Yukari Morita

Three‐dimensional stereotactic surface projection SPECT analysis in Parkinson's disease with and without dementia

We investigated regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) using three‐dimensional stereotactic surface projection (3D‐SSP) analysis in 30 patients initially diagnosed as Parkinsons disease (PD), and compared differences in rCBF between patients with and without PD‐related manifestations. 3D‐SSP analysis of cerebral perfusion was performed by use of a control database. Compared to age‐matched controls, there were multiple hypoperfusion areas in cases where the original diagnosis was PD. Temporal bases showed the lowest perfusion; frontal bases and medial parietal lobes the second; visual cortices the third; and parietal association areas exhibited the fourth lowest. During the clinical course, 10 of the patients suffered dementia, 9 had fluctuating cognition, and 19 experienced repeated visual hallucinations. Significant negative correlations were observed between dementia and the bilateral posterior cingulate area, and among fluctuating cognition and bilateral medial parietal lobes, parietal association areas, and dorsal occipital lobes. Repeated visual hallucinations did not show any correlation with any region of interest. We concluded that multiple hypoperfusion areas were observed in the 3D‐SSP SPECT analysis. Although the presence of dementia showed a significant relationship with the bilateral posterior cingulate areas, perfusion in the frontal bases, temporal bases, or parietal lobes was markedly more reduced than that seen in the bilateral posterior cingulate areas.

Prevalence of Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonian syndromes in a rural Japanese district

Osaki Y, Morita Y, Kuwahara T, Miyano I, Doi Y. Prevalence of Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonian syndromes in a rural Japanese district.
Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 124: 182–187.
© 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for differential diagnostics in patients with parkinsonism

Objective –  We investigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) parameters in patients with parkinsonism, particularly in the early stages of the disease.

Effects of group work programs on community-dwelling elderly people with age-associated cognitive decline and/or mild depressive moods: A Kahoku Longitudinal Aging Study

Background:  Age‐associated cognitive decline (AACD) is a predictor of dementia and highly prevalent among elderly people. Many elderly people with AACD also suffer from depressive moods. We studied, the effect of group work programs on the cognitive function and quality of life (QOL) of community‐dwelling elderly people with AACD and/or mild depressive moods.

Cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies of three‐dimensional stereotactic surface projection SPECT analysis in Parkinson's disease

Although dementia is increasingly recognized as a common feature in Parkinsons disease (PD), its pathological substrate remains unknown. We conducted cross‐sectional and longitudinal brain perfusion SPECT analyses to explore changes during the course of developing dementia in PD. Fifty‐five patients originally diagnosed with PD were imaged in the cross‐sectional study. Twenty‐one of these, nine without dementia and 12 with dementia (PDD), were included in the longitudinal study to observe perfusion changes during the course of their disease. Data were analyzed using three‐dimensional stereotactic surface projection SPECT analysis. The UK Parkinsons Disease Society Brain Bank criteria were used to diagnose PD and the revised criteria for the clinical diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies for PDD. The cross‐sectional study showed that patients with PDD had significantly reduced perfusion in the right posterior cingulate, the right precuneus and the left posterior cingulate area. In the longitudinal study, significantly reduced perfusion was observed in the left anterior frontal gyrus in PD without dementia, and in the right inferior parietal lobule in those that developed PDD. We suggest that a relationship exists between developing dementia in PDD and reduced perfusion in the posterior parietal area.

Freezing of gait is an early clinical feature of progressive supranuclear palsy

Early clinical diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) remains challenging.

Factors associated with falling in patients with Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism: An assessment using the Tinetti Gait and Balance Scale

Aim:  To identify factors associated with falling, we assessed the Tinetti Gait and Balance Scale (TGBS) for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonism (AP), and assessed the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) for patients with PD.

Quantitative analysis of carotid atherosclerotic lesions and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein in community‐dwelling elderly 80 years or older

Aim:  To investigate the association between the carotid atherosclerotic lesions assessed by high‐resolution ultrasonography and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) in the community‐dwelling elderly aged 80 years or older.