness of the interdependence of social and economic progress with the limits of the supporting natural environment, becoming progressively integrated into global agreements and transposition into local regulatory and implementation frameworks. We argue that transposition of the concept into regulation and supporting tools reduced the focus to minimal environmental and social standards, perceived as imposing constraints rather than opportunities for innovation to meet human needs. The aspirational 'half' of the concept of sustainable development specifically addressing human needs was thus lost in transposing high ideals into regulatory instruments.