Association of Parkinson's Disease and Its Subtypes with Agricultural Pesticide Exposures in Men: A Case-Control Study in France.

Background: Pesticides have been associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), but there are few data on important exposure characteristics such as dose-effect relations. It is unknown whether associations depend on clinical PD subtypes.

Objectives: We examined quantitative aspects of occupational pesticide exposure associated with PD and investigated whether associations were similar across PD subtypes.

Metabolic syndrome and disability: findings from the prospective three-city study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a potentially reversible cause of disability in the elderly people. The published literature suggests that the MetS-disability association is likely to be complex, depending on co-existing risk factors and with possible variation for each of the specific MetS components. Further evidence is needed to understand the specific consequences of the MetS as a whole and as a function of its components.

FXTAS: new insights and the need for revised diagnostic criteria.

Objective: Fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is defined by FMR1 premutation, cerebellar ataxia, intentional tremor, and middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) hyperintensities. We delineate the clinical, neurophysiologic, and morphologic characteristics of FXTAS.

Methods: Clinical, morphologic (brain MRI, (123)I-ioflupane SPECT), and neurophysiologic (tremor recording, nerve conduction studies) study in 22 patients with FXTAS, including 4 women.

Prediction model of Parkinson's disease based on antiparkinsonian drug claims.

Drug claims databases are increasingly available and provide opportunities to investigate epidemiologic questions. The authors used computerized drug claims databases from a social security system in 5 French districts to predict the probability that a person had Parkinson's disease (PD) based on patterns of antiparkinsonian drug (APD) use. Clinical information for a population-based sample of persons using APDs in 2007 was collected.

Olive oil and cognition: results from the three-city study.

Background: Olive oil is a major component of the Mediterranean diet suggested to be beneficial to counteract Alzheimer's disease.

Aim Of The Study: Our objective was to examine the association between olive oil use, cognitive deficit and cognitive decline in a large elderly population.

Methods: We followed 6,947 subjects with a brief baseline food frequency questionnaire and repeated cognitive tests.

Changes in blood pressure in a large cohort of elderly individuals: Study 3C.

Objective: Analysis of changes in blood pressure with a two-year interval, and of factors associated with this change, in a large cohort of elderly individuals.

Methods: Follow-up of a cohort of 9294 individuals aged 65 years and over recruited from the general population for Study 3C. Changes in blood pressure are defined as the difference in its averages between the inclusion visit and the follow-up visit at 2 years.

Plasma carotenoid levels and cognitive performance in an elderly population: results of the EVA Study.

Background: The hypothesis of carotenoids having a preventive role in cognitive impairment is suggested by their antioxidant properties.

Methods: We examined, in a cross-sectional analysis, the relationship between cognitive performance (assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination, Trail Making Test Part B, Digit Symbol Substitution, Finger Tapping Test, and Word Fluency Test) and different plasma carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha-carotene, and trans-beta-carotene and cis-beta-carotene) in a healthy elderly population (the EVA,"Etude du Vieillissement Artériel," study; n = 589, age = 73.5 +/- 3 years).

Plasma selenium over time and cognitive decline in the elderly.

Background: Because brain oxidative stress is a cause of cognitive impairment, selenium, which is an antioxidant, may protect against cognitive decline. The aim of the study was to examine whether declining selenium levels over time are associated with cognitive decline in a cohort of community-dwelling French elderly.

Methods: During 1991-1993, 1389 subjects (age 60-71 years) were recruited into a 9-year longitudinal study with 6 waves of follow-up.

Selenium and mortality in the elderly: results from the EVA study.

Background: Inadequate plasma selenium can adversely affect the maintenance of optimal health; therefore, reported decreases in plasma selenium in an aging population are cause for concern. To further examine this hypothesis, we explored the relationships between plasma selenium and mortality in an elderly population: the EVA (Etude du Vieillissement Artériel) study.

Methods: The EVA study was a 9-year longitudinal study with 6 periods of follow-up.

Enzymatic antioxidant balance and cognitive decline in aging--the EVA study.

We studied whether primary enzymatic antioxidant protection should influence cognitive decline (CD) in subjects aged 62-72 years volunteers in the Etude du Vieillissement Antériel (EVA) cohort. At baseline, we measured red blood cells activities of two enzymes: cytoplasmic form of superoxide dismutase (CuZn-SOD) and seleno dependent glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). During the 4 year-follow up (follow-up rate of 81%), a drop of at least 3 points in MMSE score was observed in 71 subjects (7.

Hormone replacement therapy use is associated with a lower occurrence of carotid atherosclerotic plaques but not with intima-media thickness progression among postmenopausal women. The vascular aging (EVA) study.

Background: Information on the impact of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on carotid atherosclerosis is limited. Moreover, transdermal estrogens have not been investigated.

Methods: We examined association of HRT use with ultrasonographically assessed carotid atherosclerotic plaque occurrence and mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) progression.