Functional course of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, characterized by aggressive deterioration of white matter pathways throughout the subcortical brain parenchyma. This disease leads the patient to a total dependence in all activities of daily (ADLs) living in few months. The literature on rehabilitation of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy is scanty and, at present, it is unknown whether rehabilitation may modify the course of disability in this disease.

[Mini Mental State Examination and Brief neuropsychological Examination as neuropsychological screening tools].

Introduction: An adequate neuropsychological evaluation is essential today to obtain a correct diagnosis in most neurological and geriatric areas. For these purposes, a number of screening and evaluation tools are in use to aid the neuropsychologist for diagnosis of cognitive disorder and for assessing the type of the disease.

Objective: The present research compares two neuropsychological tools, commonly used in the daily practice: the "Mini Mental State Examination" and the "Brief Neuropsychological Examination".

Predicting outcome after stroke: the role of aphasia.

Objective: Very few studies have investigated the predictive value of functional outcome, social outcome and discharge destination in patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with aphasia. The aim of this study was to verify whether aphasia is predictor for outcome in patients with stroke with aphasia.

Methods: The study was carried out in 262 patients with primary diagnosis of CVA and aphasia, included over a 6-year period (2001-2007): 131 with and 131 without aphasia.