The 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).
Neurology
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.
Assessing the nocebo effect in MS trials
January 5, 2010REPORT FROM THE 25th CONGRESS OF THE ECTRIMS Dusseldorf, Germany, September 9-12, 2009 A majority of patients in the placebo arm of MS treatment trials report nocebo reactions, defined as the development of nonspecific adverse effects following administration of a placebo (Kennedy WP. Med World 1961; 95: 203-205), according to an analysis of 60 trials of disease-modifying drugs (Papadopoulos & Mitsikostas. ECTRIMS 2009).
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