Life events and the onset of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Whether there may be any relationship between stressful or traumatic life events (LE) and the subsequent motor symptoms onset in Parkinson's disease (PD) is still controversial.

Objectives: To explore whether a subjectively perceived as stressful or traumatic LE were more frequently present in a group of recent motor onset parkinsonian patients (Recent Onset Parkinsonism - ROP) compared with healthy controls (HC) and a group of patients already diagnosed as PD.

Methods: A consecutive series of 139 ROP patients, 138 matched PD patients and 138 HC were pooled through a validated LE exposure questionnaire evaluating the number of patients affected by LE and the amount of LE per group occurred in the last year, segregating by subjective severity in total and severe LE.

Validation of the Argentine version of the Memory Binding Test (MBT) for Early Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Background: "Forgetfulness" is frequent in normal aging and characteristic of the early stages of dementia syndromes. The episodic memory test is central for detecting amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The Memory Binding Test (MBT) is a simple, easy and brief memory test to detect the early stage of episodic memory impairment.

Correlation between the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease rating scale (MDS-UPDRS) and the Unified Parkinson's Disease rating scale (UPDRS) during L-dopa acute challenge.

While Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease rating scale (MDS-UPDRS) validation has been exhaustive; performance evaluation to detect acute changes arising after administration of a single dose of L-dopa has yet to be explored. To determine the correlation between UPDRS and MDS-UPDRS during the acute challenge with Ldopa and the MDS-UPDRS equivalent to 30% cutoff score of UPDRS for defining responsiveness, 64 patients were assessed. Consecutive assessments were performed immediately before and after administration of a single dose of L-dopa/carbidopa 250/25 mg using the motor section of the UPDRS and the MDS-UPDRS.

Pregabalin-induced parkinsonism: a case report.

Background: : Pregabalin (PGB) is an L-type, voltage-dependent, calcium-channel blocker, useful for the treatment of neuropathy pain and some forms of seizures. We report the case of a 64-year-old woman who developed full-blown parkinsonism after PGB administration.

Case Report: : A female patient who developed diabetic sensory-motor polyneuropathy began treatment with gabapentin 300 mg plus amitriptyline 25 mg at the age of 56 years, with good tolerance.

Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination validation in Parkinson's disease.

Background: There is a clear need for brief, sensitive and specific cognitive screening instruments in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives: To study Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE) validity for cognitive assessment of PD patient's using the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) as reference method. A specific scale for cognitive evaluation in PD, in this instance the Scales for Outcomes of Parkinson's disease-Cognition (SCOPA-COG), as well as a general use scale the Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) were also studied for further correlation.