Archives of neurology
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Archives of neurology · May 2012
ReviewContributions of the Framingham Heart Study to stroke and dementia epidemiologic research at 60 years.
The Framingham Heart Study, the longest-running prospective epidemiologic study in history, was initiated in 1948 in response to the rising toll of coronary heart disease and hypertension. During the ensuing decades, the study of other diseases, notably stroke and dementia, was added. In 1971, 5124 offspring of the original cohort of 5209 men and women were added, and a third generation of 4095 men and women were added in 2002. ⋯ The tempo of decline has been documented by serial quantitative measures of brain structure on magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive performance by neuropsychological testing. Clinical correlation with systematic neuropathological examinations of more than 150 brains has provided important confirmation of cerebrovascular and brain tissue indices of disease. Identification of persons at heightened risk for stroke, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer disease, and cognitive decline years prior to disease onset may facilitate delay in disease onset and prevention.
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Archives of neurology · May 2012
Autoimmune epilepsy: clinical characteristics and response to immunotherapy.
To describe clinical characteristics and immunotherapy responses in patients with autoimmune epilepsy. ⋯ When clinical and serological clues suggest an autoimmune basis for medically intractable epilepsy, early-initiated immunotherapy may improve seizure outcome.