Journal of the neurological sciences
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Comparative Study
Olfactory identification in amnestic and non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment and its neuropsychological correlates.
Olfactory identification impairment in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients is well documented and considered to be caused by underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, contrasting with less clear evidence in non-amnestic MCI (naMCI). The aim was to (a) compare the degree of olfactory identification dysfunction in aMCI, naMCI, controls and mild AD dementia and (b) assess the relation between olfactory identification and cognitive performance in aMCI compared to naMCI. ⋯ Olfactory identification is similarly impaired in aMCI and naMCI. Olfactory impairment is proportional to cognitive impairment in aMCI but not in naMCI.
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Recent epidemiology studies have indicated that traumatic brain injury (TBI) can increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are pathological indicators of AD. The accumulation of Aβ is considered the first step of AD pathophysiology. ⋯ These findings indicate that amyloid accumulation is an important indicator of cognitive impairment, and amyloid-PET should be a safe and useful tool for diagnosing amyloid-related cognitive impairment. APOE allele might play a role in the occurrence of cognitive impairment after mTBI. The contribution of mTBI to the amyloid accumulation requires further study, and mTBI patients should be recruited for longitudinal research with repeated amyloid-PET studies.
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Comparative Study
Nonmotor symptoms in essential tremor: Comparison with Parkinson's disease and normal control.
Recently, the definition of essential tremor (ET) has evolved to have two different meanings. One refers to classic ET, a benign mono-symptomatic disorder, and the other refers to a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. The aim of this study was to categorize nonmotor symptoms according to ET phenotype, and compare them, along with autonomic function, in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and normal controls. ⋯ Patients with ET have several nonmotor symptoms similar to those of patients with PD, which have a similar impact on their quality of life. Therefore, nonmotor symptoms should be considered in the clinical evaluation and management of ET.
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Observational Study
Bochum ultrasound score allows distinction of chronic inflammatory from multifocal acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies.
The aim of this observational study was to evaluate the applicability of a recently introduced ultrasound score (Bochum ultrasound score; BUS) in distinguishing the chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) from the multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) or the multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor neuropathy (MADSAM). ⋯ The BUS seems to allow a reliable distinction of CIDP from multifocal acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies causing predominantly motor nerve dysfunction, such as MMN or MADSAM. Our ultrasound findings indicate a stronger relationship of MADSAM to MMN, than to CIDP.
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Comparative Study
Role of diffusion tensor imaging or magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the diagnosis and disability assessment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
To compare the results of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. ⋯ NAA/Cr and FA can help diagnose ALS. Regional brain NAA/Cr and FA values could not assess the ALSFRS-R or disease progression rate.