Two recent studies in France have indicated that apathy may be an indicator of cognitive declines in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and of functional decline in those with Alzheimers disease.
Neurology
Parkinson motor score higher with suboptimal adherence
April 21, 2009Medication adherence in Parkinsons disease patients may be poor as a result of motor symptoms, complex dosing regimens, the need for multiple medications and patients lack of awareness about the clinical impact of poor adherence.
Pneumonia a common cause of death in dementia patients
April 21, 2009Bronchopneumonia and ischemic heart disease are the most common causes of death among dementia patients, according to a review of autopsy reports at University Hospital, Lund, Sweden (Brunnstrom & Englund. Eur J Neurol 2009; epublished January 26, 2009).
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Phase I/II study of non-myeloablative SCT in RRMS
April 12, 2009Researchers in Chicago have conducted a phase I/II trial of autologous non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) in 21 relapsing-remitting MS patients (Burt et al. Lancet Neurol 2009; epublished January 29, 2009). All subjects had experienced >2 steroid-treated relapses or 1 relapse with Gd-enhancing lesions in the previous 12 months despite treatment with a beta-interferon.
No unfavourable effects of fasting in MS
April 7, 2009A study in Iran has examined the effect of prolonged fasting during Ramadan in adult MS patients (Saadatnia et al. Eur Neurol 2009; 61:230-232). The prospective study compared 40 MS patients who fasted with 40 non-fasting MS controls. All patients had mild disability at entry (EDSS score < 3). Clinical symptoms and EDSS changes were assessed in the 6 months following Ramadan.