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Farzaneh Farhadi,1 Kia Vosoughi,1 Gholam Ali Shahidi,2 Ahmad Delbari,3,4 Johan Lökk,3,5 Seyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad3,6,7 1Medical Student Research Committee, 2Movement Disorders Clinic, Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 4Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran; 5Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; 6Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; 7Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Introduction: Sex-related differences in clinical manifestations and consequences of Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been poorly explored. Better understanding of sexual dimorphism in neurologic diseases such as PD has been announced as a research priority. The aim of our study was to determine independent sex differences in clinical manifestations and subtypes, psychosocial functioning, quality of life (QoL) and its domains between male and female individuals with PD.Patients and methods: A comprehensive list of demographics, motor symptoms and subtypes, nonmotor features, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), psychosocial functioning and general aspects of daily life was assessed in 157 individuals (108 males and 49 females) with idiopathic PD. In order to control for potential confounding variables, we applied Orthogonal Partial Least Squares – Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) to explore the strength of each feature to discriminate male and female patients with PD.Results: While no sex difference was found in the total Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score and cumulative daily dose of levodopa, females had significantly more severe anxiety (mean difference =2.2 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.5–4.0], P=0.011), worse nutritional status (23.8 [standard deviation, SD =4.2] vs 25.8 [SD =2.6], P=0.003) and poorer QoL (28.3 [SD =15.7] vs 17.9 [SD =14.2], P

Seyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad,1,2 Mahdiyeh Shafieesabet,3 Arash Rahmani,4 Ahmad Delbari,1,5 Johan Lökk1,6 1Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Firoozgar Clinical Research Development Center (FCRDC), Firoozgar Hospital, 3Medical Student Research Committee (MSRC), Faculty of Medicine, 4Mental Health Research Center, Tehran Institute of Psychiatry, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 5Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran; 6Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden Introduction: Parkinsonism occurs in all ethnic groups worldwide; however, there are wide variations in the prevalence rates reported from different countries, even for neighboring regions. The huge socioeconomic burden of parkinsonism necessitates the need for prevalence studies in each country. So far, there is neither data registry nor prevalence information on parkinsonism in the Iranian population. The aim of our study was to estimate the prevalence rate of probable parkinsonism in a huge urban area in Iran, Tehran using a community-based door-to-door survey.Materials and methods: We used a random multistage sampling of the households within the network of health centers consisting of 374 subunits in all 22 districts throughout the entire urban area of Tehran. Overall, 20,621 individuals answered the baseline checklist and screening questionnaire and data from 19,500 persons aged ≥30 years were entered in the final analysis. Health care professionals used a new six-item screening questionnaire for parkinsonism, which has been previously shown to have a high validity and diagnostic value in the same population.Results: A total of 157 cases were screened for parkinsonism using the validated six-item questionnaire. After age and sex adjustment based on the Tehran population, the prevalence of parkinsonism was calculated as 222.9 per 100,000. Using the World Health Organization’s World Standard Population, the standardized prevalence rate of parkinsonism was 285 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval 240–329). The male:female ratio of probable parkinsonism was calculated as 1.62, and there was a significant increase in the screening rate by advancing age.Conclusion: The calculated rates for the prevalence of parkinsonism in our study are closer to reports from some European and Middle Eastern countries, higher than reports from Eastern Asian and African populations, and lower than Australia. The prevalence rate of >200 in 100,000 for parkinsonism in Tehran, Iran could be considered a medium-to-high rate. Keywords: parkinsonism, Parkinson’s disease, prevalence, door-to-door survey, population-based

Johan Lökk,1,2 Sara Olofsson,3 Ulf Persson3 1Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Geriatric Department, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; 3The Swedish Institute for Health Economics, Institute for Health Economics (IHE), Lund, Sweden Objective: The Swedish reimbursement system operates a system where prices are set based on the expected value to the consumer. This value can be measured using willingness to pay (WTP). Aim: To assess Parkinson's disease (PD) patients' WTP for newly developed microtablets of levodopa in combination with a drug-delivering electronic device (M/E) compared to standard treatment with levodopa in combination with the COMT (catechol-O-methyl transferase)-inhibitor entacapone (L/e). Method: A total of 2,000 randomly included PD patients had a postal questionnaire covering demographics, disease-specific issues, views on medication and WTP in different hypothetical scenarios. The first scenario was M/E with no change in effects or side effects; the second scenario was M/E with same effect and less side effects; and the third scenario was M/E with improved effect and less side effects. These scenarios were coupled to different costs to choose from. Results: A total of 999 patients (50%) responded, mean age of 71 years and a mean PD duration of 9 years. Of all respondents, 50% preferred M/E before L/e in scenario one with increasing preference to scenario three. The average monthly WTP among all respondents in scenario one was SEK 230 and SEK 226 in L/e, both with an almost longitudinal doubling up to scenario three. Duration of PD-related symptoms, high education, and high medication intake implied a higher WTP in all scenarios in contrast to age, sex, and extra doses of levodopa. Conclusion: WTP for M/E increased gradually with high medication intake and education as well as with expected increased reduction of PD symptoms. Keywords: Parkinson's disease, levodopa, microtablets, WTP

Örjan Skogar,1,2 Mats Nilsson,1 Carl-Johan Törnhage,3 Johan Lökk2 1Futurum Health Care Academy, Jönköping, 2Institution of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, 3Department of Pediatrics, Skaraborg Hospital, Skövde, Sweden Background: The purpose of this study was to draw conclusions from patient-reported experiences in two national surveys from Scandinavia with the intention of comparing treatment strategies and increasing our knowledge of factors that affect the experiences of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: A total of 2000 individuals in Sweden and 1300 in Norway were invited to complete postal surveys covering PD-related issues. Patient experiences of diagnostic procedures, symptom control, and follow-up in PD and the effects on symptom-related quality of life were collected. Pharmaceutical prescription data on anti-PD drugs and administrative data were collected from national registries. Results: The surveys were completed by 1553 (78%) of the Swedish cohort and 1244 (96%) of the Norwegian cohort. Only small differences were seen in disease duration and age distribution. Statistically as well as clinically significant differences in symptom control, diagnostic, and follow-up procedures, as well as in pharmacological treatment and impact on quality of life, were found between the national cohorts independent of disease duration. Conclusion: Information from separate national surveys has the potential to increase our knowledge of patient experiences in PD and can be used to compare, evaluate, educate, and guide health care staff and administrators in optimizing health care for patients with the disease. Keywords: parkinson's disease, diagnosis, follow-up, pharmaceutical prescription, quality of life, survey

Seyed-Mohammad Fereshtehnejad,1 Dorota Religa,2,3 Eric Westman,1 Dag Aarsland,2,4 Johan Lökk,1,3 Maria Eriksdotter1,3 1Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 3Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; 4Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway Introduction: Whether dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD) should be considered as one entity or two distinct conditions is a matter of controversy. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of DLB and PDD patients using data from the Swedish Dementia Quality Registry (SveDem). Methods: SveDem is a national Web-based quality registry initiated to improve the quality of diagnostic workup, treatment, and care of patients with dementia across Sweden. Patients with newly diagnosed dementia of various types were registered in SveDem during the years 2007–2011. The current cross-sectional report is based on DLB (n = 487) and PDD (n = 297) patients. Demographic characteristics, diagnostic workup, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, and medications were compared between DLB and PDD groups. Results: No gender differences were observed between the two study groups (P = 0.706). PDD patients were significantly younger than DLB patients at the time of diagnosis (74.8 versus 76.8 years, respectively; P < 0.001). A significantly higher prevalence of patients with MMSE score #24 were found in the PDD group (75.2% versus 67.6%; P = 0.030). The mean number of performed diagnostic modalities was significantly higher in the DLB group (4.9 ± 1.7) than in the PDD group (4.1 ± 1.6; P< 0.001). DLB patients were more likely than PDD patients to be treated with cholinesterase inhibitors (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.8–3.5), whereas the use of memantine, antidepressants, and antipsychotics did not differ between the groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates several differences in the dementia work-up between DLB and PDD. The onset of dementia was significantly earlier in PDD, while treatment with cholinesterase inhibitors was more common in DLB patients. Severe cognitive impairment (MMSE score ≤24) was more frequent in the PDD group, whereas more diagnostic tests were used to confirm a DLB diagnosis. Some similarities also were found, such as gender distribution and use of memantine, antidepressants, and antipsychotics drugs. Further follow-up cost-effectiveness studies are needed to provide more evidence for workup and treatment guidelines of DLB and PDD. Keywords: dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease with dementia, age, diagnostic approach, medication, Mini-Mental State Examination

Örjan Skogar,1,5 Per-Arne Fall,2 Gunnar Hallgren,3 Birgitta Bringer,2 Miriam Carlsson,1 Ulla Lennartsson,3 Håkan Sandbjörk,3 Carl-Johan Törnhage,4 Johan Lökk51Department of Geriatrics, Ryhov Hospital, Jonkoping, Sweden; 2Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital, Linkoping, Sweden; 3Department of Neurology, 4Department of Pediatrics, Skaraborg Hospital, Skövde, Sweden; 5Institution of Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenObjective: Nonmotor symptoms are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is negatively affected by different factors, of which pain and sleep disturbances are important contributors. This study was performed to evaluate and describe subjective experiences of pain, sleeping patterns, and HRQoL in a cohort of PD patients with chronic pain.Methods: A total of 45 participants with established PD for more than 2 years, and PD-related pain for the preceding three months, were recruited from three sites in Sweden. Data regarding time point for onset, duration and degree of pain parameters, body localization of pain, external influences, and treatments were obtained. HRQoL was evaluated with the Short Form-36® Health Survey, and sleeping patterns were registered with the Parkinson’s disease Sleep Scale, both completed along with a questionnaire.Results: In one-third of participants, pain preceded the PD diagnosis. Median pain score measured with a visual analog scale was 6.6 and 5.9 (for females and males, respectively) the week before the study. In almost half of the participants, pain was present during all their waking hours. Significantly more females described their pain as troublesome, while more males described their pain as irritating. Feelings of numbness and creeping sensations at night were strongly associated with the maximal visual analog scale scores. Polypharmacy was common; 89% used medication for anxiety/insomnia, and 18% used antidepressants. Only one-third of patients who reported pain relief with analgesics had these prescribed on their drug lists. Sleep was characterized by frequent awakenings. Urinary urgency and restless legs were frequently reported as troublesome. Patients rated HRQoL as significantly worse in all items compared with a healthy reference population matched for age and sex.Conclusions: Experiences of chronic PD-related pain are complex; there is substantial sleep fragmentation and negative impact on HRQoL.Keywords: data reporting, pain, Parkinson disease, sleep fragmentation

J Lökk1,21Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society, The Karolinska Institute, 2Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, SwedenBackground: Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients’ own knowledge and experience and access to information, in relation to advanced treatment methods, are very limited. The aim of this study was to map out PD patients’ perception about various advanced treatment methods, their availability and regional differences in medical care, and to investigate patients’ experience of their medication and quality of life.Methods: A survey was sent to 4886 PD patients of the Swedish Parkinson's Disease Association covering demography, the patient's illness, current treatment, received information about advanced treatment alternatives, and health status. Advanced PD was considered as patients diagnosed >5 years ago, using PD medication >5 times/day, and experiencing motor complications >2 hours/day.Results: In total, 3327/4886 persons (68%) responded (57% men) of which 1300 (39%) were classified as having advanced PD. Mean age was 71 years with a median disease duration of 8 years. The treating physician was a neurologist (86%) but varied between counties (96% to 52%) and was most frequent in urban areas. Doctor appointments were 1.7 times/year with regional variation (2.1 to 1.1). Three out of four patients had heard of advanced treatment options and were interested, but were denied treatment. Only a small proportion of patients were informed of these by their physician. Nine percent were satisfied with their medication (including 4% of advanced patients). One third of patients experienced their general health as poor or very poor.Conclusion: The majority of Swedish PD patients are treated by neurologists. Annual numbers of doctors’ appointments were low in an international context and can partly be explained by the shortage of neurologists and other trained specialists. Doctors only provided a small proportion of patients with advanced therapy information, despite patients’ interest. Hence, improvement is warranted regarding doctor appointments, information about various advanced treatment options, and their availability.Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, information, advanced disease, treatment options

Ö Skogar1,4, P-A Fall2, G Hallgren3, J Lökk4, B Bringer2, M Carlsson1, U Lennartsson3, H Sandbjork3, C-J Törnhage51Department of Geriatrics, Ryhov Hospital, Jonkoping, 2Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital, Linkoping, 3Department of Neurology, Skaraborg Hospital, Skovde, 4Institute of Neurobiology, Care Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, 5Department of Pediatrics, Skaraborg Hospital, Skövde, SwedenBackground: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder. There is limited knowledge about the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in PD. The primary aim of this prospective study was to analyze diurnal salivary cortisol concentrations in patients with PD and correlate these with age, gender, body mass index (BMI), duration of PD, and pain. The secondary aim was to compare the results with a healthy reference group.Methods: Fifty-nine PD patients, 35 women and 24 men, aged 50–79 years, were recruited. The reference group comprised healthy individuals matched for age, gender, BMI, and time point for sampling. Salivary cortisol was collected at 8 am, 1 pm, and 8 pm, and 8 am the next day using cotton-based Salivette® tubes and analyzed using Spectria® Cortisol I125. A visual analog scale was used for estimation of pain.Results: The median cortisol concentration was 16.0 (5.8–30.2) nmol/L at 8 am, 5.8 (3.0–16.4) at 1 pm, 2.8 (1.6–8.0) at 8 pm, and 14.0 (7.5–28.7) at 8 am the next day. Total secretion and rate of cortisol secretion during the day (8 am–8 pm) and the concentration of cortisol on the next morning were lower (12.5 nmol/L) in the reference group. No significant correlations with age, gender, BMI, duration of PD, Hoehn and Yahr score, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III score, gait, pain, or cortisol concentrations were found.Conclusion: The neurodegenerative changes in PD does not seem to interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Salivary cortisol concentrations in PD patients were increased in the morning compared with the reference group, and were not influenced by motor dysfunction, duration of disease, or coexistence of chronic or acute pain.Keywords: cortisol, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, Parkinson's disease

Johan LökkDepartment of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences, and Society, Karolinska Institutet; Geriatric Department, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, SwedenBackground: Parkinson’s disease (PD) eventually leads to severe functional decline and dependence. Specialized care units for PD patients in need of permanent care are lacking.Methods: Patients with severe PD are referred to the PD permanent care unit harboring 30 patients with specialized medical and health care provided by trained staff. Patients need to have intensive medical and care needs, and be no longer able to stay at home or at an ordinary institution. A written and continuously reviewed care plan is made for each patient at admission, with the overriding aim to preserve quality of life and optimize functionality.Results: After five years, the PD permanent care unit has cared for 70 patients (36 men and 34 women) with a mean age of 76.6 years and a mean duration of Parkinsonism of 11.8 years. Hoehn and Yahr severity of disease was 3.7, cognition was 25.3 (Mini-Mental State Examination), and the mean daily levodopa dose was 739 mg. The yearly fatality rate was seven, and the mean duration of stay was 26.9 months. Only five patients moved out from the unit.Conclusion: A specially designed and staffed care unit for Parkinsonism patients seems to fill a need for patients and caregivers, as well as for social and health care authorities. This model is sensitive to the changing needs and capacities of patients, ensuring that appropriate services are available in a timely manner. There was a rather short duration of patient stay and remaining life span after admission to the unit. Despite the chronic/palliative state of patients at the PD permanent care unit, there are many therapeutic options, with the overriding objective being to allow the patients to end their days in a professional and comfortable environment.Keywords: Parkinsonism, palliative care, end-stage disease, permanent care

Objectives The 15-item mutuality scale ( MS) has been used in several neurological conditions assessing the quality of relationship associations with negative effects of the caregiving situation. The aim of this study was to translate the original MS into Swedish and assess its psychometric properties in Parkinson's disease ( PD). Materials and methods Following the forward-backward translation method, the scale was evaluated regarding linguistic correctness at a conceptual level and user-friendliness. The scale was filled out by a sample of 50 care dyads where one was having PD. Scale assumptions and scale structure were evaluated using floor/ceiling effect and principal component analyses ( PCA) with promax rotation. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and mean inter-item correlation coefficients. Results The Swedish MS was evaluated as user-friendly and relevant by the participants. The scale demonstrated no floor/ceiling effect and showed high internal consistency (α≥0.93) with a mean inter-item correlation coefficient of ≥0.5. Through the PCA, a two factor solution emerged, which accounted for 67% and 64% of the variance of the MS score by PD-partners and PD-patients, respectively. However, some variables were complex and discarded in the final solution. Conclusion Our findings provide initial support of the Swedish MS as a user-friendly and useful instrument with acceptable psychometric properties even though more research is needed to evaluate the existence of subscales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reza Salman Roghani,1,2 Seyed Ebrahim Hashemi,2 Mohammad Taghi Holisaz,2 Faeze Gohari,3 Ahmad Delbari,4 Johan Lokk1 1Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Iranian Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran Background: Accurate diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), the most common entrapment neuropathy, and its differentiation from other diseases are essential, especially in older individuals with advanced symptoms and modified electrophysiological abnormalities. The current study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography (US), regarding sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of CTS in elderly patients. Methods: Individuals with upper limb complaints and reference subjects were recruited from the Rofaydeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from June 2013 to October 2014 – (15 months). We evaluate case and control subjects for health status, demographics, clinical characteristics of CTS, median nerve physiology by electrodiagnostic tests, and anatomy by US. Median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) at precanal, tunnel inlet, midcanal, tunnel outlet, and antecubital levels was measured applying US examination. Results: Of the 723 complaining patients, we assessed 380 patients with CTS symptoms. Electrodiagnostic studies (EDX) confirmed the CTS diagnosis in 203 of these clinically diseased patients. A total of 103 patients (of the 113 reference subjects) had normal EDX in the reference group. Comparisons of wrists between the afflicted and reference subjects demonstrated the CSA at precanal, tunnel inlet, midcanal, and tunnel outlet levels being significantly more abundant in the diseased hands than in the nondiseased hands. CSA at the tunnel inlet and the inlet-to-antecubital CSA ratio with a threshold of 8.5 mm2 and 0.65 gave the best diagnostic accuracy with a sensitivity and specificity of 96.9 and 93.6% for the inlet CSA and 99 and 28% for the CSA ratio, respectively. Conclusion: The US as a noninvasive diagnostic method may serve for the investigation of CTS in elderly patients with excellent sensitivity and specificity. Keywords: carpal tunnel syndrome, ultrasonography, electrophysiology, sensitivity, specificity

Reza Salman Roghani,1,2 Mohammad Taghi Holisaz,2 Ali Asghar Sahami Norouzi,2 Ahmad Delbari,3 Faeze Gohari,4 Johan Lokk,1 Andrea J Boon5,6 1Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran; 4Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 5Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; 6Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA Background: Suspecting carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in patients with hand pain is usual. Considering the variable rate of false-negative results in nerve conduction study (NCS), as a frequent reference confirmatory standard test, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of neuromuscular ultrasound in patients with clinical evidence of CTS and normal NCS. Methods: It was a diagnostic accuracy study conducted in the outpatient clinic of Rofaydeh Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between July 2012 and December 2016; it recruited clinically diagnosed CTS patients and a control group. All participants underwent comprehensive clinical examination, NCS, and high-resolution ultrasonography of the median nerve. Results: Two hundred and fifty patients with clinical evidence of CTS met the inclusion criteria, of whom 103 (27.1%) had normal NCS and underwent an ultrasound examination. A cutoff point of 9.4 mm2 (mean + 2 standard deviation) for median nerve cross-sectional area at the carpal tunnel inlet from the control group was set to detect 73% abnormality in the case group. Conclusion: Ultrasonography had a sensitivity rate of 73% in patients with clinical CTS and negative NCS, increasing the overall diagnostic sensitivity for clinically suspected CTS in the electrodiagnostic lab setting to 92%. The study highlights the complementary role of ultrasonography in diagnosing CTS in conjunction with NCS. Keywords: hand pain, sensitivity, carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve conduction, ultrasonography, false-negative reaction, diagnosis, complementary

Reza Salman Roghani,1,2 Mohammad Taghi Holisaz,3 Masoud Tarkashvand,3 Ahmad Delbari,4 Faeze Gohari,2 Andrea J Boon,5,6 Johan Lokk1 1Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; 2Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, 3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, 4Research Center on Aging, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Tehran, Iran; 5Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 6Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is commonly seen in elderly populations, in part due to increased presence of predisposing comorbidities as well as physiological changes. We aimed at comparing the effectiveness of different doses of steroid using the ultrasound-guided hydrodissection method in elderly patients with CTS.Methods: We conducted a prospective, triple-blind, randomized, controlled trial in elderly patients with CTS. Patients were allocated to one of three groups by simplified randomization. Groups I–III received 80 mg triamcinolone (2 mL) and 1 mL of 2% lidocaine; 40 mg triamcinolone (1 mL), 1 mL of 2% lidocaine, and 1 mL normal saline; and 1 mL of 2% lidocaine and 2 mL normal saline, respectively to make up to 3 mL volume. A wrist splint was then applied for support. Outcome measures included the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, and median motor and sensory nerve conduction and its sonographic inlet cross-sectional area were used as objective measures. All data were recorded at baseline and 2, 12, and 24 weeks after injection. The investigators, patients, and statistician were blinded to the treatment assignment.Results: In total, 161 patients were recruited without statistically significant demographic differences between the three groups. There were no statistically significant differences between groups in any outcome, with the exception of the median distal motor latency, which was greater in Group II at all three follow-up visits, and significant baseline VAS difference between Groups I and III.Conclusion: Hydrodissection with lidocaine and normal saline is as effective as hydrodissection with low- and high-dose steroid medication in elderly patients with CTS in this study, but further studies with matched baseline measures and also a sham group are suggested for definitive recommendation. Keywords: elderly, carpal tunnel syndrome, steroid injection, ultrasonography, hydrodissection, hand pain, paresthesia

BACKGROUND/AIM: The combination of elevated total homocysteine (tHcy) levels and low levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) are linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) in some studies, although the evidence is mixed. Our objective was to prospectively investigate the association between tHcy and TSH and the subsequent development of AD. METHODS: A subsample of 200 nondemented subjects was taken from the Kungsholmen Project, a population-based study among people > or =75 years. Information about tHcy and TSH levels were taken from the baseline investigation of the Kungsholmen Project study. RESULTS: Increased tHcy levels were related to an elevated risk of AD (n = 61) after a mean follow-up time of 6.7 years. People with high tHcy (the 3rd tertile) had more than twice as high a risk of developing AD than those with low tHcy, even after adjusting for age, sex, education, ApoE status, MMSE score and laboratory parameters. tHcy was negatively correlated with TSH (p = 0.02). There was neither an influence of TSH nor an interaction between tHcy and TSH in the development of AD. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that homocysteine, but not TSH, is involved in the development of AD. The connection between elevated tHcy and low TSH levels needs to be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives – Major therapeutic advances in the rehabilitation of subacute stroke are lacking. A promising approach is treatment with facilitating drugs like amphetamine or levodopa in combination with physiotherapy. Methods – In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trail, the effect of 10 sessions with either 20 mg ofd-amphetamine, 100 mg ofl-dopa or 10 mg ofd-amphetamine + 50 mg ofl-dopa combined with physiotherapy during a 2-week period was investigated in 25 patients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit. Motor function (Fugl–Meyer score) and activities of daily living (Barthel's index) were assessed. Results – All patients improved significantly over the intervention period. Drug-treated patients did not show any additional increase in motor function or ADL. Conclusion – It is feasible and safe to perform larger clinical trials with this type of four-arm design. However, the lack of significant effects could be because of type, dosage, and time of drugs as well as the physical intervention strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a transition between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of vitamin B12/folate, homocysteine, standard laboratory parameters, and concomitant diseases for development of AD in persons with an MCI diagnosis. Development of dementia was followed for 6 years in 93 consecutively recruited MCI persons. Information concerning the above factors was obtained from medical journals. Thirty-four percent of participants converted to AD within 6 years. A forward stepwise logistic regression was performed. The odds ratio (OR) for the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was 0.777; for age, 1.084; and for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), 0.287. The OR for homocysteine was 1.287 at 60 years of age and 1.087 at 65 years of age. Lower TSH levels together with the more established factors lower MMSE, higher homocysteine levels, and age were found to be predictive factors of AD. This may have clinical implications with regard to monitoring TSH levels and thyroxin substitution in MCI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate over a 3-year period the connection between homocysteine (Hcy) levels and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Hcy was analyzed in 68 men, mean age 65 years, and 68 women, mean age 64 years. Age, sex, cobalamin, folate, creatinine, and thyroid profiles as well as results of Mini-Mental State Examination at the first visit to the memory investigation unit of a geriatric department were recorded from patient journals collected between 1992 and 1999. The total numbers of persons who converted to AD within a period of 3 years from initial investigation with baseline Hcy sampling was 12 of 46 (26%) males, and 18 of 50 women (36%). The total percentage of men and women converting to AD was 31%. Thirty-three percent of men with Hcy levels >20 micromol/l converted to AD. The corresponding figure for men with Hcy levels 20-17 micromol/l was 50%, whereas none of the 18 men with Hcy levels <17 micromol/l converted to AD. These differences were statistically significant. There was also a statistically significant difference between the percentage of women with Hcy levels >16 micromol/l who converted to AD (45%) as compared to those with Hcy levels <16 micromol/l who converted (21%). These findings are inconsistent with the results of other studies showing a positive correlation with hyperhomocysteinemia and occurrence of AD. However, our findings tentatively suggest a possible protective effect of low/normal Hcy levels on dementia conversion in MCI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normal and subnormal serum levels of vitamin B12 and/or folate do not exclude functional deficiency, and elderly people are specifically exposed to deficiency owing to impaired nutrition, malabsorption, accompanying diseases and current medication. Several studies report that low levels of vitamin B12 are more common in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) than in non-demented people. Low levels of folate are also correlated with other types of dementia. Current studies suggest that low levels of vitamin B12 as well as folate may be part of the aetiology in AD. A functional deficiency of vitamin B12/folate may be present despite serum levels within reference limits. The amino acid homocysteine (Hcy) is a sensitive but non-specific marker of deficiency of vitamin B12 and folate and appears to have the strongest association with cognitive function. The association between Hcy levels and cognitive function is also stronger than that of the levels of vitamin B12/folate. The clinical manifestations of vitamin B12/folate deficiency are non-specific, but when they are connected with laboratory findings adequate investigation should be performed. A generous attitude to treatment with vitamin B12/folate is advocated, combined with a compulsory evaluation of treatment effect. Clinical regress of neuropsychiatric symptoms by cobalamin and folate therapy is dependent on the duration and severity of symptoms, but on a group level, not necessarily in individual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elderly persons are especially exposed to folate deficiency, where normal/subnormal folate levels do not exclude tissue deficiency. Accompanying diseases, medication, and lifestyle factors may contribute to/cause deficiency. Symptoms of deficiency can be hematological, neurological, or neuropsychiatric, but it is likely that there are also cardiovascular manifestations as well as associations with malignancies. The physician should make an individualized investigation to establish the probable cause. Among the available determinants of the folate/cobalamin state, plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is a swift and sensitive marker and has the strongest connection to cognitive function. The association is generally stronger between Hcy levels and symptoms than between vitamin-related levels and symptoms. The duration as well as the severity of symptoms are of importance in terms of the improvement of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms when substitution is performed. The issue of general folate fortification of flour is complex, and there are as many pros and cons as there are countries in which it is considered to be launched. It is important to bear in mind that in our modern society, deficiency of folate/cobalamin--overt or latent--mainly is a problem of the elderly and a challenge to the doctor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the effect of a change of work site and organization on work environment and psychosocial parameters; the change involved health care personnel at a geriatric hospital. Another aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a structured psychoeducational intervention program. The study found few changes in the indices of interest on the experimental and control wards. There were, however, significant improvements in social climate, goal quality, and independence of work on the control ward. The investigators postulated that too much external support hampers a group's ability to actively cope with change and might actually lower a group's ability and self-esteem. In order to achieve successful organizational change, psychosocial intervention programs for personnel must be performed by a well-informed, well-chosen, and experienced counsellor who is well tailored to the local organization. Copyright © 2002 by Aspen Publishers, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of the study was to test attitudes, knowledge and competence of Swedish general practitioners and geriatricians concerning B12-associated problems in 1998.Methods: Postal questionnaires were sent to a random sample of 485 GPs and a total sample of 613 geriatricians. The response rates were 70% in the GP group and 69% in the geriatrician group. The questionnaire contained 24 statements to be evaluated by a visuo-analogue scale.Results: There were small numerical differences between the two physician groups. The geriatricians were more aware of risk groups for B12 deficiency. GPs were less categorical concerning low hit rate in the laboratory testing of clinical conclusions. There were statistical differences in both directions for statements on pitfalls in laboratory diagnostics. GPs were somewhat less prone to give risk groups prophylactic B12 therapy.Conclusions: GPs and geriatricians appeared to be familiar with the current debate on B12-associated problems, suggesting that health care quality will be unaffected by patient transfer from hospital care to primary health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS: The diagnosis and management of vitamin B12 deficiency varies between countries and within countries. The aim of the study was to map current attitudes and values behind clinical decision-making in Swedish primary health care, which has a unique B12 tradition: two patients out of three are treated with oral high-dose cyanocobalamin. Most patients with B12-associated problems are managed in primary health care by general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: The study was designed to elucidate possible opinion shifts among GPs during the period 1996-1998. GPs (n=499), stratified and randomized, received a questionnaire with 24 statements on B12-associated clinical and laboratory problems, to be evaluated by a visuo-analogue scale. RESULTS: The majority of GPs in primary health care in Sweden accepted homocysteine and methylmalonic acid (MMA) as markers for functional deficiency of vitamin B12. The evaluation of classical markers of B12 deficiency was wary and balanced. There was a consensus of the need for B12 therapy to risk groups such as patients with atrophic gastritis or previous gastric surgery. The answers also appeared to reflect an improvement of professional knowledge and competence concerning B12-associated problems among Swedish GPs between 1996 and 1998. CONCLUSIONS: The overriding conclusion was that B12-associated opinions of Swedish GPs were stable within the period studied, with marginal improvements of knowledge and competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orjan Skogar,1,2 Johan Lokk2 1Academy for Health and Care (FUTURUM), Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, 2Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden Abstract: This review focuses on the diagnosis and management of Parkinson-related pain which is one of the more frequently reported nonmotor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. Pain is ranked high by patients as a troublesome symptom in all stages of the disease. In early-stage PD, pain is rated as the most bothersome symptom. Knowledge of the correct diagnosis of pain origin and possible methods of treatments for pain relief in PD is of great importance. The symptoms have a great negative impact on health-related quality of life. Separating PD-related pain from pain of other origins is an important challenge and can be characterized as “many syndromes under the same umbrella”. Among the different forms of PD-related pain, musculoskeletal pain is the most common form, accounting for 40%–90% of reported pain in PD patients. Augmentation by pathophysiological pathways other than those secondary to rigidity, tremor, or any of the other motor manifestations of the disease seems most probable. In PD, the basal ganglia process somatosensory information differently, and increased subjective pain sensitivity with lower electrical and heat-pain thresholds has been reported in PD patients. The mechanism is assumed to be diminished activity of the descending inhibitory control system of the basal ganglia. PD pain, like many of the nonmotor symptoms, remains underdiagnosed and, thus, poorly managed. A systematic collection of patient descriptions of type, quality, and duration of pain is, therefore, of utmost importance. Recent studies have validated new and more specific and dedicated pain scales for PD-related symptoms. Symptomatic treatments based on clinical pain classification include not only pharmacological but also nonpharmacological methods and, to some degree, invasive approaches. In the clinic, pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions can be effective to varying degrees – as single therapies or in combination – and should be employed, because no therapeutic strategies have been validated to date for managing PD pain. Multimodal approaches should always be considered, dopamine replacement therapies should be adjusted, and analgesics and/or antidepressants should be considered, including the use of different forms of complementary therapies. Keywords: basal ganglia, complementary therapies, nonmotor symptoms, pain, Parkinson’s disease, quality of life

Abstract Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders of the elderly population. Few therapeutic options are available for patients with PD requiring palliative care. Treatment of the early stages of PD is entirely different from later stages. During the later stages, the palliative care model is introduced to provide the patient with comfort and support. Early palliative care in PD requires minimization of dyskinesias and decreasing occurrence of motor and non-motor off times in an effort to maximize independent motor function. In the later stages, the focus of treatment shifts to treating the predominant non-motor symptoms and having a more supportive and palliative nature. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the palliative care management issues and palliative care management options of end-stage PD patients.

Background: Knowledge of health care utilization at the end of life in Parkinson's disease (PD) is sparse. This study aims to investigate end of life health care utilization, characterized by emergency room (ER) visits, receipt of specialized palliative care (SPC), and acute hospital deaths in a Swedish population-based PD cohort., Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on deceased patients (≥ 18 years) with a PD diagnosis during their last year of life (n = 922), based on health care-provider data from Region Stockholm´s data warehouse, for the study period 2015-2021. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses tested associations and adjusted Odds ratios (aORs) were calculated., Results: During the last month of life, approx. half of the cohort had emergency room (ER) visits and risk of frailty (measured by Hospital Frailty Risk Score) significantly predicted these visits (aOR, 3.90 (2.75-5.55)). In total, 120 people (13%) received SPC during their last three months of life, which positively associated with risk for frailty, (aOR, 2.65 (1.43-4.94, p = 0.002). In total, 284 people (31%) died in acute hospital settings. Among community-dwellers, male gender and frailty were strongly associated with acute hospital deaths (aOR, 1.90 (1.15-3.13, p = 0.01) and 3.70 (1.96-6.98, p < 0.0001))., Conclusions: Rates of ER visits at end of life and hospital deaths were relatively high in this population-based cohort. Considering a high disease burden, referral to SPC at end of life was relatively low. Sex-specific disparities in health care utilization are apparent. Identifying people with high risk for frailty could assist the planning of optimal end-of-life care for people with PD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Teleneurology is a specialist field within the realm of telemedicine, which is dedicated to delivering neurological care and consultations through virtual encounters. Teleneurology has been successfully used in acute care (e.g., stroke) and outpatient evaluation for chronic neurological conditions such as epilepsy and headaches. However, for some neurologic entities like Parkinson's disease, in which an in-depth physical examination by palpating muscles and performing neurologic maneuvers is the mainstay of monitoring the effects of medication, the yield and feasibility of a virtual encounter are low. Therefore, in this prospective review, we discuss two promising teleneurology approaches and propose adjustments to enhance the value of virtual encounters by improving the validity of neurological examination: 'hybrid teleneurology', which involves revising the workflow of virtual encounters; and 'artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted teleneurology', namely the use of biosensors and wearables and data processing using AI.