The U.S. Einstein Aging Study reports that a majority of the elderly living in the community have chronic pain (McCarthy et al. J Am Geriatr Soc 2008; epublished November 19, 2008). The study surveyed 840 people aged >70 years (average 80 years). Chronic pain was defined as pain of at least moderate severity (>4 on a 10-point scale) at least some of the time in the previous 3 months.
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Neurology
Differentiating subtypes of dementia in Parkinsons disease
August 25, 2009REPORT FROM THE 9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AD/PD, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, MARCH 11-15, 2009 – The Sydney Multicentre Study of Parkinsons disease was initially a prospective 5-year trial comparing low-dose bromocriptine (< 30 mg/day) and low-dose levodopa-carbidopa (< 600/150 mg/day) in 149 previously untreated patients (mean age 62 years) with Parkinsons disease (Hely et al. Med J Aust 1987;146:195-198).
Participants were recruited between 1984 and 1987. Those subjects have now been followed for 20 years; assessments have included periodic neuropsychological testing at baseline and years 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20.
Response to levodopa: long-term follow-up
August 25, 2009REPORT FROM THE 9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AD/PD, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, MARCH 11-15, 2009 – An Australian longitudinal study of patients with Parkinsons disease has found that cognitive decline is associated with progressive deteriorations in motor function (Alty et al. AD/PD 2009; 1999).
The effects of stress in Parkinson’s disease
August 25, 2009REPORT FROM THE 9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AD/PD, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, MARCH 11-15, 2009 – The dopaminergic system is involved in mediating the effects of stress on motor function, which may explain the observation that stress can lead to the onset of parkinsonian symptoms or accelerate the progression of Parkinsons disease.
Comparing treatments for behavioural and psychological symptoms
August 11, 2009REPORT FROM THE 9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AD/PD, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC, MARCH 11-15, 2009 – A single-centre open trial in Sweden has compared the use of galantamine and risperidone for the treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia (BPSD) (Freund-Levi. AD/PD; 1290).