Abnormal Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytology in Functional Movement Disorders.

Objective: The role of inflammation and neuroimmune mechanisms, which have been documented in various neuropsychiatric disorders including the seizure subtype of functional neurological disorder, remains unclear in functional movement disorders (FMD). To explore these mechanisms, we analyzed selected inflammatory markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with FMD.

Methods: We compared CSF markers in 26 patients with clinically established FMD (20 females; mean [SD] age = 43.

Safety and Outcome of Revascularization Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and COVID-19: The Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry.

Background And Objectives: COVID-19-related inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulopathy may increase the bleeding risk and lower the efficacy of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS and COVID-19.

Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients with AIS receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) between March 2020 and June 2021 tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

Emotional arousal in patients with functional movement disorders: A pupillometry study.

Objective: Pathophysiology explanations for functional movement disorders often assume a role for emotional hyperarousal. Pupillometry is a validated method for evaluation of emotional arousal by detecting changes in pupil size in response to emotional stimuli. In a case-control study design, we aimed to study objective and subjective emotional arousal using pupillometry and affective ratings.

Attention impairment in motor functional neurological disorders: a neuropsychological study.

Objective: Our objective was to assess cognitive functioning across multiple cognitive domains using a standardised neuropsychological battery in patients with motor functional neurological disorders (mFND).

Methods: Thirty patients with clinically established mFND and 30 age-, sex- and education-matched control subjects underwent a thorough neuropsychological assessment evaluating (1) attention including processing speed, (2) executive functions including working memory, (3) short-term memory, (4) speech and language and (5) visuospatial functions. Performance validity tests (PVT) and self-report measures of depression, anxiety and cognitive complaints were included in the assessment.

Bridging structural and functional biomarkers in functional movement disorder using network mapping.

Background: There are gaps in our neurobiological understanding of functional movement disorder (FMD).

Objectives: We investigated gray matter volumetric profiles in FMD, and related findings to resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) profiles using Human Connectome Project data.

Methods: Volumetric differences between 53 FMD patients and 50 controls were examined, as well as relationships between individual differences in FMD symptom severity and volumetric profiles.

Symptom-severity-related brain connectivity alterations in functional movement disorders.

Background: Functional movement disorders, a common cause of neurological disabilities, can occur with heterogeneous motor manifestations including functional weakness. However, the underlying mechanisms related to brain function and connectivity are unknown.

Objective: To identify brain connectivity alterations related to functional weakness we assessed network centrality changes in a group of patients with heterogeneous motor manifestations using task-free functional MRI in combination with different network centrality approaches.

The complex syndrome of functional neurological disorder.

Background: Patients with functional neurological disorders (FND) often present with multiple motor, sensory, psychological and cognitive symptoms. In order to explore the relationship between these common symptoms, we performed a detailed clinical assessment of motor, non-motor symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and disability in a large cohort of patients with motor FND. To understand the clinical heterogeneity, cluster analysis was used to search for subgroups within the cohort.

Prepulse inhibition of the blink reflex is abnormal in functional movement disorders.

Background: Patients with functional movement disorders also typically have functional somatic symptoms, including pain, fatigue, and sensory disturbance. A potentially unifying mechanism for such symptoms is a failure in processing of sensory inputs. Prepulse inhibition is a neurophysiological method that allows for the study of preconscious somatosensory processing.

Prevalence of restless legs syndrome in functional movement disorders: a case-control study from the Czech Republic.

Objectives: The prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in functional movement disorders (FMD) is not known. Patients with FMD often present with multiple motor and sensory symptoms. Some of these symptoms might be due to comorbid RLS.

The impact of non-motor symptoms on the health-related quality of life in patients with functional movement disorders.

Objective: Pain, fatigue, cognitive complaints and psychiatric comorbidities are common in patients with functional movement disorder and may significantly affect their quality of life. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of motor and non-motor symptoms on health-related quality of life in patients with functional movement disorder.

Methods: Sixty-one patients with clinically established functional movement disorder and 61 matched healthy controls completed standardized questionnaires for depression, anxiety, cognitive complaints, fatigue, pain, sleepiness, apathy and health-related quality of life.

Comparison of transcranial sonography-magnetic resonance fusion imaging in Wilson's and early-onset Parkinson's diseases.

Introduction: Wilson's disease (WD) is a hereditary disorder caused by ATP7B mutations resulting in systemic copper accumulation. WD may manifest as early-adulthood parkinsonism; and atypical cases may be difficult to distinguish from early-onset Parkinson's disease (EO-PD), a neurodegenerative disorder with onset ≤40 years of age. The aim of our study was to compare transcranial sonography (TCS)-magnetic resonance fusion imaging in WD and EO-PD and examine whether TCS can provide clinically useful information.