Predictors of survival in patients with Parkinson disease

Association between the length of stay in rehabilitation and mortality among the adults with Parkinson's disease: 2009-2019 Korean National Health Insurance Service Databases

Background

Rehabilitation is recognized as an effective means of alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) and improving the physical and cognitive functions of patients with PD. However, research often focuses on short-term outcomes such as functioning and quality of life. This study investigated the association between the length of stay in rehabilitation and mortality among patients with PD.

Methods

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, we identified 636 participants diagnosed with PD who received rehabilitation. The main outcome was all-cause mortality. We used a Cox proportional hazards regression model to examine the relationship between length of stay in rehabilitation and mortality among patients with PD.

Results

The final sample comprised 374 females (58.81%) and 262 males (41.19%). A survival analysis revealed a significant association between the length of stay in rehabilitation and mortality, with a decrease in mortality of 16.1% in patients with PD who received one year of rehabilitation (hazard ratio = 0.839, 95% confidence interval = 0.788-0.895).

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the potential benefits of timely implementation of rehabilitative interventions in patients with PD and the need for comprehensive and long-term rehabilitation strategies. It also highlights the necessity of such services for patients with PD and the importance of developing patient-centered rehabilitation guidelines.

Artificial intelligence in Parkinson's disease: Early detection and diagnostic advancements

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, globally affecting men and women at an exponentially growing rate, with currently no cure. Disease progression starts when dopaminergic neurons begin to die. In PD, the loss of neurotransmitter, dopamine is responsible for the overall communication of neural cells throughout the body. Clinical symptoms of PD are slowness of movement, involuntary muscular contractions, speech & writing changes, lessened automatic movement, and chronic tremors in the body. PD occurs in both familial and sporadic forms and modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors and socioeconomic conditions cause PD. Early detectable diagnostics and treatments have been developed in the last several decades. However, we still do not have precise early detectable biomarkers and therapeutic agents/drugs that prevent and/or delay the disease process. Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) science and machine learning tools have been promising in identifying early detectable markers with a greater rate of accuracy compared to past forms of treatment and diagnostic processes. Artificial intelligence refers to the intelligence exhibited by machines or software, distinct from the intelligence observed in humans that is based on neural networks in a form and can be used to diagnose the longevity and disease severity of disease. The term Machine Learning or Neural Networks is a blanket term used to identify an emerging technology that is created to work in the way of a "human brain" using many intertwined neurons to achieve the same level of raw intelligence as that of a brain. These processes have been used for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, to assess the severity of the patient's condition. In the current article, we discuss the prevalence and incidence of PD, and currently available diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. We also highlighted currently available artificial intelligence science and machine learning tools and their applications to detect disease and develop therapeutic interventions.

Determining the impact of specialized care on health outcomes and health care utilization in Parkinsonism

BACKGROUND

Although care of Parkinsonism (PKM) is assumed to be optimally provided by movement disorder neurologists within an interdisciplinary clinic model, there is a paucity of published data to support this.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the impact of movement disorder neurologist care of individuals with Parkinsonism (PKM).

METHODS

A retrospective exposure design was adopted using administrative data. Incident PKM individuals were identified in billing claims. A nine-year exposure period to movement disorder neurologist, general neurologist and non-neurologist care was calculated based on the billing codes. Regression models were used to test the association of provider exposure on time to death and long-term care (LTC) admission. Linear models were used to test varying provider exposure and hospital admissions, hospital days and emergency department visits.

RESULTS

1914 incident individuals were identified. There was no difference in PKM mortality, emergency visits, hospital admissions, or hospital days between providers, however exposure to general neurology and non-neurology care was associated with a significantly higher risk of admission to LTC compared to movement disorder neurologist care (HR 1.43; 95% CI 1.09-1.87 for general neurology (p-value = 0.0089); HR 1.61; 95% CI 1.25-2.05 for non-neurology (p-value = 0.0002), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Movement disorder neurologist care is associated with a lower risk of admission to LTC over general neurologist care in individuals with PKM.

Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Association of Clinical and Neurocognitive Factors With Apathy in Patients With Parkinson Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

A robust understanding of the natural history of apathy in Parkinson disease (PD) is foundational for developing effective clinical management tools. However, large longitudinal studies are lacking while the literature is inconsistent about even cross-sectional associations. We aimed to determine the longitudinal predictors of apathy development in a large cohort of people with PD and its cross-sectional associations and trajectories over time, using sophisticated Bayesian modeling techniques.

METHODS

People with PD followed up in the longitudinal New Zealand Parkinson's progression project were included. Apathy was defined using the neuropsychiatric inventory subscale ≥4, and analyses were also repeated using a less stringent cutoff of ≥1. Both MoCA and comprehensive neuropsychological testing were used as appropriate to the model. Depression was assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression scale. Cross-sectional Bayesian regressions were conducted, and a multistate predictive model was used to identify factors that predict the initial onset of apathy in nonapathetic PD, while also accounting for the competing risk of death. The relationship between apathy presence and mortality was also investigated.

RESULTS

Three hundred forty-six people with PD followed up for up to 14 years across a total of 1,392 sessions were included. Apathy occurrence did not vary significantly across the disease course (disease duration odds ratio [OR] = 0.55, [95% CI 0.28-1.12], affecting approximately 11% or 22% of people at any time depending on the NPI cutoff used. Its presence was associated with a significantly higher risk of death after controlling for all other factors (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.92 [1.50-5.66]). Lower cognition, higher depression levels, and greater motor severity predicted apathy development in those without motivational deficits (HR [cognition] = 0.66 [0.48-0.90], HR [depression] = 1.45 [1.04-2.02], HR [motor severity] = 1.37 [1.01-1.86]). Cognition and depression were also associated with apathy cross-sectionally, along with male sex and possibly lower dopaminergic therapy level, but apathy still occurred across the full spectrum of each variable (OR [cognition] = 0.58 [0.44-0.76], OR [depression] = 1.43 [1.04-1.97], OR [female sex] = 0.45 [0.22-0.92], and OR [levodopa equivalent dose] = 0.78 [0.59-1.04].

DISCUSSION

Apathy occurs across the PD time course and is associated with higher mortality. Depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment in particular predict its future development in those with normal motivation.

The basal forebrain cholinergic system as target for cell replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the basal forebrain cholinergic system as a target for the treatment of cognitive impairments in patients with Parkinson's disease, due in part to the need to explore novel approaches to treat the cognitive symptoms of the disease and in part to the development of more refined imaging tools that have made it possible to monitor the progressive changes in the structure and function of the basal forebrain system as they evolve over time. In parallel, emerging technologies allowing the derivation of authentic basal forebrain cholinergic neurons from human pluripotent stem cells are providing new powerful tools for the exploration of cholinergic neuron replacement in animal models of Parkinson's disease-like cognitive decline. In this review, we discuss the rationale for cholinergic cell replacement as a potential therapeutic strategy in Parkinson's disease and how this approach can be explored in rodent models of Parkinson's disease-like cognitive decline, building on insights gained from the extensive animal experimental work that was performed in rodent and primate models in the 1980s and 90s. Although therapies targeting the cholinergic system have so far been focused mainly on patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease with dementia may be a more relevant condition. In Parkinson's disease with dementia, the basal forebrain system undergoes progressive degeneration and the magnitude of cholinergic cell loss has been shown to correlate with the level of cognitive impairment. Thus, cell therapy aimed to replace the lost basal forebrain cholinergic neurons represents an interesting strategy to combat some of the major cognitive impairments in patients with Parkinson's disease dementia.

Third ventricular width by transcranial sonography is associated with cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

One-fourth of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suffer from cognitive impairment. However, few neuroimaging markers have been identified regarding cognitive impairment in PD.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the association between third ventricular width by transcranial sonography (TCS) and cognitive decline in PD.

METHOD

Participants with PD were recruited from one medical center in China. Third ventricular width was assessed by TCS, and cognitive function was analyzed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and Cox model analysis were utilized to determine the diagnostic and predictive accuracy of third ventricular width by TCS for cognitive decline in PD patients.

RESULT

A total of 174 PD patients were recruited. Third ventricular width was negatively correlated with MMSE scores. ROC analysis suggested that the optimal cutoff point for third ventricular width in screening for cognitive impairment in PD was 4.75 mm (sensitivity 62.7%; specificity 75.6%). After 21.5 (18.0, 26.0) months of follow-up in PD patients without cognitive impairment, it was found that those with a third ventricular width greater than 4.75 mm exhibited a 7.975 times higher risk of developing cognitive impairment [hazard ratio = 7.975, 95% CI 1.609, 39.532, p = 0.011] compared with patients with a third ventricular width less than 4.75 mm.

CONCLUSION

Third ventricular width based on TCS emerged as an independent predictor of developing cognitive impairment in PD patients.

Complications and outcomes of hospitalizations for patients with and without Parkinson disease

Objective

To examine complications and outcomes of hospitalizations for common indications for hospitalization among patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods

We identified and selected the ten most common indications for hospitalization among individuals ≥65 years of age using principal diagnoses from the California State Inpatient Database, 2018-2020. Patients with comorbid PD were identified using secondary diagnosis codes and matched one-to-one to patients without PD based on principal diagnosis (exact matching), age, gender, race and ethnicity, and Elixhauser comorbidity index (coarsened exact matching). We identified potentially preventable complications based on the absence of present on admission indicators among secondary diagnoses. In the matched cohort, we compared inpatient complications, early Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) orders (placed within 24 h of admission), use of life-sustaining therapies, new nursing facility requirement on discharge, and death or hospice discharge for patients with and without PD.

Results

We identified 35,457 patients with PD among the ten leading indications for hospitalization in older adults who were matched one-to-one to patients without PD (n = 70,914 in total). Comorbid PD was associated with an increased odds of developing aspiration pneumonia (OR 1.17 95% CI 1.02-1.35) and delirium (OR 1.11 95% CI 1.02-1.22) during admission. Patients with PD had greater odds of early DNR orders [placed within 24 h of admission] (OR 1.34 95% CI 1.29-1.39). While there was no difference in the odds of mechanical ventilation (OR 1.04 95% CI 0.98-1.11), patients with PD demonstrated greater odds of tracheostomy (OR 1.41 95% CI 1.12-1.77) and gastrostomy placement (OR 2.00 95% CI 1.82-2.20). PD was associated with greater odds of new nursing facility requirement upon discharge (OR 1.58 95% CI 1.53-1.64). Patients with PD were more likely to die as a result of their hospitalization (OR 1.11 95% CI 1.06-1.16).

Conclusion

Patients with PD are at greater risk of developing aspiration pneumonia and delirium as a complication of their hospitalization. While patients with PD more often have early DNR orders, they have greater utilization of life-sustaining therapies and experience worse outcomes of their hospitalization including new nursing facility requirement upon discharge and greater mortality.

Weight and survival after deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

Weight loss in Parkinson's disease (PD) is common and associated with increased mortality. The clinical significance of weight changes following deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi) is unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To address (1) whether PD patients exhibit progressive weight loss, (2) whether staged DBS surgery is associated with weight changes, and (3) whether survival after DBS correlates with post-DBS weight.

METHODS

This is a single-center, longitudinal, retrospective cohort study of 1625 PD patients. We examined trends in weight over time and the relationship between weight and years survival after DBS using regression and mixed model analyses.

RESULTS

There was a decline in body weight predating motor symptom onset (n = 756, 0.70 ± 0.03% decrease per year, p < 0.001). Weight decline accelerated in the decade preceding death (n = 456, 2.18 ± 0.31% decrease per year, p < 0.001). DBS patients showed a weight increase of 2.0 ± 0.33% at 1 year following the first DBS lead implant (n = 455) and 2.68 ± 1.1% at 3 years if a contralateral DBS lead was placed (n = 249). The bilateral STN DBS group gained the most weight after surgery during 6 years of follow up (vs bilateral GPi, 3.03 ± 0.45% vs 1.89 ± 0.31%, p < 0.01). An analysis of the DBS cohort with date of death available (n = 72) revealed that post-DBS weight (0-12 months after the first or 0-36 months after the second surgery) was positively associated with survival (R2 = 0.14, p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

Though PD is associated with significant weight loss, DBS patients gained weight following surgery. Higher post-operative weight was associated with increased survival. These results should be replicated in other cohorts.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life for Individuals With Parkinson Disease Across Centers of Excellence

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Racial and ethnic minorities have been underrepresented in Parkinson disease (PD) research, limiting our understanding of treatments and outcomes across all non-White groups. The goal of this research is to investigate variability in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and other outcomes in patients with PD across different races and ethnicities.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional and longitudinal, cohort study of individuals evaluated at PD Centers of Excellence. A multivariable regression analysis adjusted for sex, age, disease duration, Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) stage, comorbidities, and cognitive score was used to investigate differences between racial and ethnic groups. A multivariable regression with skewed-t errors was performed to assess the individual contribution of each variable to the association of 39-item PD Questionnaire (PDQ-39) with race and ethnicity.

RESULTS

A total of 8,514 participants had at least 1 recorded visit. Most of them (90.2%) self-identified as White (n = 7,687), followed by 5.81% Hispanic (n = 495), 2% Asians (n = 170), and 1.9% African American (n = 162). After adjustment, total PDQ-39 scores were significantly higher (worse) in African Americans (28.56), Hispanics (26.62), and Asians (25.43) when compared with those in White patients (22.73, p < 0.001). This difference was also significant in most PDQ-39 subscales. In the longitudinal analysis, the inclusion of cognitive scores significantly decreased the strength of association of the PDQ-39 and race/ethnicity for minority groups. A mediation analysis demonstrated that cognition partially mediated the association between race/ethnicity and PDQ-39 scores (proportion mediated 0.251, p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

There were differences in PD outcomes across racial and ethnic groups, even after adjustment for sex, disease duration, HY stage, age, and some comorbid conditions. Most notably, there was worse HRQoL among non-White patients when compared with White patients, which was partially explained by cognitive scores. The underlying reason for these differences needs to be a focus of future research.

Orexin pathway in Parkinson's disease: a review

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease (NDD) caused by dopaminergic neuron degeneration in the substantia nigra (SN). Orexin is a neuropeptide that plays a role in the pathogenesis of PD. Orexin has neuroprotective properties in dopaminergic neurons. In PD neuropathology, there is also degeneration of orexinergic neurons in the hypothalamus, in addition to dopaminergic neurons. However, the loss of orexinergic neurons in PD began after the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Reduced activity of orexinergic neurons has been linked to developing and progressing motor and non-motor symptoms in PD. In addition, the dysregulation of the orexin pathway is linked to the development of sleep disorders. The hypothalamic orexin pathway regulates various aspects of PD neuropathology at the cellular, subcellular, and molecular levels. Finally, non-motor symptoms, particularly insomnia and disturbed sleep, promote neuroinflammation and the accumulation of neurotoxic proteins as a result of defects in autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and the glymphatic system. As a result, this review aimed to highlight the potential role of orexin in PD neuropathology.

Facilitators and barriers to the delivery of palliative care to patients with Parkinson's disease: a qualitative study of the perceptions and experiences of stakeholders using the socio-ecological model

OBJECTIVE

Palliative care (PC) can improve the quality of life of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and their carers. However, the impact of PC services on patients with PD remains unclear. This research was conducted to identify the barriers and facilitators influencing PC services for patients with PD based on the Social Ecological Model (SEM) framework.

METHODS

This research was conducted through semi-structured interviews, employing SEM to organize themes and identify potential solutions across multiple levels.

RESULTS

A total of 29 interviewees (5 PD clinicians, 7 PD registered nurses, 8 patients, 5 caregivers, and 4 policy makers) completed the interviews. Facilitators and barriers were identified according to the levels of the SEM. Several facilitators were identified, i.e., (1) individual level: the critical needs among PD patients and their relatives and the desire for PC knowledge among health professionals; (2) interpersonal level: social support; (3) organizational level: the investments towards systematization of PC; and nurses are the bridge between patients and doctors; (4) community level: the convenience of community services; and hospital-community-family-based services; (5) culture and policy level: existing policy.

CONCLUSION

The social-ecological model proposed in this study helps illuminate the complex and multilevel factors that may influence PC delivery to PD patients.

Cognitive evaluation in Parkinson's disease: applying the Movement Disorder Society recommendations in a population with a low level of formal education

BACKGROUND

 The diagnosis of cognitive disorders in Parkinson disease (PD) can be very challenging. Aiming at establishing uniform and reliable diagnostic procedures, the International Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) commissioned task forces to delineate diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in PD.

OBJECTIVES

 To investigate the applicability of the MDS recommendations for cognitive evaluation in a Brazilian sample of patients with PD with low levels of formal education.

METHODS

 A total of 41 patients with PD were subjected to a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation based on tests proposed by the MDS, which included the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS), the Trail Making Test (TMT) parts A and B, in addition to language and memory skills assessment. Neuropsychiatric and daily functioning features were also evaluated. Spearman correlation analyses were used to evaluate the association between the scores obtained in the cognitive scales and demographic/clinical variables.

RESULTS

 Although none of the participants had a formal diagnosis of dementia, 50% presented some degree of cognitive impairment when considering the results of the MDRS. Of note, a noticeable number of patients was not able to complete the full neuropsychological assessment. The TMT part B was the most difficult task, being completed by only 22 participants (54%). As expected, the greater the educational level, the better the performance on the cognitive tests. Better motor function was also associated with better scores in cognition.

CONCLUSIONS

 Adopting strict inclusion/exclusion criteria and a comprehensive clinical evaluation, we found remarkable limitations for the MDS recommendations when individuals with low educational levels are considered. A revision of the current guidelines is necessary considering differences among populations, especially related to formal education.

Mortality of Deep Brain Stimulation and Risk Factors in Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A National Cohort Study in Korea

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate 1) long-term outcomes of deep brain stimulation (DBS), such as mortality after DBS as well as the causes of death, 2) demographic and socioeconomic factors influencing mortality, and 3) comorbidities affecting mortality after DBS in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS

This study analyzed the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Information Database. Data on patients with PD diagnosis codes from 2002 to 2019 were extracted and analyzed. Data on the causes of death were obtained by linking the causes of death to data from Statistics Korea. The Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals. Regarding comorbidities such as PD dementia and fracture, which did not satisfy the assumption for the proportional HR, time-dependent Cox analysis with the Mantel-Byar method was used.

RESULTS

From 2005 to 2017, among 156,875 patients diagnosed with PD in Korea, 1,079 patients underwent DBS surgery, and 251 (23.3%) had died by 2019. The most common cause of death (47.1%) was PD. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, the higher the age at diagnosis and surgery, the higher the mortality rate. The men and medical aid groups had significantly higher mortality rates. PD dementia and fracture were identified as risk factors for mortality.

CONCLUSION

Older age at diagnosis and surgery, being male, the use of medical aid, and the comorbidity of dementia and fractures were associated with a higher risk of mortality after DBS in patients with PD. Neurologists should consider these risk factors in assessing the prognosis of PD patients undergoing DBS.

Race and Ethnicity in Lewy Body Dementia: A Narrative Review

Lewy body dementia is the third most common and costliest type of dementia. It is an umbrella term for dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia, both of which place a substantial burden on the person and society. Recent findings outline ethnoracial differences in dementia risk. Delayed and misdiagnosis across ethnoracial groups contribute to higher levels of burden. In this context, we aimed to summarize current knowledge, gaps, and unmet needs relating to race and ethnicity in Lewy body dementia. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of studies on Lewy body dementia focusing on differences across ethnoracial groups and outline several recommendations for future studies. The majority of the findings comparing different ethnoracial groups were from North American sites. There were no differences in clinical prevalence and progression across ethnoracial groups. Compared to people identifying as non-Hispanic White, co-pathologies were more common and clinical diagnostic accuracy was lower for people identifying as Black. Co-morbidities (e.g., diabetes, hypertension) were more common and medication use rates (e.g., antidepressants, antiparkinsonian agents) were lower for people identifying as Black or Hispanic compared to people identifying as White. More than 90% of clinical trial participants identified as non-Hispanic White. Despite increasing efforts to overcome disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, inclusion of individuals from minoritized communities in Lewy body dementia studies continues to be limited and the findings are inconclusive. Representation of diverse populations is crucial to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic efforts in Lewy body dementia.

Incidence of Parkinson disease in North America

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative condition diagnosed in North America. We recently demonstrated, using multiple epidemiological data sources, that the prevalence of PD diagnoses was greater than previously reported and currently used for clinical, research, and policy decision-making. Prior PD incidence estimates have varied, for unclear reasons. There is a need for improved estimates of PD incidence, not only for care delivery planning and future policy but also for increasing our understanding of disease risk. The objective of this study was thus to investigate the incidence of Parkinson disease across five epidemiological cohorts in North America in a common year, 2012. The cohorts contained data on 6.7 million person-years of adults ages 45 and older, and 9.3 million person-years of adults ages 65 and older. Our estimates of age-sex-adjusted incidence of PD ranged from 108 to 212 per 100,000 among persons ages 65 and older, and from 47 to 77 per 100,00 among persons ages 45 and older. PD incidence increased with age and was higher among males. We also found persistent spatial clustering of incident PD diagnoses in the U.S. PD incidence estimates varied across our data sources, in part due to case ascertainment and diagnosis methods, but also possibly due to the influence of population factors (prevalence of genetic risk factors or protective markers) and geographic location (exposure to environmental toxins). Understanding the source of these variations will be important for health care policy, research, and care planning.

Depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is associated with increased risk of dementia and Parkinson's disease: A nationwide, population-based study

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be associated with depression which is considered an important cause of dementia and Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, the effects of depression on the development of dementia and/or PD in patients with IBD were evaluated.

Materials and methods

A nationwide population-based cohort study was conducted using claims data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in Korea. The incidence of dementia and PD were analyzed based on the presence of depression in patients with IBD.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 8 years, IBD patients with depression experienced dementia (6.7 vs. 2.0%; p < 0.001) and PD (1.1 vs. 0.3%; p < 0.001) significantly more than IBD patients without depression. Compared with IBD patients without depression, the risk of developing dementia was significantly higher in IBD patients with depression [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for IBD, Crohn's disease (CD), and ulcerative colitis (UC), 2.03, p < 0.001; 1.68, p = 0.033; 2.13, p < 0.001, respectively]. Compared with IBD patients without depression, the risk of developing PD was significantly higher in IBD patients with depression (aHR for IBD, CD, and UC, 2.54, p < 0.001; 1.93, p = 0.470; 2.75, p < 0.001, respectively). The cumulative incidence of dementia and PD in IBD patients with depression was significantly higher than in IBD patients without depression and showed a steady increase after a diagnosis of depression.

Conclusion

The risk of dementia and/or PD increased after a diagnosis of depression in patients with IBD.

The risk of Parkinson's disease in women who underwent hysterectomy before the age of menopause

Introduction

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative aging disorder. Oestrogen has been shown to have a neuroprotective effect against PD in animal models.This study aimed to detect the risk of PD in women who underwent hysterectomy before the age of menopause.

Material and methods

Seventy-six women with PD (study group) were recruited for this retrospective study and compared to 80 controls. Collected data included the education level, smoking, age of menopause, type of menopause (natural or surgical), past surgical history of hysterectomy, type of hysterectomy (hysterectomy only or hysterectomy with oophorectomy [unilateral, bilateral]), and use of postmenopausal oestrogen replacement therapy. The collected data were analysed to detect the risk of PD in women who underwent hysterectomy before the age of menopause.

Results

The odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR) of PD was significantly higher after surgical menopause in the study group (30 [39.5%]) compared to controls (17 [21.25%]), (OR 2.4 [95% CI: 1.19-4.8]; p = 0.01, RR 1.9 [95% CI: 1.12-3.1]; p = 0.016). In addition, the OR and RR of PD was significantly higher after bilateral oophorectomy in the study group (19 [25%]) compared to controls (8 [10%]), (OR 3.0 [95% CI: 1.22-7.4]; p = 0.016, RR 2.5 [95% CI: 1.16-5.4]; p = 0.01).

Conclusions

The risk of PD increased in women who underwent hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy before the age of menopause, and the risk of PD did not increase whether the menopause, either natural or surgical, occurred before 48 years of age.

Task-specific effects of biological sex and sex hormones on object recognition memories in a 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion model of Parkinson's disease in adult male and female rats

Many patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience cognitive or memory impairments with few therapeutic options available to mitigate them. This has fueled interest in determining how factors including sex and sex hormones modulate higher order function in this disease. The objective of this study was to use the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) and Object-in-Place (OiP) paradigms to compare the effects of a bilateral neostriatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion model of PD in gonadally intact male and female rats, in orchidectomized male rats and in orchidectomized males supplemented with 17β-estradiol or testosterone propionate on measures of recognition memory similar to those at risk in PD. These studies showed that 6-ODHA lesions impaired discrimination in both tasks in males but not females. Further, 6-OHDA lesions disrupted NOR performance similarly in all males regardless of whether they were gonadally intact, orchidectomized or hormone-supplemented. In contrast, OiP performance was disrupted in males that were orchidectomized or 6-OHDA-lesioned but was spared in orchidectomized and orchidectomized, 6-OHDA lesioned males supplemented with 17β-estradiol. The distinct effects that sex and/or sex hormones have on 6-OHDA lesion-induced NOR vs. OiP deficits identified here also differ from corresponding impacts recently described for 6-OHDA lesion-induced deficits in spatial working memory and episodic memory. Together, the collective data provide strong evidence for effects of sex and sex hormones on cognition and memory in PD as being behavioral task and behavioral domain specific. This specificity could explain why a cohesive clinical picture of endocrine impacts on higher order function in PD has remained elusive.

Genetic Determinants of Survival in Parkinson's Disease in the Asian Population

BACKGROUND

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. Genetic variation was shown to play a role in the heterogeneity of survival for patients with PD, although the underlying genetic background remains poorly studied.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to explore the genetic determinants influencing the survival of PD.

METHODS

We performed a genome-wide association analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model in a longitudinal cohort of 1080 Chinese patients with PD. Furthermore, we built a clinical-genetic model to predict the survival of patients using clinical variables combined with polygenic risk score (PRS) of survival of PD.

RESULTS

The cohort was followed up for an average of 7.13 years, with 85 incidents of death. One locus rs12628329 (RPL3) was significantly associated with reduced survival time by ~10.8 months (P = 2.72E-08, β = 1.79, standard error = 0.32). Functional exploration suggested this variant could upregulate the expression of RPL3 and induce apoptosis and cell death. In addition, adding PRS of survival in the prediction model substantially improved survival predictability (concordance index [Cindex]: 0.936) compared with the clinical model (Cindex: 0.860).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings improve the current understanding of the genetic cause of survival of PD and provide a novel target RPL3 for further research on PD pathogenesis and potential therapeutic options. Our results also demonstrate the potential utility of PRS of survival in identifying patients with shorter survival and providing personalized clinical monitoring and treatment. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Synuclein-One study: skin biopsy detection of phosphorylated α-synuclein for diagnosis of synucleinopathies

Finding an easily accessible and reliable tool to diagnose the diseases collectively defined as 'synucleinopathies' is an urgent, unmet priority. The synucleinopathies include Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, pure autonomic failure and dementia with Lewy bodies. There are millions of people who have a diagnosis of a synucleinopathy, with more diagnosed every year. With accessibility, ease of implementation, consistently high sensitivity (>80%) and specificity approaching 100%, skin biopsy has great potential as the clinical test of choice for the diagnosis of synucleinopathies. The large, multi-center Synuclein-One study will determine the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and precision of α-synuclein detection within punch skin biopsies in patients with clinically established synucleinopathies using standardized, robust methods suitable for large-scale analysis. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04700722 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Does Ethnicity Influence Recruitment into Clinical Trials of Parkinson's Disease?

BACKGROUND

Lack of participation of black and minority ethnic communities (BAME) in registered clinical trials is a concern as data emerging from these studies are used to licence new drugs or other interventions, even though findings made in such selected study populations have limited external validity in the aforesaid ethnic groups.

OBJECTIVE

We used Parkinson's disease (PD), the fastest rising neurodegenerative disorder in the world, as an exemplar condition to test our hypothesis that participants from BAME communities are underrepresented in clinical trials.

METHODS

A systematic search of clinical trials registered on a Clinicaltrials.gov database which queried for PD with racial distribution data from 2017 to 2021.

RESULTS

Out of 266 trials considered, 54 trials were published in peer reviewed journals. Among these, only 23 (42.65%) publications reported data regarding the racial distribution of the participants. Out of these, five studies involved mixed racial participation and two trials included black subjects.

CONCLUSION

We found that inclusion of under-represented BAME groups in recently published clinical trials is low, at only 21.57%, and is not even considered in most studies. Out of the reviewed trials, only 5 (21.75%) studies reported detailed demographic categories with black minorities enrolment. This constitutes a severe under-representation when compared to the proportion of Black or African American in the UK population (3%). Results of this study identified the need for better reporting of racial composition in clinical trials. We strongly recommend that future studies should consider ethnicity and other issues around diversity when designing and implementing the clinical trials, not only in the PD field but also beyond.

Advanced‐Stage Parkinson's disease: From Identification to Characterization Using a Nationwide Database

Background

As Parkinson's disease (PD) progresses, response to oral medications decreases and motor complications appear. Timely intervention has been demonstrated as effective in reducing symptoms. However, current instruments for the identification of these patients are often complicated and inadequate. It has been suggested that anti-PD intensified therapy (IT) can serve as a proxy for increased burden of disease.

Objective

To explore whether IT aligns with events reflecting advanced PD (APD) burden.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of PD beneficiaries in the second-largest healthcare provider in Israel. Patients with PD diagnosed between January 2000 and June 2018 and treated with levodopa (l-dopa) ≥5 times/day and/or ≥1000 mg l-dopa equivalent daily dose were defined as the IT cohort (n = 2037). Treated patients with PD not fulfilling this criterion were defined as the nonintensified therapy (NIT) cohort (n = 3402). Point prevalence and 5- and 10-year cumulative incidence of IT were assessed. Baseline demographic and comorbidities, 1-year healthcare resource use, health costs, and time to clinical events were assessed and compared between cohorts.

Results

IT was associated with significantly (P < 0.05) higher healthcare resource use compared with NIT. In turn, IT patients incurred higher healthcare costs (P < 0.001) and were at greater risk for mortality, hospitalization, disability, and device-aided therapy use (P < 0.001, for all comparisons).

Conclusions

Treatment intensity can serve as an objective and robust indicator of more APD. This readily extractable marker can be easily integrated into electronic medical record alerts to actively target more advanced patients and to guide risk-appropriate care.

The economic burden of Parkinson disease among Medicare beneficiaries

BACKGROUND: The progressive nature of Parkinson disease (PD), together with a lack of curative treatments, contributes to its economic burden. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the longitudinal incremental costs attributable to PD among Medicare beneficiaries. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we used data from the Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse to identify Medicare beneficiaries with and without PD-related claims identified from 2006 to 2014 with follow-up until 2015. We grouped PD cases and controls based on their survival profiles using a grouping algorithm that used the following baseline measures: age, race, sex, and comorbidity. We identified 3 survival groups and used them to stratify the descriptive annual cost estimates in the 9 years after the index date. We estimated the incremental 1-, 3-, and 5-year costs of PD using generalized linear models (GLM) that controlled for baseline factors. RESULTS: We identified 27,394 cases and controls who were grouped into 3 survival groups. The mean age of the full study sample was 73 years. No material differences were found in the incremental cost of PD across the survival groups. Based on the multivariable GLM, the 1-year incremental cost of PD was $9,625 (95% CI, $9,054-$10,197). The 3-year incremental cost of PD was $20,832 (95% CI, $19,390-$22,274). The 5-year incremental cost of PD was $27,466 (95% CI, 25,088-$29,844). CONCLUSIONS: Among Medicare beneficiaries, PD is associated with excess costs compared with controls. We did not identify substantial differences in the incremental cost of PD across the survival groups. DISCLOSURES:This study was funded by Pfizer Inc. The funding agreement did not impact the authors' independence in designing the study, collecting the data, interpreting the data, writing the manuscript, and submitting the manuscript for publication. Dr Onukwugha reports grants from Pfizer Inc for the conduct of this study and is an employee of University of Maryland, Baltimore, which received financial support from Pfizer Inc in connection with the development of this manuscript; Dr Shulman reports research funding from Pfizer Inc related to the current work, is an employee of University of Maryland, Baltimore, which received financial support from Pfizer Inc in connection with the development of this manuscript, and reports research funding from the NIH, The Rosalyn Newman Foundation, and the Eugenia and Michael Brin family unrelated to the current work and royalties from Oxford University Press and Johns Hopkins University Press; Ms Myers and Dr Alvir are employees and stockholders of Pfizer Inc; Dr Gray was an employee and stockholder of Pfizer Inc at the time of analysis.

Intake of Flavonoids and Flavonoid-Rich Foods and Mortality Risk Among Individuals With Parkinson Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although flavonoids have the potential to exert neuroprotective benefits, evidence of their role in improving survival rates among individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) remains lacking. We aimed to prospectively study the association between prediagnosis and postdiagnosis flavonoid intakes and risk of mortality among individuals with PD identified from 2 large ongoing cohorts of US men and women.

METHODS

Included in the current analysis were 599 women from the Nurses' Health Study and 652 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who were newly diagnosed with PD during follow-up. Dietary intakes of total flavonoid and its subclasses, together with major flavonoid-rich foods (tea, apples, berries, orange and orange juice, and red wine), were repeatedly assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire every 4 years. Mortality was ascertained via the National Death Index and state vital statistics records.

RESULTS

We documented 944 deaths during 32 to 34 years of follow-up. A higher total flavonoid intake before PD diagnosis was associated with a lower future risk for all-cause mortality in men (hazard ratio [HR] comparing 2 extreme quartiles 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39, 0.71; p for trend < 0.001) but not in women (HR 0.93, 95% CI 0.68, 1.28; p for trend = 0.69) after adjustment for age, smoking status, total energy intake, and other covariates. The pooled HR comparing the extreme quartiles was 0.70 (95% CI 0.40, 1.22; p for trend = 0.25) with significant heterogeneity (p = 0.01). For flavonoid subclasses, the highest quartile of anthocyanins, flavones, and flavan-3-ols intakes before diagnosis had a lower mortality risk compared to the lowest quartile (pooled HR 0.66, 0.78, and 0.69, respectively; p < 0.05 for all); for berries and red wine, participants consuming ≥3 servings per week had a lower risk (pooled HR 0.77, 95% CI 0.58, 1.02; and pooled HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.51, 0.91, respectively) compared to <1 serving per month. After PD diagnosis, greater consumptions of total flavonoid, subclasses including flavonols, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, and polymers, and berries and red wine were associated with lower mortality risk (p < 0.05 for all).

DISCUSSION

Among individuals with PD, higher consumption of flavonoids, especially anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols, and flavonoid-rich food such as berries and red wine was likely to be associated with a lower risk of mortality.

Neuropathological and Clinical Correlates of Lewy Body Disease Survival by Race and Ethnicity in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center

BACKGROUND

Survival and associated clinical and pathological characteristics in Lewy body disease (LBD)-related dementias are understudied. Available studies focus primarily on white non-Hispanic samples.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated demographic, clinical, and pathological correlates of survival by race and ethnicity in an autopsy-confirmed cohort of LBD cases.

METHODS

Using National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center data, we selected participants who self-identified as Black, Hispanic, or white who had neuropathological assessments showing transitional or diffuse LBD pathology. We used Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson χ2 analyses to investigate group differences in demographic and presenting clinical and pathological characteristics. We used linear regressions to identify predictors of survival with sex, age at symptom onset, education, ethnoracial status, LBD pathology type, and Braak tangle stage included in the model.

RESULTS

Data from 1,441 white, 60 Black, and 54 Hispanic participants were available for analysis. Hispanics were more likely to have transitional LBD pathology and had a longer survival than white and Black participants. After controlling for demographic and pathological variables, length of survival did not differ between Hispanics and Black or white participants. Additional key findings demonstrated discrepancies between clinical diagnoses received at last visit and pathological findings, particularly among Black participants.

CONCLUSION

LBD survival differences by race and ethnicity can be accounted for by LBD pathology type and co-occurring Alzheimer's disease pathology. The discrepancies between clinical diagnoses and pathological findings raise the concern that dementia with Lewy bodies is underdiagnosed in NACC, especially for Black older adults.

Profiling the most elderly parkinson's disease patients: Does age or disease duration matter?

BACKGROUND

Despite our ageing populations, elderly patients are underrepresented in clinical research, and ageing research is often separate from that of Parkinson's disease (PD). To our knowledge, no previous study has focused on the most elderly ('old-old', age ≥ 85 years) patients with PD to reveal how age directly influences PD clinical progression.

OBJECTIVE

We compared the clinical characteristics and pharmacological profiles, including complications of levodopa treatment, disease progression, disabilities, and comorbidities of the old-old with those of comparable younger ('young-old', age 60-75 years) PD patients. In addition, within the old-old group, we compared those with a short disease duration (< 10 years at the time of diagnosis) to those with a long disease duration ≥10 years to investigate whether prognosis was related to disease progression or aging.

METHODS

This single-centre, case-control study compared 60 old-old to 92 young-old PD patients, matched for disease duration. Patients in the old-old group were also divided equally (30:30) into two subgroups (short and long disease duration) with the same mean age. We compared the groups based on several clinical measures using a conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

By study design, there were no differences between age groups when comparing disease duration, however, the proportion of men decreased with age (p = 0.002). At a comparable length of PD duration of 10 years, the old-old PD patients predominantly had significantly greater postural instability and gait disturbance (p = 0.006), higher motor scope of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-III, p<0.0001), and more advanced Hoehn & Yahr (H&Y) stage (p<0.0001). The Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQuest) score was also significantly higher among the old-old (p<0.0001) compared to the young-old patients. Moreover, the distribution of NMS also differed between ages, with features of gastrointestinal problems (p<0.0001), urinary problems (p = 0.004), sleep disturbances and fatigue (p = 0.032), and cognitive impairment (p<0.0001) significantly more common in the old-old group, whereas sexual problems (p = 0.012), depression, and anxiety (p = 0.032) were more common in the young-old. No differences were found in visual hallucinations, cerebrovascular disease, and miscellaneous domains. While young-old PD patients received higher levodopa equivalent daily doses (p<0.0001) and developed a significant greater rate of dyskinesia (p = 0.002), no significant difference was observed in the rate of wearing-off (p = 0.378). Old-old patients also had greater disability, as measured by the Schwab and England scale (p<0.0001) and had greater milestone frequency specifically for dementia (p<0.0001), wheelchair placement (p<0.0001), nursing home placement (p = 0.019), and hospitalisation in the past 1 year (p = 0.05). Neither recurrent falls (p = 0.443) nor visual hallucinations (p = 0.607) were documented significantly more often in the old-old patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Age and disease duration were independently associated with clinical presentation, course, and progression of PD. Age was the main predictor, but disease duration also had a strong effect, suggesting that factors of the ageing process beyond the disease process itself cause PD in the most elderly to be more severe.

Lead service lines and Parkinson's disease prevalence in U.S. States

Introduction

We recently showed that the prevalence of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in U.S. states is positively associated with the quantity of acid rain. Acid rain could play an etiologic role in PD by mobilizing metals, e.g., lead, from watersheds and pipes into drinking water. We assessed the correlation of PD with lead service lines, the underground pipes that connect homes to municipal water sources, which are a major aqueous source of lead.

Methods

We used multiple regression techniques to examine PD prevalence rates by state relative to the number of lead service lines. We included known or suspected aqueous risk factors, e.g., the Acid Precipitation Index (a measure of acid rain) and well water use.

Results

Age-, race-, and sex-adjusted prevalence rates for PD were significantly and positively correlated with the log number of lead service lines (p = 0.0004). The effect of lead service lines remained significant after adjusting for the effects of acid rain and well water use (p = 0.0019).

Conclusion

These findings are consistent with a role for lead in the etiology of PD. Studies of lead service line exposure in relation to PD at the individual level are warranted.

Time-course of decline in different cognitive domains in Parkinson's disease: a retrospective study

Cognitive impairment and dementia are common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). To elucidate the potentially typical progression of cognitive decline in PD and its variation, we retrospectively surveyed neuropsychological data obtained at the Parkinson-Klinik Ortenau, Germany in the years 1996-2015. Many of the patients in the surveyed period were repeatedly admitted to our clinic and we were thus able to compile neuropsychological re-test data for 252 patients obtained at varying time intervals. Neuropsychological testing was conducted with the NAI (Nürnberger Alters-Inventar). This battery provides sub-tests that examine cognitive processing speed, executive function, working memory, and verbal/visual memory functions. The re-test time span varied across patients from below 1 year up to about 12 years. Most patients were seen twice, but some patients were tested up to eight times. The steepest rates of cognitive decline were observed for the NAI sub-tests Trail-Making, Maze Test, and Stroop-Word Reading/Color Naming. Intermediate rates of decline were found for Digit Span, Word List-Immediate Recall, and Picture Test. Stroop Test-Interference, Word List-Delayed Recognition, and Figure Test exhibited the slowest decline rates. We did not observe a significant effect of age at diagnosis or gender on the rate of decline. In sum, this study retrospectively evaluated cognitive decline in a sample of patients with PD. Our data suggest a broad cognitive decline that particularly affects the cognitive capacities for processing speed, executive functions, and immediate memory functions.

Dual-Task-Based Drum Playing with Rhythmic Cueing on Motor and Attention Control in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Preliminary Randomized Study

Although there have been increasing reports regarding the effectiveness of dual-task interventions in rehabilitation, the scope of this research is limited to gross motor movement, such as gait among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). To expand the dual-task paradigm to upper extremity motor and attention control in PD, drum playing with modulation of musical elements was attempted. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a drum playing intervention with rhythmic cueing on upper extremity motor control and attention control in patients with PD. Twelve participants were randomly assigned to the drum playing intervention with rhythmic cueing group or the control group. The results showed that the drum playing with rhythmic cueing (DPRC) group significantly increased their sustained time of entrainment (45 BPM) and their latency time until entrainment from pretest to posttest. For the DPRC group, the latency time until entrainment was significantly improved, and improvements in cognitive measures were also found. This study shows that DPRC has great potential to improve upper extremity motor control and attention control and supports the development of new interventions that include this technique for rehabilitation in patients with PD.

Parkinson's Disease in African Americans: A Review of the Current Literature

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, though evidence suggests that this disorder does not affect all racial groups similarly. Research in African Americans, in particular, has been conflicting. Some studies have found similar prevalence rates in African Americans and whites whereas other studies have found much lower prevalence and incidence rates in African Americans. A few studies identify potential factors underlying these discrepancies, including biologic differences as well as disparities in healthcare access. However, African Americans remain underrepresented in research studies, which make understanding the underlying reasons for these differences difficult. The purpose of this paper is to summarize existing research in African Americans with PD, highlight some of the reasons why differences exist in diagnostic rates of PD in this population, and briefly discuss interventions that may need to be made in order to ensure adequate care is provided to these patients.

The impact of Parkinson's disease on manifestations and outcomes of Covid-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who contracted Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‐19) had a decline in motor functions; nevertheless, there is limited evidence on whether PD patients have a higher risk for contracting Covid‐19 or have worse outcomes. This is the first systematic review and meta‐analysis to review the impact of PD on the prognosis of Covid‐19 patients. We performed a systematic search through seven electronic databases under the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐analyses statement (PRISMA) guidelines. The R software version 4.0.2 was used to calculate pooled sample sizes and their associated confidence intervals (95%CI). Finally, we included 13 papers in this study. The pooled prevalence rate of Covid‐19 was 2.12% (95%CI: 0.75–5.98). Fever, cough, fatigue and anorexia were the most common symptoms with a rate of 72.72% (95% CI: 57.3 ‐ 92.29), 66.99% (95% CI: 49.08–91.42), 61.58% (95% CI: 46.69–81.21) and 52.55% (95% CI: 35.09–78.68), respectively. The pooled rates were 39.89% (95% CI: 27.09–58.73) for hospitalisation, 4.7% (95% CI: 1.56–14.16) for ICU admission and 25.1% (95%CI: 16.37–38.49) for mortality. On further comparison of hospitalisation and mortality rates among Covid‐19 patients with and without PD, there were no significant differences. In conclusion, the prevalence and prognosis of Covid‐19 patients seem comparable in patients with PD and those without it. The increased hospitalisation and mortality may be attributed to old age and co‐morbidities.

Parkinson disease-associated cognitive impairment

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting >1% of the population ≥65 years of age and with a prevalence set to double by 2030. In addition to the defining motor symptoms of PD, multiple non-motor symptoms occur; among them, cognitive impairment is common and can potentially occur at any disease stage. Cognitive decline is usually slow and insidious, but rapid in some cases. Recently, the focus has been on the early cognitive changes, where executive and visuospatial impairments are typical and can be accompanied by memory impairment, increasing the risk for early progression to dementia. Other risk factors for early progression to dementia include visual hallucinations, older age and biomarker changes such as cortical atrophy, as well as Alzheimer-type changes on functional imaging and in cerebrospinal fluid, and slowing and frequency variation on EEG. However, the mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in PD remain largely unclear. Cortical involvement of Lewy body and Alzheimer-type pathologies are key features, but multiple mechanisms are likely involved. Cholinesterase inhibition is the only high-level evidence-based treatment available, but other pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies are being tested. Challenges include the identification of disease-modifying therapies as well as finding biomarkers to better predict cognitive decline and identify patients at high risk for early and rapid cognitive impairment.

APOE genotype regulates pathology and disease progression in synucleinopathy

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 genotype is associated with increased risk of dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD), but the mechanism is not clear, because patients often have a mixture of α-synuclein (αSyn), amyloid-β (Aβ), and tau pathologies. APOE ε4 exacerbates brain Aβ pathology, as well as tau pathology, but it is not clear whether APOE genotype independently regulates αSyn pathology. In this study, we generated A53T αSyn transgenic mice (A53T) on Apoe knockout (A53T/EKO) or human APOE knockin backgrounds (A53T/E2, E3, and E4). At 12 months of age, A53T/E4 mice accumulated higher amounts of brainstem detergent-insoluble phosphorylated αSyn compared to A53T/EKO and A53T/E3; detergent-insoluble αSyn in A53T/E2 mice was undetectable. By immunohistochemistry, A53T/E4 mice displayed a higher burden of phosphorylated αSyn and reactive gliosis compared to A53T/E2 mice. A53T/E2 mice exhibited increased survival and improved motor performance compared to other APOE genotypes. In a complementary model of αSyn spreading, striatal injection of αSyn preformed fibrils induced greater accumulation of αSyn pathology in the substantia nigra of A53T/E4 mice compared to A53T/E2 and A53T/EKO mice. In two separate cohorts of human patients with PD, APOE ε4/ε4 individuals showed the fastest rate of cognitive decline over time. Our results demonstrate that APOE genotype directly regulates αSyn pathology independent of its established effects on Aβ and tau, corroborate the finding that APOE ε4 exacerbates pathology, and suggest that APOE ε2 may protect against αSyn aggregation and neurodegeneration in synucleinopathies.

Frequency of Parkinsonism and Parkinson Disease in African Americans in the Chicago Community

BACKGROUND

There is paucity of data about African American (AA) patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and parkinsonism which may precede PD in older adults. Prior studies suggest that there are lower rates of PD in the AA population, with more cognitive impairment in AA with PD. This study aimed to investigate differences in PD, parkinsonism, and cognition between White and AA populations in 3 longitudinal epidemiologic cohort studies of aging.

METHODS

This study examined parkinsonism, PD frequency, and cognition of community-dwelling older individuals in 3 longitudinal epidemiologic cohort studies. Parkinsonism was based on an exam utilizing the modified Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale performed by a nurse. PD was based on self-report, medications used for treatment of PD, and examination findings. Cognition was assessed using 19 performance-based tests that assess 5 cognitive domains.

RESULTS

AA participants were less likely to have parkinsonism compared to Whites, even with age and gender differences. Frequency of PD was not significant between groups. AA were more likely to have lower cognitive scores as compared to Whites. AA were less likely to have parkinsonism even with controlling for cognitive differences between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Parkinsonian signs are present among AA in the community at lower rates than in White individuals. Cognitive profiles of AA and Whites with parkinsonism may be different, suggesting differing contributions of pathology to cognitive decline and parkinsonism between groups. Additional research is needed to understand the progression of parkinsonism to PD, as well as to understanding the cognitive differences in AA with parkinsonism.

Disparities in diagnosis, treatment and survival between Black and White Parkinson patients

INTRODUCTION

Racial disparities in diagnosis, treatment and survival in Black patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to White patients have not been well studied, largely due to limited number of studies and information on Black patients in healthcare systems. Studying racial disparities and identifying underlying factors in large populations are important to understand PD and improve care.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified PD patients on both races from 1/1/2006 to 10/31/2017 and compared demographics, socioeconomic status (educations, incomes and insurances), comorbidities (all categories, including mood, cognition and psychosis), treatment (medications for parkinsonism and major non-motor symptoms, and frequency and locations of healthcare) and survival, and identified factors associated with medication usage and survival.

RESULTS

We retrospectively studied 2033 PD patients, of whom 725 were Black. Black patients lacked male predominance, were 4 years older at first diagnosis here, more likely to smoke and live in a low education and income community, and possessed limited insurances compared to White patients. Black patients also had more comorbidities and were more likely to receive care through emergency or inpatient service, but less likely to be on medications for parkinsonism and mood disorders. Race, age, smoking status, insurance type, frequency and locations of healthcare and comorbidities were associated with medication usage. Black race, older age, inpatient admission and malignancy were associated with increased risk of death.

CONCLUSION

We revealed racial disparities in diagnosis, treatment and survival, and factors associated with medication usage and survival in the largest reported Black PD cohort from a single center.

Ethnic Variation in the Manifestation of Parkinson's Disease: A Narrative Review

The global prevalence of Parkinson's disease is increasing, yet the characteristics, risk factors and genetics of PD in Black, Asian and Hispanic populations is little understood. In this paper we review the published literature on clinical variation in the symptoms and signs of Parkinson's disease in different ethnic groups and responses to treatment. We included any study that sampled patients with Parkinson's disease from distinct ethnic backgrounds. We conclude that whilst there is little published evidence for ethnic variation in the clinical features of Parkinson's disease, there are substantial limitations and gaps in the current literature, which mean that the evidence does necessarily not fit with clinical observation. Possible explanations for expected differences in manifestation include genetic determinants, the co-existence of cerebrovascular disease and/or Alzheimer's disease pathology, healthcare inequalities and socio-cultural factors.

Prognostic predictors relevant to end-of-life palliative care in Parkinson's disease and related disorders: a systematic review

Parkinson's disease and related disorders (PDRD) are the second most common neurodegenerative disease and a leading cause of death. However, patients with PDRD receive less end-of-life palliative care (hospice) than other illnesses, including other neurologic illnesses. Identification of predictors of PDRD mortality may aid in increasing appropriate and timely referrals. To systematically review the literature for causes of death and predictors of mortality in PDRD to provide guidance regarding hospice/end-of-life palliative care referrals. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL databases (1970-2020) of original quantitative research using patient-level, provider-level or caregiver-level data from medical records, administrative data or survey responses associated with mortality, prognosis or cause of death in PDRD. Findings were reviewed by an International Working Group on PD and Palliative Care supported by the Parkinson's Foundation. Of 1183 research articles, 42 studies met our inclusion criteria. We found four main domains of factors associated with mortality in PDRD: (1) demographic and clinical markers (age, sex, body mass index and comorbid illnesses), (2) motor dysfunction and global disability, (3) falls and infections and (4) non-motor symptoms. We provide suggestions for consideration of timing of hospice/end-of-life palliative care referrals. Several clinical features of advancing disease may be useful in triggering end-of-life palliative/hospice referral. Prognostic studies focused on identifying when people with PDRD are nearing their final months of life are limited. There is further need for research in this area as well as policies that support need-based palliative care for the duration of PDRD.

Hip Fracture in Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Related Mortality: A Population-Based Study in Korea

INTRODUCTION

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are prone to falls, thereby increasing the risk of fractures and mortality. This population-based study investigated the risk of hip fractures and their effect on mortality in patients with PD in Korea.

METHODS

National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort data were used. Patients newly diagnosed with PD between 2006 and 2015 and age- and sex-matched individuals were classified into the PD group and the comparison group, respectively, with a 1:9 ratio. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs), and the Kaplan-Meier method to identify survivorship.

RESULTS

In total, 26,570 individuals were enrolled in the study: 2,657 in the PD cohort and 23,913 in the matched comparison cohort. The PD group had about a 2 times higher risk of hip fracture than the comparison group (3.95 vs. 1.94%, p < 0.001). According to sex, the difference between the PD and comparison groups for the risk of hip fracture was greater in males than in females. The highest difference in HR for hip fracture between the PD and comparison groups was found in individuals aged between 60 and 69 years. Regarding post-fracture mortality in patients with PD, the mortality risk was twice as high in the patients with hip fracture than in those without. The effect of hip fracture on mortality between these 2 groups was also the highest in individuals aged between 60 and 69 years.

CONCLUSION

The PD group showed an approximately 2 times higher risk of hip fracture compared with the comparison group, and the post-fracture mortality rate was 2 times higher in the patients with PD with hip fracture than in those without. Those aged 60-69 years were associated with the highest risk of hip fracture and post-hip fracture mortality among patients with PD.

Response to Telemedicine Visits From Patients With Parkinsonism During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Postvisit Surveys

Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism are common chronic neurodegenerative disorders that tend to affect older adults and cause physical and sometimes cognitive limitations. Given that these limitations could impact successful telemedicine use, we aimed to investigate the experiences of patients with parkinsonism using telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic. A 19-item survey was emailed to patients with parkinsonism following telemedicine visits at a single US tertiary care parkinsonism specialty clinic. Seventy-four individuals responded, out of 270 invitations sent. Almost two-thirds (61.6%) of the respondents were comfortable with using technology in general, and almost all were very satisfied with their telemedicine experience. The most commonly reported benefits included cost and travel savings, ease of access to a specialist, and time savings. Issues with technology and previsit instructions were the most commonly identified challenges (28%). Urgent implementation, due to the pandemic, of telemedicine care for patients with parkinsonism was feasible and well received. The challenges most commonly reported by patients could be potentially alleviated by better education and support.

Clinical Non-Motor Phenotyping of Black and Asian Minority Ethnic Compared to White Individuals with Parkinson's Disease Living in the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND

Ethnic phenotypic differences in Parkinson's disease (PD) are important to understand the heterogeneity of PD and develop biomarkers and clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate (i) whether there are non-motor symptoms (NMS)- and comorbidity-based phenotypic differences between Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and White PD patients and (ii) whether clinically available biomarkers may help differentiate and explain the differences between the groups.

METHODS

This is a multicentre (four sites, London), real-life, cross-sectional study including PD patients of BAME or White ethnicity. The primary outcome was a detailed NMS assessment; additional measurements included disease and motor stage, comorbidity, sociodemographic parameters and brain MRI imaging.

RESULTS

271 PD patients (54 Asian, 71 Black, and 146 White) were included balanced for age, gender, and disease severity (HY). Black patients had a shorter disease duration compared to White and Asian populations. The SCOPA-Motor activities of daily living scores as well as the NMSS scores were significantly higher in both Black (total score and domain "miscellaneous") and Asian (total score and domains "sleep/fatigue", "mood/apathy" and "perception/hallucinations") than White individuals. Both BAME populations had higher prevalence of arterial hypertension, and the Black population had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Brain MRI revealed a greater severity of white matter changes in Black compared to the White and Asian cohorts.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest differences in phenotype of PD in BAME populations with greater burden of NMS and motor disability and a higher rate of cardiovascular comorbidities.

Ten-Year Relative Survival From the Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease: A Nationwide Database Study

OBJECTIVES

Varying early survival rates have been reported across studies on patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we reported the 10-year relative survival rate of patients with PD using a nationwide database.

DESIGN

This was a population-based cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

We identified incident PD cases from 2004 to 2006 using the PD registration codes from the National Health Insurance Service database covering the entire South Korean population.

METHODS

Relative survival up to 10 years was evaluated by adjusting all-cause survival for expected survival, estimated from population life tables and matched by sex, age, and year of diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of the 10,159 patients with PD, 4675 (46.0%) patients survived 10 years after diagnosis. Relative survival rates decreased with time after diagnosis (0.972 after 1 year, 0.772 after 5 years, and 0.588 after 10 years). Ten-year relative survival gradually decreased with age at diagnosis. Men had a lower relative survival rate than women 2 years post diagnosis, and if they were older than 60 years.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Patients diagnosed with PD are expected to have a lower 10-year relative survival. In the real world, patients with PD might have lower survival than the general population even in the early disease stage. Our results suggest further efforts to prevent premature mortality among patients with PD.

Geospatial Analysis of Environmental Atmospheric Risk Factors in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review

Despite the vast evidence on the environmental influence in neurodegenerative diseases, those considering a geospatial approach are scarce. We conducted a systematic review to identify studies concerning environmental atmospheric risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases that have used geospatial analysis/tools. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for all scientific studies that included a neurodegenerative disease, an environmental atmospheric factor, and a geographical analysis. Of the 34 included papers, approximately 60% were related to multiple sclerosis (MS), hence being the most studied neurodegenerative disease in the context of this study. Sun exposure (n = 13) followed by the most common exhaustion gases (n = 10 for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and n = 5 for carbon monoxide (CO)) were the most studied atmospheric factors. Only one study used a geospatial interpolation model, although 13 studies used remote sensing data to compute atmospheric factors. In 20% of papers, we found an inverse correlation between sun exposure and multiple sclerosis. No consensus was reached in the analysis of nitrogen dioxide and Parkinson’s disease, but it was related to dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This systematic review (number CRD42020196188 in PROSPERO’s database) provides an insight into the available evidence regarding the geospatial influence of environmental factors on neurodegenerative diseases.

A New Day: The Role of Telemedicine in Reshaping Care for Persons With Movement Disorders

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the fragility of clinic-based care for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. In response to the virus, many clinics across the world abruptly closed their doors to persons with Parkinson's disease. Fortunately, a niche care model, telemedicine-first described in this journal a generation ago-emerged as the dominant means of providing care. As we adjust to a new normal, we should focus future care not on clinics but on patients. Their needs, guided by clinicians, should determine how care is delivered, whether in the clinic, at home, remotely, or by some combination. Within this patient-centered approach, telemedicine is an attractive care option but not a complete replacement for in-person consultations, which are valuable for specific problems and for those who have access. Now that many clinicians and patients have gained exposure to telemedicine, we can better appreciate its advantages (eg, convenience) and disadvantages (eg, restricted examination). We can also create a new future that utilizes the Internet, video conferencing, smartphones, and sensors. This future will bring many clinicians to one patient, connect individual experts to countless patients, use widely available devices to facilitate diagnosis, and apply novel technologies to measure the disease in new ways. These approaches, which extend to education and research, enable a future where we can care for anyone anywhere and will help us stem the tide of Parkinson's disease. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Cognitive and functional changes in prediagnostic phase of Parkinson disease: A population-based study

INTRODUCTION

Prodromal non-motor symptoms precede, often by decades, motor signs and diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. It is however still uncertain if cognitive changes belong to the spectrum of non-motor prodromal Parkinson's disease. Thanks to the very long-term follow-up of the PAQUID population-based cohort, we assessed trajectories of cognitive complaints and functioning over a 13-year period before the diagnosis of late onset Parkinson's disease.

METHODS

This study relies on a matched nested case-control sample selected from the cohort. Of the 3777 initial subjects of the cohort, 43 developed incident Parkinson's disease over the follow-up. The mean age at diagnosis was 78.0 (standard deviation = 5.8) years and 46.5% were men. These cases were matched to 86 elderly control subjects. Scores of different cognitive domains, daily function, and depressive symptoms were described throughout the follow-up using mixed-effects models.

RESULTS

No significant global cognitive decline preceded the diagnosis of late onset Parkinson's disease. However, psychomotor speed appeared significantly slower 2 years before the diagnosis and depressive symptoms 12 years before. Global score of instrumental activities of daily living became altered 2-3 years preceding the diagnosis of late onset Parkinson's disease, including the use of public transportation that was altered ten years before the diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

In late onset Parkinson's disease, while global cognitive functions seem preserved, psychomotor speed starts to decline 2 years before the diagnosis and activities of daily living are also impacted. Depressive symptoms appear very early in the prediagnosic phase.