Early-start delayed-start donepezil against cognitive decline in Parkinson disease: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Cholinergic neurotransmission regulates neuroinflammation in Parkinson disease (PD).

Research Design And Methods: The authors conducted a delayed-start study of donepezil for cognitive decline in non-demented PD patients. The study consisted of a 96-week randomized placebo-controlled double-blind phase 1, followed by a 24-week donepezil extension phase 2.

Early use of donepezil against psychosis and cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease: a randomised controlled trial for 2 years.

Objectives: Brain acetylcholine is decreased even in patients with cognitively preserved Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated whether early and long-term use of donepezil prevents psychosis in non-demented PD patients.

Methods: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.

Pharmacological interventions for anxiety in Parkinson's disease sufferers.

Introduction: Anxiety disorders are a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) with a reported prevalence ranging from 20% to 50%. Although anxiety is associated with Parkinson's disease, anxiety disorders can begin before the onset of motor symptoms, and have been linked to a possible abnormality of dopaminergic, serotonergic, and adrenergic neurons that precedes motor disturbance.

Areas Covered: Several studies have reported the pharmacological treatment of depression in PD, but none have been randomized clinical trials with a primary outcome measure of anxiety.

Video-fluoroscopic swallowing study scale for predicting aspiration pneumonia in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: A number of video-fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) abnormalities have been reported in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the most crucial finding of subsequent aspiration pneumonia has not been validated fully. We conducted a retrospective and case-control study to determine the clinically significant VFSS findings in this population, and to propose a practical scale for predicting aspiration pneumonia in patients with PD.

Low body mass index and life prognosis in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) frequently lose weight, even in the early stages of the disease. Our objective was to clarify the association between low body mass index (BMI) and life prognosis in PD.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 651 PD patients (380 females), with a primary endpoint of survival.