Longitudinally extensive transverse myelopathy in spinal cord infarction.

Spinal cord infarction may present as longitudinally extensive myelopathy, similar to inflammatory myelitis such as neuromyelitis optica. Magnetic resonance imaging features such as diffusion-weighted imaging/apparent diffusion coefficient showing restricted diffusion and lack of contrast enhancement are helpful in the diagnosis of spinal cord infarction and differentiating them from inflammatory myelitis.

Age Cutoff for Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease: Recommendations from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force on Early Onset Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD)/young-onset Parkinson's disease (YOPD) is defined as Parkinson's disease (PD) with an age at onset (AAO) after age 21 years but before the usual AAO for PD. Consensus is lacking, and the reported maximal age for EOPD/YOPD has varied from 40 to 60 years, leading to a lack of uniformity in published studies and difficulty in harmonization of data. EOPD and YOPD have both been used in the literature, somewhat interchangeably.

Frontotemporal dementia and COVID-19: Hypothesis generation and roadmap for future research.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous suffering for patients with dementia and their caregivers. We conducted a survey to study the impact of the pandemic on patients with mild frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Our preliminary findings demonstrate that patients with FTD have significant worsening in behavior and social cognition, as well as suffer greater negative consequences from disruption to health-care services compared to patients with AD.

Agitation and impulsivity in mid and late life as possible risk markers for incident dementia.

To identify knowledge gaps regarding new-onset agitation and impulsivity prior to onset of cognitive impairment or dementia the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment Neuropsychiatric Syndromes (NPS) Professional Interest Area conducted a scoping review. Extending a series of reviews exploring the pre-dementia risk syndrome Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI), we focused on late-onset agitation and impulsivity (the MBI impulse dyscontrol domain) and risk of incident cognitive decline and dementia. This scoping review of agitation and impulsivity pre-dementia syndromes summarizes the current biomedical literature in terms of epidemiology, diagnosis and measurement, neurobiology, neuroimaging, biomarkers, course and prognosis, treatment, and ongoing clinical trials.

Plasma alpha-synuclein detected by single molecule array is increased in PD.

We utilized ultrasensitive single molecule technology to measure plasma alpha-synuclein in 221 subjects (51 controls, 170 PD). Plasma alpha-synuclein levels were significantly higher in PD than controls (15506.3 vs.

Epidemiology of Parkinson's Disease-East Versus West.

Background: The cause of PD at present remains unknown. A number of epidemiological studies have been conducted across the globe to ascertain the disease burden and the possible risk factors. In this review, we analyze the various studies from East and West with an aim to observe the important similarities and differences in the disease occurrence and risk factor profile.

Guillain-Barré syndrome mimics.

The Brighton Collaboration criteria have standardized the clinical and laboratory-supported diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) in a way that is applicable in many parts of the world with variable resources. The caveat within the criteria, "absence of an identified alternative diagnosis for weakness" makes GBS a diagnosis of exclusion. Accurate diagnosis of GBS requires a good understanding of an updated, locally contextualised list of mimics, and features that distinguish them from GBS.

Treatment Preferences at the End-of-Life in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

Background: Few studies have been performed on palliative care in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study was undertaken to understand treatment preferences of PD patients toward end-of-life care.

Methods: A questionnaire modified from the Willingness to Accept Life-Sustaining Treatment instrument was administered to participants.