Rate of decline in progressive supranuclear palsy

Translation from Preclinical Research to Clinical Trials: Transdermal Drug Delivery for Neurodegenerative and Mental Disorders

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), particularly dementia, provide significant problems to worldwide healthcare systems. The development of therapeutic materials for various diseases has a severe challenge in the form of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Transdermal treatment has recently garnered widespread favor as an alternative method of delivering active chemicals to the brain. This approach has several advantages, including low invasiveness, self-administration, avoidance of first-pass metabolism, preservation of steady plasma concentrations, regulated release, safety, efficacy, and better patient compliance. Topics include the transdermal method for therapeutic NDs, their classification, and the mechanisms that allow the medicine to enter the bloodstream through the skin. The paper also discusses the obstacles and potential outcomes of transdermal therapy, emphasizing the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches.

Progressive Supranuclear palsy (PSP) disease progression, management, and healthcare resource utilization: a retrospective observational study in the US and Canada

BACKGROUND

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative brain disease with rapid progression and currently limited treatment options. A comprehensive understanding of disease progression, management, and healthcare resource utilization is limited, and further research is challenging due to the small population of patients. To address these challenges in conducting PSP research, individuals with PSP were recruited using a multichannel approach tailored specifically to the PSP community. We performed a retrospective observational study using data abstracted from participant medical records collected from multiple patient care centers.

RESULTS

Seventy-two individuals with PSP were eligible for inclusion. On average, 144 medical documents per participant were collected from an average of 2.9 healthcare centers per participant, with a mean study period of 7.9 years. Among participants with a date of symptom onset documented in the medical records, the median time for the onset of the first fall was 2.0 years (IQR 3.2) before diagnosis, the median onset of unsteady gait or gait impairment was 1.2 years (IQR 1.8) before diagnosis, and the median onset of mobility problems was 0.8 years (IQR 1.8) before diagnosis. The most widely utilized healthcare resources, with at least 85% of participants using each of these resources at some point during the disease course, were medications (100%), imaging (99%), assistive devices (90%), supportive care (86%), and surgeries and procedures (85%).

CONCLUSIONS

This retrospective study adds to the current understanding of PSP symptoms, comorbidities, and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) across the disease journey. By involving individuals with PSP and their caregivers or legally authorized representatives in the research process, this study was unique in its approach to participant recruitment and enabled individuals to participate in research without the need for travel. We collected medical documents from multiple healthcare centers, allowing for broad data collection covering the entire disease journey. This approach to the collection of real-world data may be used to generate valuable insights into many aspects of disease progression and management in PSP and many other rare diseases.

Hearts and Minds: Emotion Recognition and Mentalizing in Parkinson's Disease and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

OBJECTIVE

There are scarce data comparing Parkinson's disease (PD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) in social cognition (SC). We aimed to compare patients with PSP and PD in SC.

METHODS

We included three groups: PD (n = 18), PSP (n = 20) and controls (n = 23). Participants underwent neuropsychological exams, including the mini-version of the Social and Emotional Assessment, which is composed of the facial emotion recognition test (FERT) and the modified faux-pas (mFP) test, which assesses Theory of Mind (ToM).

RESULTS

Patients with PD scored lower than controls in the FERT, but not in the mFP test. Patients with PSP performed worse than controls in both the mFP and FERT. PD and PSP groups did not differ in the FERT, but PSP performed worse than PD in the mFP test. The mFP test distinguished PSP from PD with 89% accuracy.

CONCLUSION

The assessment of ToM may contribute to the differentiation between PD and PSP.

Longitudinal Monitoring of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy using Body-Worn Movement Sensors

BACKGROUND

We have previously shown that wearable technology and machine learning techniques can accurately discriminate between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), Parkinson's disease, and healthy controls. To date these techniques have not been applied in longitudinal studies of disease progression in PSP.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to establish whether data collected by a body-worn inertial measurement unit (IMU) network could predict clinical rating scale scores in PSP and whether it could be used to track disease progression.

METHODS

We studied gait and postural stability in 17 participants with PSP over five visits at 3-month intervals. Participants performed a 2-minute walk and an assessment of postural stability by standing for 30 seconds with their eyes closed, while wearing an array of six IMUs.

RESULTS

Thirty-two gait and posture features were identified, which progressed significantly with time. A simple linear regression model incorporating the three features with the clearest progression pattern was able to detect statistically significant progression 3 months in advance of the clinical scores. A more complex linear regression and a random forest approach did not improve on this.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduced variability of the models, in comparison to clinical rating scales, allows a significant change in disease status from baseline to be observed at an earlier stage. The current study sheds light on the individual features that are important in tracking disease progression. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Longitudinal changes of early motor and cognitive symptoms in progressive supranuclear palsy: the OxQUIP study

BACKGROUND

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative condition characterised by a range of motor and cognitive symptoms. Very little is known about the longitudinal change in these symptoms over time. Moreover, the effectiveness of clinical scales to detect early changes in PSP is still a matter of debate.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine longitudinal changes in PSP features using multiple closely spaced follow-up time points over a period of 2 years. Methods 28 healthy control and 28 PSP participants, with average time since onset of symptoms of 1.9 years, were prospectively studied every 3 months for up to 24 months. Changes from baseline scores were calculated at each follow-up time point using multiple clinical scales to identify longitudinal progression of motor and cognitive symptoms.

RESULTS

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, but not the Mini-Mental State Examination, detected cognitive decline at baseline. Both scales revealed poor longitudinal sensitivity to clinical change in global cognitive symptoms. Conversely, the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale - part III and the PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS) reliably detected motor decline less than 2 years after disease onset. The 'Gait/Midline' PSPRS subscore consistently declined over time, with the earliest change being observed 6 months after baseline assessment.

CONCLUSION

While better cognitive screening tools are still needed to monitor cognitive decline in PSP, motor decline is consistently captured by clinical rating scales. These results support the inclusion of multiple follow-up time points in longitudinal studies in the early stages of PSP.

Safety and Effectiveness of Cell Therapy in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Take-Home Messages From a Pilot Feasibility Phase I Study of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells with anti-inflammatory properties. Here we tested the safety of MSCs in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01824121; Eudract No. 2011-004051-39). Seven patients were treated. To improve the safety, protocol adjustments were made during the performance of the study. The objectives of our work were: (1) to assess the safety of MSCs and (2) to identify critical issues in cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. Autologous MSCs from the bone marrow of PSP patients were administered through the internal carotid arteries. 1-year survival and number of severe adverse events were considered as safety endpoints. Clinical rating scales, neuropsychological assessments, gait and posture analysis, single-photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and brain magnetic resonance (BMR) were performed at different follow-up times. Peripheral blood levels of inflammatory cytokines were measured before and after cell infusion. Six of the seven treated patients were living 1 year after cell infusion. Asymptomatic spotty lesions were observed at BMR after 24 h in six of the seven treated patients. The last patient in the preliminary cohort (Case 5) exhibited transiently symptomatic BMR ischemic alterations. No severe adverse events were recorded in the last two treated patients. Interleukin-8 serum concentrations decreased in three patients (Case 2, 3, and 4). An adaptive study design, appropriate and up-to-date efficacy measures, adequate sample size estimation, and, possibly, the use of a cellular and/or allogeneic cell sources may help in performing phase II trials in the field.

Clinical progression of progressive supranuclear palsy: impact of trials bias and phenotype variants

Progressive supranuclear palsy causes diverse clinical presentations, including classical Richardson’s syndrome and several variant phenotypes. Clinical trials of disease-modifying therapies have recently been completed, with more planned for the next 2 years. However, many people with progressive supranuclear palsy do not meet eligibility criteria for these clinical trials. Understanding clinical progression with different phenotypes would improve trial design and enhance the accuracy of risk–benefit and cost–benefit assessments of new treatments for progressive supranuclear palsy. We set out to determine rates of motor and cognitive progression of possible, probable and definite progressive supranuclear palsy, with different phenotypes, from a representative cohort in a regional UK healthcare service. Longitudinal clinical data from people with Richardson’s syndrome and variant phenotypes were analysed using linear mixed-modelling, using both the full and modified versions of the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination and the revised Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination. Subgroup analyses considered patients meeting recent Phase II trial entry criteria and patients with neuropathological confirmation. Two hundred and twenty-seven patients [male = 59%, mean age (±standard deviation), 71.8 (±7.0) years] were followed for a mean 21.6 (±15.6) months. One hundred and seventy-four (77%) had Richardson’s syndrome at the outset, 25 had cortical variant presentations (13%, frontal, corticobasal, speech and language variants) and 28 had subcortical variant presentations (14%, parkinsonism, postural instability and gait freezing variants). Across all participants, annual progression in Richardson’s syndrome was faster than variant phenotypes on the Mini-Mental State Examination (−1.8 versus −0.9/year, P = 0.005) and revised Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (−5.3 versus −3.0/year, P = 0.01) but not the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (9.0 versus 7.1/year, P = 0.2) nor the modified Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (2.7 versus 2.3/year, P = 0.4). However, for those with more than 1 years’ follow-up, a significant difference was observed between Richardson’s syndrome and variant phenotypes in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (8.7 versus 6.3/year, P = 0.04). Survival was longer in variant phenotypes than Richardson’s syndrome [7.3 (±3.9) versus 5.6 (±2.0) years, P = 0.02]. Pathologically confirmed cases (n = 49) supported these findings. Patients meeting basic trial-eligibility criteria (n = 129) progressed faster on the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale than trial-not-eligible patients (10.1 versus 6.1/year, P = 0.001). In conclusion, phenotypes other than Richardson’s syndrome show slower progression and longer survival. Trial criteria do not select representative progressive supranuclear palsy cases. This has implications for trial design, and application of trial results to clinically more diverse patient populations.

Neuroinflammation predicts disease progression in progressive supranuclear palsy

INTRODUCTION

In addition to tau pathology and neuronal loss, neuroinflammation occurs in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). However, the prognostic value of the in vivo imaging markers for these processes in PSP remains unclear. We test the primary hypothesis that baseline in vivo imaging assessment of neuroinflammation in subcortical regions predicts clinical progression in patients with PSP.

METHODS

Seventeen patients with PSP-Richardson's syndrome underwent a baseline multimodal imaging assessment, including [11C]PK11195 positron emission tomography (PET) to index microglial activation, [18F]AV-1451 PET for tau pathology and structural MRI. Disease severity was measured at baseline and serially up to 4 years with the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (PSPRS) (average interval of 5 months). Regional grey-matter volumes and PET ligand binding potentials were summarised by three principal component analyses (PCAs). A linear mixed-effects model was applied to the longitudinal PSPRS scores. Single-modality imaging predictors were regressed against the individuals' estimated rate of progression to identify the prognostic value of baseline imaging markers.

RESULTS

PCA components reflecting neuroinflammation and tau burden in the brainstem and cerebellum correlated with the subsequent annual rate of change in the PSPRS. PCA-derived PET markers of neuroinflammation and tau pathology correlated with regional brain volume in the same regions. However, MRI volumes alone did not predict the rate of clinical progression.

CONCLUSIONS

Molecular imaging with PET for microglial activation and tau pathology can predict clinical progression in PSP. These data encourage the evaluation of immunomodulatory approaches to disease-modifying therapies in PSP and the potential for PET to stratify patients in early phase clinical trials.

RT001 in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy-Clinical and In-Vitro Observations

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a progressive movement disorder associated with lipid peroxidation and intracerebral accumulation of tau. RT001 is a deuterium reinforced isotopologue of linoleic acid that prevents lipid peroxidation (LPO) through the kinetic isotope effect. The effects of RT001 pre-treatment on various oxidative and bioenergetic parameters were evaluated in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from patients with PSP compared to controls. In parallel, 3 patients with PSP were treated with RT001 and followed clinically. MSCs derived from PSP patients had a significantly higher rate of LPO (161.8 ± 8.2% of control; p < 0.001). A 72-h incubation with RT001 restored the PSP MSCs to normal levels. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction in PSP-MSCs significantly decreased the level of GSH compared to control MSCs (to 56% and 47% of control; p < 0.05). Incubation with RT001 significantly increased level of GSH in PSP MSCs. The level of mitochondrial DNA in the cells was significantly lower in PSP-MSCs (67.5%), compared to control MSCs. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, size, and shape were also observed. Three subjects with possible or probable PSP were treated with RT001 for a mean duration of 26 months. The slope of the PSPRS changed from the historical decline of 0.91 points/month to a mean decline of 0.16 points/month (+/−0.23 SEM). The UPDRS slope changed from an expected increase of 0.95 points/month to an average increase in score of 0.28 points/month (+/−0.41 SEM). MSCs derived from patients with PSP have elevated basal levels of LPO, ROS, and mitochondrial dysfunction. These findings are reversed after incubation with RT001. In PSP patients, the progression of disease may be reduced by treatment with RT001.

Preferences for Communication About End-of-Life Care in Atypical Parkinsonism

BACKGROUND

Studies on preferences regarding discussions on end-of-life care (EOLC), advance care planning (ACP), medical assistance in dying (MAiD), and brain donation have not yet been conducted in patients with atypical parkinsonism (AP).

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to know the preferences of patients with AP regarding discussions on EOLC, ACP, MAiD, and brain donation.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in patients clinically diagnosed with AP. An adapted questionnaire that assessed various potential factors that affect patients' preferences regarding EOLC and ACP was sent through postal mail to 278 patients.

RESULTS

A total of 90 completed questionnaires were returned. Most patients preferred to discuss at the time of diagnosis information about the disease, its natural course, treatment options, and prognosis. In contrast, they preferred that EOLC and ACP be discussed when the disease has progressed. No demographic or disease-related factors were found to be predictors of the patient's preferences. Notably, most patients (63.3%) had previous actual discussions on these issues. Less than a third of patients were open to discussions about MAiD and brain donation; older age and the importance of spirituality and religion decreased the odds of discussing these.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that patients with AP have preferences regarding the timing of the discussion of the different themes surrounding EOLC and ACP. A needs-based approach in initiating and conducting timely discussions on these difficult but essential issues is proposed. A thorough explanation and recognition of a patient's beliefs are recommended when initiating conversations about MAiD and brain donation. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Association of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Quality of Life Scale

INTRODUCTION

There is growing interest in using patient-reported outcomes as end points in clinical trials, such as the progressive supranuclear palsy quality of life (PSP-QoL) scale. However, this tool has not been widely validated and its correlation with validated motor scales has not been explored. To evaluate the potential utility of using PSP-QoL as an outcome, it is important to examine its relationship with a standard scale used to evaluate neurologic parameters, such as the PSP Rating Scale.

METHODS

PSP-QoL and PSP Rating Scale scores were gathered from 60 clinically diagnosed PSP patients, including patients with Richardson syndrome PSP (PSP-RS, n = 43) and those with non-RS PSP variants (n = 17). Linear regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and disease duration was used to evaluate the cross-sectional relationship between the total and subscale scores of the 2 instruments.

RESULTS

Among 60 PSP patients, there was a significant correlation between total PSP-QoL and PSP Rating Scale scores. The physical and mentation subscales of each instrument also demonstrated significant correlations. Comparisons among PSP subtypes indicated that worsening PSP-QoL Total and Physical subscale scores correlated with worsening PSP Rating Scale gait subscale scores more strongly for the non-RS PSP variants than for PSP-RS.

DISCUSSION

There is a significant association between the total scores and many of the subscale scores of the PSP-QoL and the PSP Rating Scale. Additionally, the relationship between these measures may differ for PSP-RS and non-RS variants. These findings suggest that the PSP-QoL may be useful in clinical trials as a patient-reported outcome measure. Large prospective multicenter studies utilizing the PSP-QoL are necessary to examine its relationship to disease evolution and changes in the PSP Rating Scale.

Disease course and treatment patterns in progressive supranuclear palsy: A real-world study

BACKGROUND

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms including vertical gaze palsy, frequent falls, abnormal gait, and cognitive/language/behavioral changes, making diagnosis and treatment challenging.

METHODS

Descriptive analysis was undertaken of cross-sectional, real-world data for patients with PSP provided by neurologists in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, and USA.

RESULTS

Data on 892 PSP patients were obtained from patient records. Common initial symptoms included difficulty walking/maintaining gait, confusion/disorientation, loss of balance/falling, and rigidity. These symptoms and vertical gaze palsy commonly aided diagnosis. At data collection, dysphagia and blepharospasm were also very common. Mean times from symptom-onset to consulting a healthcare professional and PSP diagnosis were 5.2 and 15.0 months, respectively. General practitioners or movement disorder specialists were most commonly consulted initially; 98% of patients were diagnosed with PSP by a movement disorder specialist or general neurologist. Alternative diagnoses, including Parkinson's disease (67%) and dementia (10%), were considered for 41% of patients prior to PSP diagnosis. Non-wheelchair walking aids and wheelchairs were used by 60% and 23% of patients, respectively, with mean times from symptom-onset to use being 20.8 and 39.5 months, respectively. Symptomatic medication, most often levodopa and antidepressants, was prescribed for 87% of patients.

CONCLUSION

This study provided information on disease course and treatment for a large number of PSP patients from various countries. PSP carries a considerable clinical burden. Diagnosis is often delayed. Consulting a movement disorder specialist might expediate diagnosis. Currently, only symptomatic treatments are available with a poor satisfaction, and there is an urgent need for disease-modifying agents.

Cognitive decline on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status in progressive supranuclear palsy

Objective: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is associated with a variety of cognitive deficits, but few studies have reported on its cognitive trajectory across time, especially on the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS).Methods: Two hundred twenty participants diagnosed with Richardson's syndrome of PSP (PSP-RS) were evaluated with the RBANS at baseline, six months, and one year with alternate forms.Results: When using dependent t-tests, significant declines were observed on all Indexes of the RBANS from baseline to six months (ps < 0.01). Between six months and one year, significant declines were observed on three Indexes of the RBANS (ps < 0.05). Using existing regression-based change formulae from cognitively intact older adults, these participants with PSP showed significant decline on all RBANS Indexes (ps < 0.01) across one year. Finally, new regression-based change formulae were developed on this sample of individuals with PSP-RS to more precisely evaluate cognitive change in this condition.Conclusion: In this large, longitudinal cohort of participants with PSP-RS, many (but not all) showed notable cognitive decline across six months and one year on the RBANS. The different methods of examining change across time yielded different results, with regression-based methods appearing to more accurately capture decline in this sample. These findings are expected to allow clinicians to more accurately evaluate cognitive trajectories in patients with PSP, as well as make better estimates of prognosis and offer more appropriate treatment recommendations. Such findings are also expected to inform clinical trials as to the changes in cognitive outcomes with this neurological condition.

Long-term treatment with rotigotine in drug-naïve PSP patients

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a severe neurodegenerative disease still lacking of alleviating treatments for either cognitive or motor disturbances. Aimed at widening the spectrum of therapeutic options, here, we describe efficacy and safety of a long-term treatment with Rotigotine, a non-ergolinic dopamine agonist, in PSP. Seven PSP drug-naïve patients, presenting with Richardson's syndrome, received up to 6 mg/24 h transdermal patch for 42 weeks as unique therapy. Adverse effects were recorded; efficacy was measured by comparing baseline and final treatment scores of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part3, and PSP rating scale (PSP-RS). At the end of our observation, no significant adverse events occurred; the cognitive item of PSP-RS was improved and MoCA score was similar at baseline. Contrariwise, motor disturbances worsened according to disease progression. Our observation thus suggests that long-term treatment with low doses of rotigotine is well tolerated and may support cognitive functions of PSP patients.

Cognitive and behavioural dysfunctions in a patient with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)

Background

The aim of the case study was to describe the profile of cognitive and emotional functioning of a patient with possible progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) from a longitudinal perspective.

Participants and procedure

This study involved an 71-year-old male patient diagnosed with PSP, and 9 matched healthy subjects. Neuro-psychological examination of the patient was performed twice with a 6 month interval. A set of neuropsycho-logical tests was used to assess both cognition and behaviour.

Results

Neuropsychological assessment revealed executive dysfunction dominance (planning deficits, reduced cogni-tive flexibility and abstract thinking, impulsiveness), reduced verbal fluency, psychomotor slowness and prob-lems with memory retrieval from the long-term memory storage in contrast to significantly better recognition of the previously learned information. According to emotional functioning, frontal change of personality was ob-served, with apathy, disinhibition, lack of insights, impulsiveness and “utilization behaviours”.

Conclusions

The profile of emotional and cognitive impairments met the criteria for dementia. There was a progression of deficits at visit two in comparison to visit one. The longitudinal perspective allowed the dynamics of emotional, cognitive and behavioural changes to be described over time: from depression related to initially preserved criticism of the illness to apathy and emotional blunting and behavioural frontal syndrome connected with the systematic loss of insight.

Minimal clinically important worsening on the progressive supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale

BACKGROUND

Despite the widespread use of the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rating Scale (PSPRS), it is not known what change in this scale is meaningful for patients.

METHODS

We analyzed data from a large clinical trial in PSP-Richardson's syndrome (AL-108-231) to calculate minimal clinically important worsening. This was defined as the difference in mean change of PSPRS in subjects rated "a little worse" and those rated "unchanged" on the Clinicians' Global Impression of Change Scale. A multivariate analysis using logistic regression assessed the relationship between clinical worsening, PSPRS, depression, and activities of daily living.

RESULTS

The minimal clinically important worsening on the PSPRS was 5.7 points, corresponding to the mean decline over 6 months in the trial. Changes in activities of daily living and PSPRS were significantly associated with clinical worsening.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically meaningful change is measurable on the PSPRS over 6 months. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Looking for Measures of Disease Severity in the Frontotemporal Dementia Continuum

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is characterized by executive dysfunctions, behavioral disturbances, language deficits and extrapyramidal symptoms. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration-modified Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (FTLD modified-CDR) has been proposed to measure disease severity in behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD). No tools of global disease severity are available in the other FTLD phenotypes [primary progressive aphasias (PPAs), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and corticobasal syndrome (CBS)]. This would be strategic as outcome measures in clinical trials. To this aim, we evaluated the association between brain volume (voxel based morphometry) and available clinical scales in FTD. In 176 FTD patients (64 bvFTD, 40 PPAs, 32 PSP, 40 CBS), instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs), FTLD-modified CDR, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Frontal Behavioral Inventory (FBI), and Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI) were administered and MRI performed. Whole-brain linear correlation between each clinical rating scale and brain volume was performed. In bvFTD and PPAs, FTLD-modified CDR was associated with regional brain volume, thereby providing evidence for validity of the FTLD-modified CDR. In PSP, none of the clinical indicators were associated with regional brain volume. In CBS, ADLs and MMSE correlated with frontotemporal lower volume. Considering monogenic disease, FTLD-modified CDR was the best measure. In FTD continuum, different measures able to correlate with brain damage should be considered for the different clinical phenotypes or genetic traits.

Mild Cognitive Impairment and Progression to Dementia in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

BACKGROUND

Cognitive deficits are common in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), but their relevance and the progression to dementia are still poorly described. The recently revised criteria for PSP consider cognitive dysfunction in the diagnostic work-up.

METHODS

The study retrospectively evaluated a series of 99 PSP patients with Richardson syndrome (PSP-RS), subgrouped according to cognitive and behavioural performances into PSP with normal cognition (PSP-NC), PSP with mild cognitive impairment (PSP-MCI), and PSP with dementia (PSP-D). The progression to dementia at the 3-year follow-up was assessed.

RESULTS

At baseline, 15.2% of patients were classified as PSP-NC, 43.4% as PSP-MCI, and 41.4% as PSP-D. During the 3-year follow-up, 21 out of 29 patients, previously classified as PSP-NC or PSP-MCI, converted to dementia, with an incidence rate of 241 per 1,000 patients/year. Nineteen out of 21 PSP patients (90%) developed the behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia phenotype. The only factor associated with conversion to dementia was MCI diagnosis at baseline (p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

Cognitive decline occurs in a great proportion of PSP-RS patients early during the disease course. In the absence of a specific phenotype, the diagnosis of MCI might identify PSP patients at greatest risk of developing dementia and should be considered further in the diagnostic assessment.

Understanding falls in progressive supranuclear palsy

INTRODUCTION

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is characterized by frequent falls which worsen with disease progression, causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Few studies have investigated which factors contribute to falls in PSP, and all have involved few participants, thus lacking necessary statistical power. The aim of this study was to identify clinical parameters most significantly associated with increasing falls in PSP, using the largest sample of patients to date.

METHODS

Comprehensive clinical data were collected from 339 not demented PSP patients meeting the NINDS-SPSP criteria, who were divided into two groups - Infrequent Fallers (IF; n = 118) with rare falls, and Frequent Fallers (FF; n = 221) who fell occasionally to multiple times a day. Of 198 clinical parameters, we hypothesized 38 to be correlated with an increasing risk of falls. These 38 parameters were analyzed via univariate regression analysis to determine the strength of their association with fall frequency. Unit odds ratios identified the magnitude with which each parameter resulted in an increasing risk of falls.

RESULTS

Twenty-five of 38 parameters analyzed were significantly associated with fall frequency based on univariate analysis. Symptom duration, clinical measures of disease severity, and several motoric and oculomotor clinical parameters were associated with FF. Examined cognitive parameters and slowing of vertical saccades were not.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical parameters identified as associated with increased frequency of falls improve our understanding of why they occur and may help identify not demented PSP patients at risk for increasing falls.

Tauopathy induced by low level expression of a human brain-derived tau fragment in mice is rescued by phenylbutyrate

Human neurodegenerative tauopathies exhibit pathological tau aggregates in the brain along with diverse clinical features including cognitive and motor dysfunction. Post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, ubiquitination and truncation, are characteristic features of tau present in the brain in human tauopathy. We have previously reported an N-terminally truncated form of tau in human brain that is associated with the development of tauopathy and is highly phosphorylated. We have generated a new mouse model of tauopathy in which this human brain-derived, 35 kDa tau fragment (Tau35) is expressed in the absence of any mutation and under the control of the human tau promoter. Most existing mouse models of tauopathy overexpress mutant tau at levels that do not occur in human neurodegenerative disease, whereas Tau35 transgene expression is equivalent to less than 10% of that of endogenous mouse tau. Tau35 mice recapitulate key features of human tauopathies, including aggregated and abnormally phosphorylated tau, progressive cognitive and motor deficits, autophagic/lysosomal dysfunction, loss of synaptic protein, and reduced life-span. Importantly, we found that sodium 4-phenylbutyrate (Buphenyl®), a drug used to treat urea cycle disorders and currently in clinical trials for a range of neurodegenerative diseases, reverses the observed abnormalities in tau and autophagy, behavioural deficits, and loss of synapsin 1 in Tau35 mice. Our results show for the first time that, unlike other tau transgenic mouse models, minimal expression of a human disease-associated tau fragment in Tau35 mice causes a profound and progressive tauopathy and cognitive changes, which are rescued by pharmacological intervention using a clinically approved drug. These novel Tau35 mice therefore represent a highly disease-relevant animal model in which to investigate molecular mechanisms and to develop novel treatments for human tauopathies.

PROSPERA: a randomized, controlled trial evaluating rasagiline in progressive supranuclear palsy

To date, pharmacological treatment options for progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative tauopathy, are limited. The MAO-B inhibitor rasagiline has shown neuroprotective effects in preclinical models of neurodegeneration. To evaluate the safety, tolerability and therapeutic effect of rasagiline on symptom progression in PSP. In this 1-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 44 patients fulfilling the NINDS-PSP criteria were randomized to 1 mg/d rasagiline or placebo. The combined primary endpoint included symptom progression as measured by the PSP rating scale (PSP-RS) and the requirement of L-dopa rescue medication. Secondary endpoints included Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living (SEADL), Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, Mini Mental State Examination, Frontal Assessment Battery and posturographic measurements. Of the 44 patients randomized, 26 completed the trial per protocol. Rasagiline was well tolerated, with a slight increase of known side effects (hallucinations, ventricular extrasystoles). No effect on the primary endpoint (p = 0.496) was detected. Symptom progression averaged at 11.2 (rasagiline) and 10.8 (placebo) points per year (ΔPSP-RS). No difference was seen in SEADL, depression, cognitive function, frontal executive function and posturographic measurements. Post hoc analyses of PSP-RS subdomains indicate a potential beneficial effect in the "limb motor" subdomain, whereas performance appeared lower in the "mentation" and "history" subdomains in the treatment group. While rasagiline is well tolerated in PSP, a beneficial effect on overall symptom progression was not detected. Post hoc analyses suggest the implementation of more specific endpoints in future studies.

Finding a new therapeutic approach for no-option Parkinsonisms: mesenchymal stromal cells for progressive supranuclear palsy

Background

The trophic, anti-apoptotic and regenerative effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) may reduce neuronal cell loss in neurodegenerative disorders.

Methods

We used MSC as a novel candidate therapeutic tool in a pilot phase-I study for patients affected by progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare, severe and no-option form of Parkinsonism. Five patients received the cells by infusion into the cerebral arteries. Effects were assessed using the best available motor function rating scales (UPDRS, Hoehn and Yahr, PSP rating scale), as well as neuropsychological assessments, gait analysis and brain imaging before and after cell administration.

Results

One year after cell infusion, all treated patients were alive, except one, who died 9 months after the infusion for reasons not related to cell administration or to disease progression (accidental fall). In all treated patients motor function rating scales remained stable for at least six-months during the one-year follow-up.

Conclusions

We have demonstrated for the first time that MSC administration is feasible in subjects with PSP. In these patients, in whom deterioration of motor function is invariably rapid, we recorded clinical stabilization for at least 6 months. These encouraging results pave the way to the next randomized, placebo-controlled phase-II study that will definitively provide information on the efficacy of this innovative approach.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01824121

Power calculations and placebo effect for future clinical trials in progressive supranuclear palsy

BACKGROUND

Two recent randomized, placebo-controlled trials of putative disease-modifying agents (davunetide, tideglusib) in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) failed to show efficacy, but generated data relevant for future trials.

METHODS

We provide sample size calculations based on data collected in 187 PSP patients assigned to placebo in these trials. A placebo effect was calculated.

RESULTS

The total PSP-Rating Scale required the least number of patients per group (N = 51) to detect a 50% change in the 1-year progression and 39 when including patients with ≤ 5 years disease duration. The Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living required 70 patients per group and was highly correlated with the PSP-Rating Scale. A placebo effect was not detected in these scales.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose the 1-year PSP-Rating Scale score change as the single primary readout in clinical neuroprotective or disease-modifying trials. The Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living could be used as a secondary outcome. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Sample size calculations for clinical trials targeting tauopathies: a new potential disease target

Disease-modifying therapies are being developed to target tau pathology, and should, therefore, be tested in primary tauopathies. We propose that progressive apraxia of speech should be considered one such target group. In this study, we investigate potential neuroimaging and clinical outcome measures for progressive apraxia of speech and determine sample size estimates for clinical trials. We prospectively recruited 24 patients with progressive apraxia of speech who underwent two serial MRI with an interval of approximately 2 years. Detailed speech and language assessments included the Apraxia of Speech Rating Scale and Motor Speech Disorders severity scale. Rates of ventricular expansion and rates of whole brain, striatal and midbrain atrophy were calculated. Atrophy rates across 38 cortical regions were also calculated and the regions that best differentiated patients from controls were selected. Sample size estimates required to power placebo-controlled treatment trials were calculated. The smallest sample size estimates were obtained with rates of atrophy of the precentral gyrus and supplementary motor area, with both measures requiring less than 50 subjects per arm to detect a 25% treatment effect with 80% power. These measures outperformed the other regional and global MRI measures and the clinical scales. Regional rates of cortical atrophy, therefore, provide the best outcome measures in progressive apraxia of speech. The small sample size estimates demonstrate feasibility for including progressive apraxia of speech in future clinical treatment trials targeting tau.

Key emerging issues in progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration

It has been approximately 50 years since neurologists were introduced to the entities, "progressive supranuclear palsy" and "corticobasal degeneration". Since the two seminal publications, there have been significant advancements in our understanding of these two neurodegenerative diseases, particularly the fact that both are associated with tau. Recent advances over the past 3 years that are notable to the field are discussed in this review that covers clinical diagnosis, pathological features, neuroimaging and CSF biomarkers, genetic associations and clinical trials related to progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration.

Utility of Frontal Assessment Battery in detection of neuropsychological dysfunction in Richardson variant of progressive supranuclear palsy

Progressive supranuclear palsy is characterized by motor, cognitive and behavioral features. In Richardson's syndrome of PSP (PSP-RS) executive dysfunction is quite prominent. Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is one of the most popular screening tests in the differential diagnosis of bradykinetic rigid syndromes. The study aimed at analyzing FAB subscores in relation to neuropsychological assessment results. Twenty patients with PSP-RS (12 with probable and eight with possible diagnosis) participated in the study. Sixteen PSP-RS patients scored below 15 on FAB. Among four patients having scored above cut-off (12 points) on FAB, two demonstrated both executive and language deficits, while the other two presented with only selective executive deficits on comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. FAB is a useful screening measure in PSP, but it may not detect subtle executive deficits. Moreover, language performance seems to contribute significantly to FAB scores. Thus, FAB should be treated as "frontal" rather than "executive" screening task, in line with its name.

The evolution of primary progressive apraxia of speech

Primary progressive apraxia of speech is a recently described neurodegenerative disorder in which patients present with an isolated apraxia of speech and show focal degeneration of superior premotor cortex. Little is known about how these individuals progress over time, making it difficult to provide prognostic estimates. Thirteen subjects with primary progressive apraxia of speech underwent two serial comprehensive clinical and neuroimaging evaluations 2.4 years apart [median age of onset = 67 years (range: 49-76), seven females]. All underwent detailed speech and language, neurological and neuropsychological assessments, and magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography at both baseline and follow-up. Rates of change of whole brain, ventricle, and midbrain volumes were calculated using the boundary-shift integral and atlas-based parcellation, and rates of regional grey matter atrophy were assessed using tensor-based morphometry. White matter tract degeneration was assessed on diffusion-tensor imaging at each time-point. Patterns of hypometabolism were assessed at the single subject-level. Neuroimaging findings were compared with a cohort of 20 age, gender, and scan-interval matched healthy controls. All subjects developed extrapyramidal signs. In eight subjects the apraxia of speech remained the predominant feature. In the other five there was a striking progression of symptoms that had evolved into a progressive supranuclear palsy-like syndrome; they showed a combination of severe parkinsonism, near mutism, dysphagia with choking, vertical supranuclear gaze palsy or slowing, balance difficulties with falls and urinary incontinence, and one was wheelchair bound. Rates of whole brain atrophy (1.5% per year; controls = 0.4% per year), ventricular expansion (8.0% per year; controls = 3.3% per year) and midbrain atrophy (1.5% per year; controls = 0.1% per year) were elevated (P ≤ 0.001) in all 13, compared to controls. Increased rates of brain atrophy over time were observed throughout the premotor cortex, as well as prefrontal cortex, motor cortex, basal ganglia and midbrain, while white matter tract degeneration spread into the splenium of the corpus callosum and motor cortex white matter. Hypometabolism progressed over time in almost all subjects. These findings demonstrate that some subjects with primary progressive apraxia of speech will rapidly evolve and develop a devastating progressive supranuclear palsy-like syndrome ∼ 5 years after onset, perhaps related to progressive involvement of neocortex, basal ganglia and midbrain. These findings help improve our understanding of primary progressive apraxia of speech and provide some important prognostic guidelines.