The goal of finding clinically useful biomarkers to identify MCI patients at risk of developing Alzheimers disease has proved elusive with conflicting results reported by different centres. In Sweden, a large multicentre study has investigated the accuracy of CSF beta-amyloid(1-42), total tau protein (T-tau), and tau phosphorylated at position threonine 181 (P-tau) (Mattsson et al. JAMA 2009; 302: 385-393).
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Neurology
No cognitive benefit with folate, vitamin B supplementation
February 2, 2010The dietary intake of vitamins B12, B6 and folate do not appear to be related to Alzheimers disease or dementia, according to the most recent analysis from the Cache County Memory and Aging Study (Nelson et al. J Nutr Health Aging 2009; 13: 899-905).
L-dopa-induced dyskinesias: 24-month data
January 19, 2010REPORT FROM THE 13TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF NEUROLOGICAL SOCIETIES (EFNS), FLORENCE, ITALY, SEPTEMBER 12-15, 2009 – One-quarter of PD patients develop L-dopa-induced dyskinesias, according to the interim analysis of patients in the COPARK (Cohorte nationale de patients atteints de maladie de Parkinson)/PARKMIP (Midi-Pyrénées region) trial (Perez-Lloret et al. EFNS 2009). L-dopa-induced dyskinesia was defined as UPDRS IV (item 32) ≥ 1.
PD epidemiology: results from the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging
January 19, 2010REPORT FROM THE 13TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF NEUROLOGICAL SOCIETIES (EFNS), FLORENCE, ITALY, SEPTEMBER 12-15, 2009 – The prevalences of parkinsonism and Parkinsons disease are on the increase among the elderly, according to an analysis of subjects in the Italian Longitudinal Study on Aging (Baldereschi et al. EFNS 2009).
Extended- versus immediate-release pramipexole: comparable effects
January 19, 2010REPORT FROM THE 13TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF NEUROLOGICAL SOCIETIES (EFNS), FLORENCE, ITALY, SEPTEMBER 12-15, 2009 – A 33-week comparison of extended-release (once-daily) and immediate-release (TID) pramipexole reports that the two formulations are comparable in patients with early Parkinsons disease (Poewe et al. EFNS 2009). A total of 539 patients were randomized to pramipexole ER, pramipexole IR or placebo. Doses were titrated up to 4.5 mg/day followed by maintenance at the optimized dose. Levodopa was permitted as a rescue medication.