Journal of neurology
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Journal of neurology · Aug 2004
Comparative StudyCognitive changes in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and asymptomatic carriers of the HD mutation--a longitudinal follow-up study.
Objective information about the onset and progression of cognitive impairment in Huntington's disease (HD) is very important in the light of appropriate outcome measures when conducting clinical trials. Therefore, we evaluated the progression of cognitive functions in HD patients and asymptomatic carriers of the HD mutation (AC) over a 2.5-year period. We also sought to detect the earliest markers of cognitive impairment in AC. ⋯ Tasks measuring mainly attention, object and space perception and executive functions adequately assess the progression of HD disease. Other cognitive functions do not significantly deteriorate. Furthermore, problems in attention, working memory, verbal learning, verbal long-term memory and learning of random associations are the earliest cognitive manifestations in AC.
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Journal of neurology · Aug 2004
Comparative StudyIdiopathic restless legs syndrome: abnormalities in central somatosensory processing.
Neurophysiological studies have shown an impairment of temperature perception in secondary and idiopathic restless legs syndrome (RLS). It is unclear whether these deficits are caused by peripheral nerve fibre damage or by central impairment of somatosensory processing. The aim of the present study was (1) to determine the frequency of thermal hypaesthesia in a large population of secondary and idiopathic RLS patients; (2) to differentiate between a peripheral and central disturbance of somatosensory processing and (3) to correlate these findings with the clinical manifestation of the disease. ⋯ Impairment of temperature perception is present in a high percentage of RLS patients. In secondary RLS the sensory deficits are at least in part caused by small fibre neuropathy. In idiopathic RLS a functional impairment of central somatosensory processing is present.