Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2020
Association between midlife dementia risk factors and longitudinal brain atrophy: the PREVENT-Dementia study.
Increased rates of brain atrophy on serial MRI are frequently used as a surrogate marker of disease progression in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. However, the extent to which they are associated with future risk of dementia in asymptomatic subjects is not clear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) risk score and longitudinal atrophy in middle-aged subjects. ⋯ Our results show that progressive brain atrophy is associated with increased risk of future dementia in asymptomatic middle-aged subjects, two decades before dementia onset.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2020
Pure tone audiometry and cerebral pathology in healthy older adults.
Hearing impairment may be a modifiable risk factor for dementia. However, it is unclear how hearing associates with pathologies relevant to dementia in preclinical populations. ⋯ Pure tone audiometry performance did not predict concurrent β-amyloid deposition, small vessel disease or Alzheimer's disease-pattern neurodegeneration, and had limited impact on cognitive function, in healthy adults aged approximately 70 years.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2020
ReviewPain and the immune system: emerging concepts of IgG-mediated autoimmune pain and immunotherapies.
The immune system has long been recognised important in pain regulation through inflammatory cytokine modulation of peripheral nociceptive fibres. Recently, cytokine interactions in brain and spinal cord glia as well as dorsal root ganglia satellite glia have been identified important- in pain modulation. The result of these interactions is central and peripheral sensitisation of nociceptive processing. ⋯ Other pain disorders, like complex regional pain disorder, have been associated with IgGs against β2-adrenergic receptor, muscarinic-2 receptors, AChR-nicotinic ganglionic α-3 receptors and calcium channels (N and P/Q types), but less consistently with immune treatment response. Here, we outline how the immune system contributes to development and regulation of pain, review specific IgG-mediated pain disorders and summarise recent development in therapy approaches. Biological agents to treat pain (anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide and anti-nerve growth factor) are also discussed.
-
J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatr. · Feb 2020
ReviewMultifocal motor neuropathy: controversies and priorities.
Despite 30 years of research there are still significant unknowns and controversies associated with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) including disease pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria and treatment. Foremost relates to the underlying pathophysiology, specifically whether MMN represents an axonal or demyelinating neuropathy and whether the underlying pathophysiology is focused at the node of Ranvier. In turn, this discussion promotes consideration of therapeutic approaches, an issue that becomes more directed in this evolving era of precision medicine. ⋯ Anti-GM1 IgM antibodies are identified in at least 40% of patients. There have been recent developments in the use of neuromuscular ultrasound and MRI to aid in diagnosing MMN and in further elucidation of its pathophysiological mechanisms. The present Review will critically analyse the knowledge accumulated about MMN over the past 30 years, culminating in a state-of-the-art approach to therapy.