Applause sign in advanced Parkinson's disease

[Parkinson's disease and it's look-alike]

The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) requires the exclusion of other diseases using various methods. However, it is difficult to differentiate these diseases based only on clinical symptoms, and information regarding responses to drugs and several imaging examinations are often needed for a diagnosis. In recent years, various neurological signs and symptoms have been reported that are particularly useful in neurological examinations for differentiating PD, progressive supranuclear palsy, and multiple system atrophy. Currently, diagnosis using imaging techniques and artificial intelligence are being developed, but systematic neurological examinations will continue to be important in diagnosing these diseases.

The applause sign in elderly patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Applause sign (AS) was shown to be an indicator of frontal subcortical dysfunction in many neurodegenerative diseases. Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) is one of those in which frontosubcortical disconnection can be displayed. We aimed to examine the presence of AS in the elderly patients with INPH and its possible diagnostic role in the frontal dysfunction commonly seen in the disease. Sixty-six patients diagnosed with probable INPH, 32 with behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and 325 healthy elderly subjects were included in this cross-sectional and retrospective study. AS was evaluated with the clapping test. Patients with INPH were further assessed with frontal assessment battery (FAB), Stroop test, verbal fluency test and clock drawing test (CDT). The concentration of total amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42), Aβ40, total (t) tau and phosphorylated (p)-tau proteins were also measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). AS was observed in all groups (40% in bvFTD, 28.8% in INPH, 1.2% in controls, respectively). It was significantly more frequent in patients with bvFTD and INPH as compared to the controls (p < 0.001, for each). The frequency was similar in the patients with bvFTD and INPH (p = 0.802). Significant differences were found between the AS(+) and (-) INPH patients with regards to FAB, Stroop test-errors and verbal fluency test, except for the CSF proteins. AS can be used as a simple, useful and rapid clinical test that investigates executive dysfunction in elderly patients with INPH in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Red flags phenotyping: A systematic review on clinical features in atypical parkinsonian disorders

To establish a clinical diagnosis of a parkinsonian disorder, physicians rely on their ability to identify relevant red flags, in addition to cardinal features, to support or refute their working diagnosis in an individual patient. The term 'red flag', was originally coined in 1989 to define the presence of non-cardinal features that may raise a suspicion of multiple system atrophy (MSA), or at least suggest alternative diagnosis to Parkinson's disease (PD). Since then, the term 'red flag', has been consistently used in the literature to denote the clinical history or signs that may signal to physicians the possibility of an atypical parkinsonian disorder (APD). While most red flags were originally based on expert opinion, many have gained acceptance and are now included in validated clinical diagnostic criteria of PD and APDs. The clinical appreciation of red flags, in conjunction with standard criteria, may result in a more accurate and earlier diagnosis compared to standard criteria alone. However, red flags can be clinical signs that are non-neurological, making the systematic assessment for them a real challenge in clinical practice. Here, we have conducted a systematic review to identify red flags and their clinical evidence in the differential diagnosis of common degenerative parkinsonism, including PD, MSA, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and dementia with Lewy body (DLB). Increasing awareness and appropriate use of red flags in clinical practice may benefit physicians in the diagnosis and management of their patients with parkinsonism.

Triple test, a diagnostic observation, can detect cognitive impairment in older adults

BACKGROUND

A simple, quick, and efficient screening tool for detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is essential, especially in the primary care setting. In this study, we examined the neuropsychological profiles of elderly patients and aimed to assess the diagnostic value of the triple test, comprised of the attended alone sign (AAS), head-turning sign, and applause sign (AS), for detecting MCI and AD.

METHOD

Comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed in 354 elderly outpatients, and the presence or absence of AS, AAS and HTS was investigated.

RESULTS

Of the 354 patients, 93 patients were considered to be cognitively impaired (MCI: 30; AD: 63); the remaining 261 were cognitively healthy. Relative to those without AS, patients with AS had significantly lower scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, the clock-drawing test, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, and Basic Activities of Daily Living Scale (P < 0.001, for each). Similar significant differences were found between patients who were positive and negative for the HTS (P < 0.001) and between those who attended the clinic alone and those who were accompanied (P < 0.001). The sensitivity of the triple test for identifying cognitively impairment (CI), MCI, and AD was 0.61, 0.30, and 0.72, respectively; the specificity was 0.85, 0.68, and 0.83, respectively; and the positive and negative predictive values were 0.69, 0.09, and 0.59, respectively, and 0.79, 0.90, and 0.89, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study suggests that the triple test is a simple, quick, and efficient screening tool for detecting cognitive impairment, and the results may reflect deterioration in patients' activities of daily living. Additionally, it could be advantageous in clinical practice because educational level does not affect the test outcome. Therefore, it may be an appropriate test to screen for cognitive impairment in the elderly, both as a bedside diagnostic test and in daily clinical practice, especially in the primary care setting.