Eye Movement Disorders in Movement Disorders.

Oculomotor assessment is an essential element of the neurological clinical examination and is particularly important when evaluating patients with movements disorders. Most of the brain is involved in oculomotor control, and thus many neurological conditions present with oculomotor abnormalities. Each of the different classes of eye movements and their features can provide important information that can facilitate differential diagnosis.

Blood-brain barrier dysfunction and reduced cerebrospinal fluid levels of soluble amyloid precursor protein-β in patients with subcortical small-vessel disease.

Introduction: Subcortical small-vessel disease (SSVD) is the most common vascular cognitive disorder. However, because no disease-specific cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers are available for SSVD, our aim was to identify such markers.

Methods: We included 170 healthy controls and patients from the Gothenburg Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) study clinically diagnosed with SSVD dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), or mixed AD/SSVD.

A three-range approach enhances the prognostic utility of CSF biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease consensus recommends biomarker dichotomization, a practice with well-described clinical strengths and methodological limitations. Although neuroimaging studies have explored alternative biomarker interpretation strategies, a formally defined three-range approach and its prognostic impact remains under-explored for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers .

Methods: With two-graph receiver-operating characteristics based on different reference schemes, we derived three-range cut-points for CSF Elecsys biomarkers.

VALZ-Pilot: High-dose valacyclovir treatment in patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) may be involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. The antiviral valacyclovir inhibits HSV replication.

Methods: This phase-II pilot trial involved valacyclovir administration (thrice daily, 500 mg week 1, 1000 mg weeks 2-4) to persons aged ≥ 65 years with early-stage AD, anti-HSV immunoglobulin G, and apolipoprotein E ε4.

Plasma and CSF NfL are differentially associated with biomarker evidence of neurodegeneration in a community-based sample of 70-year-olds.

Neurofilament light protein (NfL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma (P) are suggested to be interchangeable markers of neurodegeneration. However, evidence is scarce from community-based samples. NfL was examined in a small-scale sample of 287 individuals from the Gothenburg H70 Birth cohort 1944 study, using linear models in relation to CSF and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarker evidence of neurodegeneration.

Ageing contributes to phenotype transition in a mouse model of periodic paralysis.

Background: Periodic paralysis (PP) is a rare genetic disorder in which ion channel mutation causes episodic paralysis in association with hyper- or hypokalaemia. An unexplained but consistent feature of PP is that a phenotype transition occurs around the age of 40, in which the severity of potassium-induced muscle weakness declines but onset of fixed, progressive weakness is reported. This phenotype transition coincides with the age at which muscle mass and optimal motor function start to decline in healthy individuals.

Crosswalk study on blood collection-tube types for Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.

Introduction: Blood-based Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers show promise, but pre-analytical protocol differences may pose problems. We examined seven AD blood biomarkers (amyloid beta [ , , , total tau [t-tau], neurofilament light chain [NfL], and ) in three collection tube types (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA] plasma, heparin plasma, serum).

Methods: Plasma and serum were obtained from cerebrospinal fluid or amyloid positron emission tomography-positive and -negative participants (N = 38) in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention.

Non-Stationary Outcome of Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood into Adulthood.

Background: Although described as non-progressive, alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) can display a sudden deterioration, anecdotally reported mainly in childhood. Outcome in adulthood is uncertain.

Objectives: Aim of this study is to describe the long-term follow-up of neurological function in adults with AHC.

Eye movements in frontotemporal dementia: Abnormalities of fixation, saccades and anti-saccades.

Introduction: Oculomotor function has not been systematically studied in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and yet may offer a simple target to monitor disease activity.

Methods: We assessed fixation stability, smooth pursuit, pro-saccades, and anti-saccades using the Eyelink 1000-plus eye-tracker in 19 individuals with behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD) and 22 controls. Neuroanatomical correlates were assessed using a region of interest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis.

A national open-access research registry to improve recruitment to clinical studies.

Introduction: Barriers to recruitment for dementia studies are well documented. As part of the UK government's Dementia 2020 strategy, a nationally consistent system to increase public engagement and participation in research was launched in February 2015.

Methods: We describe the development of the "Join Dementia Research" registry, including evolution of policy, involvement of people with dementia in co-production, data requirements, governance, technology, and the impact on study recruitment and what factors may have contributed to the services success.

Association between serum urate and CSF markers of Alzheimer's disease pathology in a population-based sample of 70-year-olds.

Introduction: The relationship between urate and biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology has not been investigated.

Methods: We examined whether serum concentration of urate was associated with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, amyloid beta (Aβ), Aβ, phosphorylated tau (p-tau), total tau (t-tau), neurofilament light (NfL), and Aβ/Aβ ratio, in cognitively unimpaired 70-year-old individuals from Gothenburg, Sweden. We also evaluated whether possible associations were modulated by the apolipoprotein E () ε4 allele.

Intravenous Thrombolysis Before Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-Analysis.

Background Whether intravenous thrombolysis before mechanical thrombectomy provides additional benefit for functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke remains uncertain. We performed a meta-analysis to compare the outcomes of direct mechanical thrombectomy (dMT) to mechanical thrombectomy with bridging using intravenous thrombolysis (bridging therapy [BT]) in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods and Results We performed a literature search in the PubMed, Excerpta Medica database, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1, 2003, to April 26, 2021.

A Cross-Sectional Comprehensive Assessment of the Profile and Burden of Non-motor Symptoms in Relation to Motor Phenotype in the Nigeria Parkinson Disease Registry Cohort.

Background: Data on non-motor symptoms (NMS) in black Africans with Parkinson's disease (PD) are sparse.

Objective: To describe the profile of NMS in the Nigeria PD Registry (NPDR) cohort and explore the relationship between NMS and PD motor phenotype.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of the frequency and burden of NMS, based on the non-motor symptoms scale (NMSS) and the Chaudhuri method respectively in our cohort.

The global Alzheimer's Association round robin study on plasma amyloid β methods.

Introduction: Blood-based assays to measure brain amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition are an attractive alternative to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based assays currently used in clinical settings. In this study, we examined different blood-based assays to measure Aβ and how they compare among centers and assays.

Methods: Aliquots from 81 plasma samples were distributed to 10 participating centers.

Urodynamic Evaluation in Multiple System Atrophy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Urological dysfunction in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) is one of the main manifestations of autonomic failure. Urodynamic examination is clinically relevant since underlying pathophysiology of lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction can be variable.

Objective: Evaluation of the pathophysiology of urological symptoms and exploration of differences in urodynamic patterns of LUT dysfunction between MSA-P and MSA-C.

From Collar to Coccyx: Truncal Movement Disorders: A Clinical Review.

Background: Movement disorders affecting the trunk remain a diagnostic challenge even for experienced clinicians. However, despite being common and debilitating, truncal movement disorders are rarely discussed and poorly reviewed in the medical literature.

Objectives: To review common movement disorders affecting the trunk and provide an approach for clinicians based on the truncal region involved (shoulder, chest, diaphragm, abdomen, pelvis, and axial disorders).