Parkinson's disease with orthostatic hypotension: analyses of clinical characteristics and influencing factors

The correlation of orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson disease with the disease course and severity and its impact on quality of life

We investigated the correlation of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson disease (PD) with the disease course and severity, and its possible impact on quality of life. 171 PD patients were recruited and divided into the PD-NOH (n = 91) and PD-OH groups (n = 80). Clinical data were collected. The severity and quality of life of PD patients were evaluated. The impact of disease severity was analyzed using logistic regression analysis. The ROC curve was plotted. There were significant differences (P < .05) between PD-NOH and PD-OH groups in terms of the disease course, non-motor symptoms (somnipathy), Hoehn&Yahr stage, LEDD score, RBDSQ score, PDQ-39 score, MMSE score, MoCA, MDS-UPDRS Part III scores during off- and on-periods, and NMSS score. Hoehn&Yahr stage (OR 4.950, 95% CI 1.516-16.157, P = .008) was closely associated with the risk of OH in PD. PDQ-39 score (OR 1.079, 95% CI 1.033-1.127, P = .001) in PD patients with OH further decreased. Patients with PD-OH experienced severe impairment in 4 dimensions of quality of life, including motor function, cognitive function, physical discomfort, and activities of daily living. Different clinical symptoms of PD-OH were positively correlated with PDQ39 subscales. The area under the ROC curve of the Hoehn&Yahr stage in predicting the occurrence of OH was 0.679 (95% CI 0.600-0.758), and that of the Hoehn&Yahr stage combined with levodopa equivalent dose, and MDS-UPDRS Part III score during off-period was 0.793 (95% CI 0.727-0.862). Higher Hoehn&Yahr stage is associated with increased risk of OH in PD patients, and deteriorated quality of life of PD patients. Patients with different OH symptoms are affected in different dimensions of their quality of life. The Hoehn & Yahr stage can independently predict the risk of OH in PD patients.

The effects of aerobic exercise and transcranial direct current stimulation on cognitive function in older adults with and without cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Aerobic exercise (AE) may slow age-related cognitive decline. However, such cognition-sparing effects are not uniform across cognitive domains and studies. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation and is also emerging as a potential alternative to pharmaceutical therapies. Like AE, the effectiveness of tDCS is also inconsistent for reducing cognitive impairment in ageing. The unexplored possibility exists that pairing AE and tDCS could produce synergistic effects and reciprocally augment cognition-improving effects in older individuals with and without cognitive impairments. Previous research found such synergistic effects on cognition when cognitive training is paired with tDCS in older individuals with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia.

AIM

The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to explore if pairing AE with tDCS could augment singular effects of AE and tDCS on global cognition (GC), working memory (WM) and executive function (EF) in older individuals with or without MCI and dementia.

METHODS

Using a PRISMA-based systematic review, we compiled studies that examined the effects of AE alone, tDCS alone, and AE and tDCS combined on cognitive function in older individuals with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. Using a PICOS approach, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science searches up to December 2021, we focused on 'MoCA', 'MMSE', 'Mini-Cog' (measures) and 'cognition', 'cognitive function', 'cognitive', 'cognitive performance', 'executive function', 'executive process', 'attention', 'memory', 'memory performance' (outcome terms). We included only randomized controlled trials (RTC) in humans if available in English full text over the past 20 years, with participants' age over 60. We assessed the methodological quality of the included studies (RTC) by the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.

RESULTS

Overall, 68 studies were included in the meta-analyses. AE (ES = 0.56 [95% CI: 0.28-0.83], p = 0.01) and tDCS (ES = 0.69 [95% CI: 0.12-1.26], p = 0.02) improved GC in all three groups of older adults combined (healthy, MCI, demented). In healthy population, AE improved GC (ES = 0.46 [95% CI: 0.22-0.69], p = 0.01) and EF (ES = 0.27 [95% CI: 0.05-0.49], p = 0.02). AE improved GC in older adults with MCI (ES = 0.76 [95% CI: 0.21-1.32], p = 0.01). tDCS improved GC (ES = 0.69 [90% CI: 0.12-1.26], p = 0.02), all three cognitive function (GC, WM and EF) combined in older adults with dementia (ES = 1.12 [95% CI: 0.04-2.19], p = 0.04) and improved cognitive function in older adults overall (ES = 0.69 [95% CI: 0.20-1,18], p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our systematic review with meta-analysis provided evidence that beyond the cardiovascular and fitness benefits of AE, pairing AE with tDCS may have the potential to slow symptom progression of cognitive decline in MCI and dementia. Future studies will examine the hypothesis of this present review that a potentiating effect would incrementally improve cognition with increasing severity of cognitive impairment.

Scanning Imaging Study of Patients with Parkinson's Disease Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Based on Linear Equation

A predictive method based on a linear equation was proposed to study the factors influencing lower urinary tract dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. A 10-month follow-up of 200 selected Parkinson's patients from January to December 2020 used a linear regression equation to analyze whether depletion function was associated with a specific nonmotor function loss, and a linear regression equation was used for analysis. A loss of emptiness function was used to determine whether there are complications associated with lower motor function and cognitive function. The experimental results showed that dysuria in Parkinson's disease was related to the following nonmotility disorders: gastrointestinal dysfunction (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.57-3.92, P < 0.001), cardiovascular dysfunction (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.23~4.11, P = 0.014), respiratory dysfunction (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.32~3.24, P = 0.029), cutaneous autonomic dysfunction (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.15~3.08, P = 0.023), and sleep disorders (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.32~3.14, P = 0.001). In addition, dysuria was associated with higher UPDRS-III (regression coefficient 1.74, 95% CI 0.56-2.67, P = 0.001). Thus, nonmotor disorders have been shown to be associated with early impairment.

Trajectory Analysis of Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson's Disease: Results From Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative Cohort

Background: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) can lead to falls, impair quality of life, and increase mortality. A trajectory analysis of OH could be useful to predict and prevent the hypotension incidence early.

Methods: The longitudinal data of 660 patients with PD with disease duration up to 12 years were extracted from an integrated PD database. We used latent class mixed modeling (LCMM) to identify patient subgroups, demonstrating trajectories of changes in orthostatic blood pressure (BP) over time. The optimal number of subgroups was selected by several criteria including the Bayesian Information Criterion. Baseline information comparison between groups and backward stepwise logistic regression were conducted to define the distinguishing characteristics of these subgroups and to investigate the predictors for BP trajectory.

Results: We identified three trajectories for each orthostatic change of systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP), namely, Class 1 (i.e., the increasing class) consisted of 18 participants with low ΔSBP that increased continuously during the follow-up; Class 2 (i.e., the low-stable class) consisted of 610 participants with low ΔSBP that remained low throughout the follow-up; and Class 3 (i.e., the high-stable class) consisted of 32 participants with high ΔSBP at baseline that was relatively stable throughout the follow-up. Several parameters differed among subgroups, but only male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 4.687, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.024–21.459], lower supine diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (OR = 0.934, 95% CI = 0.876–0.996), and lower level of total protein at baseline (OR = 0.812, 95% CI = 0.700–0.941) were significant predictors of an increasing ΔSBP trajectory.

Conclusion: This study provides new information on the longitudinal development of ΔSBP in patients with PD with distinct trajectories of rapidly increasing, low-stable, and high-stable class. The parameters such as male sex, lower supine DBP, and lower total proteins help to identify the rapidly increasing class.

REM sleep behavioral disorder may be an independent risk factor for orthostatic hypotension in Parkinson's disease

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between clinically possible rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavioral disorder (pRBD) and orthostatic hypotension (OH) in PD patients, as well as to explore the mechanisms underlying the association.

METHODS

PD patients (n = 116) were assigned to a group with OH (PD-OH) or without OH (PD-NOH). General demographic and clinical data were collected. A series of scales were used to assess the clinical symptoms in the two groups.

RESULTS

A total of 27 patients (23.3%) had OH. The PD-OH group showed significantly higher H-Y staging score and significantly higher frequencies of pRBD, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment than the PD-NOH group. Binary logistic regression analysis identified the following factors as independently associated with PD-OH: H-Y staging [odds ratio (OR) 2.565, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.160-5.673; P = 0.020], RBD (OR 7.680, 95% CI 1.944-30.346; P = 0.004), UPDRS II (OR 1.021, 95% CI 0.980-1.063; P = 0.020), depression (OR 7.601, 95% CI 1.492-38.718; P = 0.015), and cognitive impairment (OR 0.824, 95% CI 0.696-0.976; P = 0.025).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that pRBD is an independent risk factor for OH in patients with PD. We speculate that there may be a close relationship between RBD and OH, which requires attention. Early diagnosis of RBD may help predict the appearance of OH in PD patients.

The Beneficial Role of Exercise on Treating Alzheimer's Disease by Inhibiting β-Amyloid Peptide

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with a very large burden on global healthcare systems. Thus, it is imperative to find effective treatments of the disease. One feature of AD is the accumulation of neurotoxic β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). Aβ induces multiple pathological processes that are deleterious to nerve cells. Despite the development of medications that target the reduction of Aβ to treat AD, none has proven to be effective to date. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical exercise, are also being studied. The benefits of exercise on AD are widely recognized. Experimental and clinical studies have been performed to verify the role that exercise plays in reducing Aβ deposition to alleviate AD. This paper reviewed the various mechanisms involved in the exercise-induced reduction of Aβ, including the regulation of amyloid precursor protein cleaved proteases, the glymphatic system, brain-blood transport proteins, degrading enzymes and autophagy, which is beneficial to promote exercise therapy as a means of prevention and treatment of AD and indicates that exercise may provide new therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD.

Euglycemia Indicates Favorable Motor Outcome in Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND

The interplay between glycemic control and Parkinson's disease (PD) has long been recognized but not fully understood.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels with motor and cognitive symptom progression in a prospective PD cohort.

METHODS

Of 244 PD patients, 17 had low HbA1c (≤30 mmol/mol), 184 were euglycemic (HbA1c 31-41 mmol/mol), 18 had high HbA1c (HbA1 ≥42 mmol/mol), and 25 had diabetes mellitus (DM). Survival analysis was applied on time until Hoehn and Yahr stage ≥3 (motor outcome) and until mild cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

Low HbA1c (HR 2.7; 95% CI 1.3-6; P = 0.01) as well as high HbA1c (HR 3.6; 95% CI 1.5-8.9; P = 0.005) but not DM were independent predictors of unfavorable motor outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Both high and low HbA1c levels may be associated with motor symptom progression in PD; however, further studies are needed to confirm these findings and increase understanding regarding causality. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Blood Pressure Patterns in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is a non-motor feature in Parkinson’s disease with negative impact on functionality and life expectancy, prompting early detection and proper management. We aimed to describe the blood pressure patterns reported in patients with Parkinson’s disease, as measured by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. (2) Methods: We conducted a systematic search on the PubMed database. Studies enrolling patients with Parkinson’s disease undergoing 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were included. Data regarding study population, Parkinson’s disease course, vasoactive drugs, blood pressure profiles, and measurements were recorded. (3) Results: The search identified 172 studies. Forty studies eventually fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with 3090 patients enrolled. Abnormal blood pressure profiles were commonly encountered: high blood pressure in 38.13% of patients (938/2460), orthostatic hypotension in 38.68% (941/2433), supine hypertension in 27.76% (445/1603) and nocturnal hypertension in 38.91% (737/1894). Dipping status was also altered often, 40.46% of patients (477/1179) being reverse dippers and 35.67% (310/869) reduced dippers. All these patterns were correlated with negative clinical and imaging outcomes. (4) Conclusion: Patients with Parkinson’s disease have significantly altered blood pressure patterns that carry a negative prognosis. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be validated as a biomarker of PD-associated cardiovascular dysautonomia and a tool for assisting therapeutic interventions.

Lower Urinary Tract and Gastrointestinal Dysfunction Are Common in Early Parkinson's Disease

Purpose

Autonomic dysfunction is a common nonmotor feature and early manifestation of Parkinsons disease (PD). Autonomic dysfunction in PD is associated with a worse prognosis. We sought to characterize autonomic dysfunction and identify associated factors in patients with early PD.

Methods

An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted to evaluate patients with early PD from the Parkinsons Progression Markers Initiative. We utilized the Scales for Outcomes in Parkinsons Disease-Autonomic dysfunction questionnaire to determine the prevalence and frequencies of autonomic symptomatology. The cohort was grouped into high and low dysautonomic scores. A regression model identified variables that independently explained dysautonomic scores in our early PD cohort.

Results

414 PD patients had a mean age of 61.1 (SD 9.7) years at diagnosis and mean disease duration of 6.7 (SD 6.6) months. Among all patients, 43.7% (181/414) had high dysautonomic scores. Urinary and gastrointestinal symptoms were the most prevalent and frequently reported dysautonomic symptoms. Patients with fatigue (beta = 4.28, p < 0.001), probable rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (beta = 2.71, p < 0.001), excessive daytime sleepiness (beta = 1.88,p=0.039), impulsivity and compulsivity (beta = 2.42, p < 0.001), and increasing age (beta = 1.05, p < 0.001) were more likely to have high dysautonomic scores.

Conclusion

Lower urinary tract and gastrointestinal symptoms are prevalent and frequent in early PD patients. Fatigue, sleep disorders, impulsivity and compulsivity, and age are predictors of autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic symptoms predominated in this group of early PD patients in the disease course and were associated with more severe disease.

Difference in cardiovascular response during orthostatic stress in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy

Although orthostatic hypotension is more prominent in multiple system atrophy (MSA) than in Parkinson's disease (PD), there is no study comparing the degree of decrease in total peripheral resistance and cardiac response during orthostatic stress between both diseases. In this study, we examined whether there is a difference in cardiovascular response between MSA and PD. We examined the results of the head-up tilt test in 68 patients with MSA, 28 patients with cardiac non-denervated PD, and 70 patients with cardiac denervated PD whose total peripheral resistance after 60° tilting was lower than the value at 0°. Differences in cardiac output and blood pressure changes were compared against the decrease in total peripheral resistance. There was no difference in the degree of decrease in total peripheral resistance among the three groups. However, the slope of the regression line revealed that the increase in cardiac output against the change in total peripheral resistance was significantly lower in the MSA group than in the cardiac non-denervated and denervated PD groups, and that the decrease in systolic blood pressure against the change in total peripheral resistance was significantly greater in the MSA group than in the cardiac non-denervated and denervated PD groups. In MSA, the cardiac response during orthostatic stress is lower than that in PD, possibly underlying the fact that orthostatic hypotension is more prominent in MSA than in PD.