Abstract
Background: Mild Parkinsonian signs (MPS) are commonly seen in aging, and have been related to cerebral Small Vessel Diseases (SVD) with no univocal results.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relation between MPS and White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, caudate atrophy, and global cerebral atrophy in a large cohort of Neurologically and Cognitively Healthy (NCH) aging individuals.
Method: 1,219 NCH individuals were included in the analysis, and underwent standard brain MRI. The items of the motor section of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale were used to evaluate tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and gait/balance/axial dysfunction. Caudate atrophy and global cerebral atrophy were assessed through the bicaudate ratio and the lateral ventricles to brain ratio, respectively. WMH were assessed through two visual rating scales. Lacunes were also rated. Associations of MPS with vascular risk factors/diseases and imaging findings were determined through the logistic regression analysis.
Results: Frontal and basal ganglia lacunes, frontal WMH, caudate atrophy, and global cerebral atrophy were associated with bradykinesia. Basal ganglia lacunes, caudate atrophy, and global cerebral atrophy were associated with gait/balance/axial dysfunction. Rigidity was associated with frontal WMH, and tremor with caudate atrophy and global cerebral atrophy. NCH subjects with MPS, performed less than subjects without MPS in tests evaluating global cognition and language.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that in NCH aging individuals, MPS are associated with cortical and subcortical vascular and atrophic changes, and are probably, a warning sign of incipient cognitive decline. Subjects with MPS should manage rigorously cerebral SVD to prevent future physical and cognitive disabilities.
Keywords: Healthy aging subjects, mild parkinsonian signs, white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, atrophy of the caudate nuclei, global cerebral atrophy.
Current Alzheimer Research
Title:Association Between Atrophy of the Caudate Nuclei, Global Brain Atrophy, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Mild Parkinsonian Signs in Neurologically and Cognitively Healthy Subjects Aged 45-84 Years: A Crosssectional Study
Volume: 15 Issue: 11
Author(s): Cecilia Camarda*, Paola Torelli, Carmela Pipia, Iacopo Battaglini, Delia Azzarello, Rosamaria Rosano, Giusi Daniela Ventimiglia, Gianluca Sottile, Giovanna Cilluffo and Rosolino Camarda
Affiliation:
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Palermo, Palermo,Italy
Keywords: Healthy aging subjects, mild parkinsonian signs, white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, atrophy of the caudate nuclei, global cerebral atrophy.
Abstract: Background: Mild Parkinsonian signs (MPS) are commonly seen in aging, and have been related to cerebral Small Vessel Diseases (SVD) with no univocal results.
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relation between MPS and White Matter Hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, caudate atrophy, and global cerebral atrophy in a large cohort of Neurologically and Cognitively Healthy (NCH) aging individuals.
Method: 1,219 NCH individuals were included in the analysis, and underwent standard brain MRI. The items of the motor section of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale were used to evaluate tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and gait/balance/axial dysfunction. Caudate atrophy and global cerebral atrophy were assessed through the bicaudate ratio and the lateral ventricles to brain ratio, respectively. WMH were assessed through two visual rating scales. Lacunes were also rated. Associations of MPS with vascular risk factors/diseases and imaging findings were determined through the logistic regression analysis.
Results: Frontal and basal ganglia lacunes, frontal WMH, caudate atrophy, and global cerebral atrophy were associated with bradykinesia. Basal ganglia lacunes, caudate atrophy, and global cerebral atrophy were associated with gait/balance/axial dysfunction. Rigidity was associated with frontal WMH, and tremor with caudate atrophy and global cerebral atrophy. NCH subjects with MPS, performed less than subjects without MPS in tests evaluating global cognition and language.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that in NCH aging individuals, MPS are associated with cortical and subcortical vascular and atrophic changes, and are probably, a warning sign of incipient cognitive decline. Subjects with MPS should manage rigorously cerebral SVD to prevent future physical and cognitive disabilities.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Camarda Cecilia *, Torelli Paola , Pipia Carmela , Battaglini Iacopo , Azzarello Delia , Rosano Rosamaria , Ventimiglia Daniela Giusi , Sottile Gianluca , Cilluffo Giovanna and Camarda Rosolino , Association Between Atrophy of the Caudate Nuclei, Global Brain Atrophy, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Mild Parkinsonian Signs in Neurologically and Cognitively Healthy Subjects Aged 45-84 Years: A Crosssectional Study, Current Alzheimer Research 2018; 15 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205015666180702111110
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1567205015666180702111110 |
Print ISSN 1567-2050 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5828 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New Advances in the Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Alzheimer's Disease
Aims and Scope: Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing prevalence that demands concerted efforts to advance our understanding and strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. This thematic issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from multidisciplinary perspectives to address ...read more
Current updates on the Role of Neuroinflammation in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Neuroinflammation is an invariable hallmark of chronic and acute neurodegenerative disorders and has long been considered a potential drug target for Alzheimer?s disease (AD) and dementia. Significant evidence of inflammatory processes as a feature of AD is provided by the presence of inflammatory markers in plasma, CSF and postmortem brain ...read more
Deep Learning for Advancing Alzheimer's Disease Research
Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses a significant global health challenge, with an increasing number of individuals affected yearly. Deep learning, a subfield of artificial intelligence, has shown immense potential in various domains, including healthcare. This thematic issue of Current Alzheimer Research explores the application of deep learning techniques in advancing our ...read more
Diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers of dementia
Dementia affects 18 million people worldwide. Dementia is a syndrome of symptoms caused by brain disease, usually chronic or progressive, clinically characterized by multiple impairments of higher cortical functions such as memory, thinking, orientation, and learning. In addition, in the course of dementia, cognitive deficits are observed, which often hinder ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Curcuminoids in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Modeling Cardiovascular Development: New Approaches are Making In Vitro En Vogue
Current Cardiology Reviews Exploring the Role of Gene Therapy for Neurological Disorders
Current Gene Therapy Changes in Speech Chunking in Reading Aloud is a Marker of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild-to-Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Drug Delivery to CNS: Challenges and Opportunities with Emphasis on Biomaterials Based Drug Delivery Strategies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Emerging Biology of PDE10A
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Endocannabinoid System in Huntingtons Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design Genetic Studies in Relation to Kuru: An Overview
Current Molecular Medicine Cocaine Dependence and Stroke: Pathogenesis and Management
Current Neurovascular Research Pyrazoline: A Promising Scaffold for the Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Radiotracers Based on Technetium-94m
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Associations of Cerebrovascular and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology with Brain Atrophy
Current Alzheimer Research Myopathic Involvement and Mitochondrial Pathology in Kennedy Disease and in Other Motor Neuron Diseases
Current Molecular Medicine Systemic Redox Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Current Drug Metabolism Adenosine in the Central Nervous System: Effects on Neurotransmission and Neuroprotection
Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Discontinued) Protein Interaction Studies for Understanding the Tremor Pathway in Parkinson’s Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Mechanisms of Sleep-Wake Cycle Modulation
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Hypothalamic and Neuroendocrine Changes in Huntingtons Disease
Current Drug Targets Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Protein- and Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)- Immunoreactive Structures in the Brains of Aged Tree Shrews
Current Aging Science Targeting Brain Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors to Treat Major Depression and Co-Morbid Alcohol or Nicotine Addiction
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets