Cognitive dysfunction (primarily executive, visuospatial and memory function) can occur in Parkinson disease as a result of cortical and subcortical changes, with an estimated 20-40% of patients eventually developing dementia (Bosboom et al. J Neural Transm 2004;111:1303-1315). The pathophysiology of PD dementia has not been fully elucidated but may be due, in part, to cholinergic deficiency in the cerebral cortex, cortical Lewy bodies and other Alzheimer disease-like pathology.
Neurology
White matter hyperintensities associated with dysfunction
February 24, 2009White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are frequently found in the elderly and have been associated with neurologic decline.
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Statins and Alzheimer risk: the Rotterdam Study
February 24, 2009The Rotterdam Study is a prospective population-based study designed to assess whether statin use is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer disease.
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Deep-brain stimulation in Parkinson disease
February 24, 2009Deep-brain stimulation is superior to best medical therapy in the management of Parkinson disease patients, according to the results of a U.S. multicentre controlled trial (Weaver et al. JAMA 2009;301:63-73).
Pediatric MS and ADEM: differential diagnosis
February 10, 2009Three new studies have investigated clinical features that differentiate pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis from acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).