Huntington Disease Health Related Quality of Life, Function and Well Being: The Patient's Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Limited information is available on patients' experience living with Huntington's disease (HD). The primary objective of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life and well being of patients with HD. METHODS: A non-interventional, cross-sectional study was conducted in 17 hospitals-based movement disorders units in Spain. Patients aged ≥ 18 years, genetically HD diagnosed [with a diagnostic confidence level score of 4, and an Independence Scale (IS) score ≥ 70] were included. The primary variables were the Huntington's Disease Health-related Quality of Life (HDQLIFE) scores and results of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Secondary outcomes include the Unified HD Rating Scale (UHDRS), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness (SSCI-8), Beck Depression Inventory-Fast Screen (BDI-FS) and Problem Behaviours Assessment for HD short Version (PBA-S). RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were included. The mean age (SD) was 53.1 (12.1) years and 56% were male. Most of the patients (99.0%) showed motor symptoms (87.3%), behavioural and psychiatric disturbances (59.8%), or cognitive impairment (20.6%). HDQLIFE domain score means (SD) includes concern with death and dying 45.97 (9.60) end-of-life planning 37.91 (8.84), and meaning and purpose 44.74 (9.05). SWLS score mean was 24.25 (7.33). Depressive symptoms were found in 37.4% of patients and moderate-to-severe feelings of hopelessness in 32.9%. The prevalence of stigma was 55.9% (n = 57). CONCLUSION: HD impacted quality of life, with prevalent motor, psychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairment. Patient perspectives may provide complementary information to implement specific interventions.

Mitochondrial complex I deficiency stratifies idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD) is believed to have a heterogeneous pathophysiology, but molecular disease subtypes have not been identified. Here, we show that iPD can be stratified according to the severity of neuronal respiratory complex I (CI) deficiency, and identify two emerging disease subtypes with distinct molecular and clinical profiles. The CI deficient (CI-PD) subtype accounts for approximately a fourth of all cases, and is characterized by anatomically widespread neuronal CI deficiency, a distinct cell type-specific gene expression profile, increased load of neuronal mtDNA deletions, and a predilection for non-tremor dominant motor phenotypes. In contrast, the non-CI deficient (nCI-PD) subtype exhibits no evidence of mitochondrial impairment outside the dopaminergic substantia nigra and has a predilection for a tremor dominant phenotype. These findings constitute a step towards resolving the biological heterogeneity of iPD with implications for both mechanistic understanding and treatment strategies.

Anti-alpha synuclein and anti-tau immunotherapies: Can a cocktail approach work?

The hypothesis that neurodegenerative diseases are proteinopathies due to toxic effect of different underlying proteins, such as amyloid-beta and 3+4R-tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease (PD), while still controversial is supported by several studies in the literature. This has led to conduct clinical trials attempting to reduce the load of these allegedly toxic proteins by immunotherapy, mostly but not solely based on antibodies against these proteins. Already completed clinical trials have ranged from initially negative results to recently partial positive outcomes, specifically for anti-amyloid antibodies in AD but also albeit to lesser degree for anti-synuclein antibodies in PD. Currently, there are several ongoing clinical trials in degenerative parkinsonisms with anti-synuclein approaches in PD and multiple system atrophy (MSA), as well as with anti-tau antibodies in 4R-tauopathies such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). While it can be argued that expectations that part of these clinical trials will be positive can be hope or hype, it is reasonable to consider the future possibility of "cocktail" combination of different antibodies after the available experimental evidence of cross-talk between these proteins and neuropathological evidence of coexistence of these proteinopathies more frequently than expected by chance. Moreover, such "cocktail" approaches are widespread and accepted common practice in other fields such as oncology, and the complexity of neurodegenerative parkinsonisms makes reasonable the option for testing and eventually applying such combined approaches, should these prove useful separately, in the setting of patients with evidence of underlying concomitant proteinopathies, for example through biomarkers.

Huntingtin CAG repeats in neuropathologically confirmed tauopathies: Novel insights.

Previous studies have suggested a relationship between the number of CAG triplet repeats in the HTT gene and neurodegenerative diseases not related to Huntington's disease (HD). This study seeks to investigate whether the number of CAG repeats of HTT is associated with the risk of developing certain tauopathies and its influence as a modulator of the clinical and neuropathological phenotype. Additionally, it aims to evaluate the potential of polyglutamine staining as a neuropathological screening. We genotyped the HTT gene CAG repeat number and APOE-ℰ isoforms in a cohort of patients with neuropathological diagnoses of tauopathies (n=588), including 34 corticobasal degeneration (CBD), 98 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and 456 Alzheimer's disease (AD). Furthermore, we genotyped a control group of 1070 patients, of whom 44 were neuropathologic controls. We identified significant differences in the number of patients with pathological HTT expansions in the CBD group (2.7%) and PSP group (3.2%) compared to control subjects (0.2%). A significant increase in the size of the HTT CAG repeats was found in the AD compared to the control group, influenced by the presence of the Apoliprotein E (APOE)-ℰ4 isoform. Post-mortem assessments uncovered tauopathy pathology with positive polyglutamine aggregates, with a slight predominance in the neostriatum for PSP and CBD cases and somewhat greater limbic involvement in the AD case. Our results indicated a link between HTT CAG repeat expansion with other non-HD pathology, suggesting they could share common neurodegenerative pathways. These findings support that genetic or histological screening for HTT repeat expansions should be considered in tauopathies.

Fluid and tissue biomarkers in Parkinson's disease: Immunodetection or seed amplification? Central or peripheral?

Over the last two decades there have been meaningful developments on biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, extensively (but not solely) focusing on their proteinopathic nature. Accordingly, in Alzheimer's disease determination of levels of total and phosphorylated tau (τ and p-τ, usually p-τ181) along with amyloid-beta1-42 (Aß1-42) by immunodetection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and currently even in peripheral blood, have been widely accepted and introduced to routine diagnosis. In the case of Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein as a potential biomarker (both for diagnosis and progression tracking) has proved more elusive under the immunodetection approach. In recent years, the emergence of the so-called seed amplification assays is proving to be a game-changer, with mounting evidence under different technical approaches and using a variety of biofluids or tissues, yielding promising diagnostic accuracies. Currently the least invasive but at once more reliable source of biosamples and techniques are being sought. Here we overview these advances.

Management of rare movement diseases in different world regions.

To evaluate the management of rare movement disorders (RMD) at the international level and identify care needs to be addressed, the Rare Movement Disorders Study Group of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) has conducted an exploratory survey. We sent an online survey to experts in Africa, Asia, Oceania and American continents following the classification of the MDS Regional Sections: Africa, Asia and Oceania (A&O), and Pan-America. We did not include Europe as the European Reference Network for Rare Neurological Diseases recently performed a similar care needs survey across European countries. We obtained responses from experts from 20 African, 26 A&O and 19 Pan-American countries. According to the respondents, only 55% of African countries had movement disorders experts, while these were present in 96% of A&O and 91% of Pan-American. Access to care for patients with RMD was stated difficult in 70% of African, 54% of A&O, and 65% of Pan-American countries. Africa was the region with greatest difficulties in accessing diagnostic tests. However, in Pan-America and A&O, large inequalities were observed between countries with quite variable access to therapeutic options such as deep brain stimulation. The survey results reflect wide variability in the management of RMD and provide evidence that a worldwide care-focused network is highly warranted. Scientific and medical organisations should raise awareness of deficits in managing RMD and care disparities among regions. The goals should be to facilitate the training of professionals, establish improvement strategies, and increase support and budgeting for these diseases.

Neurofilament light levels predict clinical progression and death in multiple system atrophy.

Disease-modifying treatments are currently being trialled in multiple system atrophy. Approaches based solely on clinical measures are challenged by heterogeneity of phenotype and pathogenic complexity. Neurofilament light chain protein has been explored as a reliable biomarker in several neurodegenerative disorders but data on multiple system atrophy have been limited. Therefore, neurofilament light chain is not yet routinely used as an outcome measure in multiple system atrophy. We aimed to comprehensively investigate the role and dynamics of neurofilament light chain in multiple system atrophy combined with cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical and imaging scales and for subject trial selection. In this cohort study, we recruited cross-sectional and longitudinal cases in a multicentre European set-up. Plasma and CSF neurofilament light chain concentrations were measured at baseline from 212 multiple system atrophy cases, annually for a mean period of 2 years in 44 multiple system atrophy patients in conjunction with clinical, neuropsychological and MRI brain assessments. Baseline neurofilament light chain characteristics were compared between groups. Cox regression was used to assess survival; receiver operating characteristic analysis to assess the ability of neurofilament light chain to distinguish between multiple system atrophy patients and healthy controls. Multivariate linear mixed-effects models were used to analyse longitudinal neurofilament light chain changes and correlated with clinical and imaging parameters. Polynomial models were used to determine the differential trajectories of neurofilament light chain in multiple system atrophy. We estimated sample sizes for trials aiming to decrease neurofilament light chain levels. We show that in multiple system atrophy, baseline plasma neurofilament light chain levels were better predictors of clinical progression, survival and degree of brain atrophy than the neurofilament light chain rate of change. Comparative analysis of multiple system atrophy progression over the course of disease, using plasma neurofilament light chain and clinical rating scales, indicated that neurofilament light chain levels rise as the motor symptoms progress, followed by deceleration in advanced stages. Sample size prediction suggested that significantly lower trial participant numbers would be needed to demonstrate treatment effects when incorporating plasma neurofilament light chain values into multiple system atrophy clinical trials in comparison to clinical measures alone. In conclusion, neurofilament light chain correlates with clinical disease severity, progression and prognosis in multiple system atrophy. Combined with clinical and imaging analysis, neurofilament light chain can inform patient stratification and serve as a reliable biomarker of treatment response in future multiple system atrophy trials of putative disease-modifying agents.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measures of Brain Atrophy Across the Spectrum of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration.

Importance: The accurate diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD) is hampered by imperfect clinical-pathological correlations. Objective: To assess and compare the diagnostic value of the magnetic resonance parkinsonism index (MRPI) and other magnetic resonance imaging-based measures of cerebral atrophy to differentiate between PSP, CBD, and other neurodegenerative diseases. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective diagnostic study included participants with 4-repeat tauopathies (4RT), PSP, CBD, other neurodegenerative diseases and available MRI who appeared in the University of California, San Francisco, Memory and Aging Center database. Data were collected from October 27, 1994, to September 29, 2019. Data were analyzed from March 1 to September 14, 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome of this study was the neuropathological diagnosis of PSP or CBD. The clinical diagnosis at the time of the MRI acquisition was noted. The imaging measures included the MRPI, cortical thickness, subcortical volumes, including the midbrain, pons, and superior cerebellar peduncle volumes. Multinomial logistic regression models (MLRM) combining different cortical and subcortical regions were defined to discriminate between PSP, CBD, and other pathologies. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) and cutoffs were calculated to differentiate between PSP, CBD, and other diseases. Results: Of the 326 included participants, 176 (54%) were male, and the mean (SD) age at MRI was 64.1 (8.0) years. The MRPI showed good diagnostic accuracy for the differentiation between PSP and all other pathologies (accuracy, 87%; AUROC, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.86-0.95) and between 4RT and other pathologies (accuracy, 80%; AUROC, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76-0.87), but did not allow the discrimination of participants with CBD. Its diagnostic accuracy was lower in the subgroup of patients without the canonical PSP-Richardson syndrome (PSP-RS) or probable corticobasal syndrome (CBS) at MRI. MLRM combining cortical and subcortical measurements showed the highest accuracy for the differentiation between PSP and other pathologies (accuracy, 95%; AUROC, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97-0.99), CBD and other pathologies (accuracy, 83%; AUROC, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81-0.91), 4RT and other pathologies (accuracy, 89%; AUROC, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.92-0.97), and PSP and CBD (accuracy, 91%; AUROC, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91-0.99), even in participants without PSP-RS or CBS at MRI. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, the combination of widely available cortical and subcortical measures of atrophy on MRI discriminated between PSP, CBD, and other pathologies and could be used to support the diagnosis of 4RT in clinical practice.

Over-Mutated Mitochondrial, Lysosomal and TFEB-Regulated Genes in Parkinson's Disease.

The association between Parkinson's disease (PD) and mutations in genes involved in lysosomal and mitochondrial function has been previously reported. However, little is known about the involvement of other genes or cellular mechanisms. We aim to identify novel genetic associations to better understand the pathogenesis of PD. We performed WES in a cohort of 32 PD patients and 30 age-matched controls. We searched for rare variants in 1667 genes: PD-associated, related to lysosomal function and mitochondrial function and TFEB-regulated. When comparing the PD patient cohort with that of age matched controls, a statistically significant burden of rare variants in the previous group of genes were identified. In addition, the Z-score calculation, using the European population database (GnomAD), showed an over-representation of particular variants in 36 genes. Interestingly, 11 of these genes are implicated in mitochondrial function and 18 are TFEB-regulated genes. Our results suggest, for the first time, an involvement of TFEB-regulated genes in the genetic susceptibility to PD. This is remarkable as TFEB factor has been reported to be sequestered inside Lewy bodies, pointing to a role of TFEB in the pathogenesis of PD. Our data also reinforce the involvement of lysosomal and mitochondrial mechanisms in PD.

Characterization of sleep in six patients with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration.

BACKGROUND: Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is a rare neurologic disorder included in the group of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation diseases (NBIA). Information regarding sleep in patients with PKAN is limited. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical and polysomnographic characteristics of sleep in six patients with genetically confirmed PKAN. METHODS: The evaluation included a clinical interview, sleep questionnaires -Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)- and a video-polysomnography (VPSG). In addition to standard sleep measures we manually quantified sleep spindle density in stage N2 and rapid eye movements in REM sleep comparing the results with matched controls. Quantification of EMG activity in REM sleep was performed following standard criteria. RESULTS: All the patients reported at least one sleep complaint, most commonly sleep fragmentation (4/6) and sleep onset insomnia (3/6). ESS and PSQI were abnormal in 3/6 and 4/6, respectively. VPSG showed in 4/6 decreased ocular movements during REM sleep, an increase in sleep spindles in 3/6 (all of them with deep brain pallidal stimulation), an absence of slow wave sleep in 2 and undifferentiated NREM sleep and delayed sleep phase in one. Three patients had an abnormal sleep apnea/hypopnea index, and 2 periodic limb movements of sleep. REM sleep muscular atonia was preserved in all. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep disorders are common in patients with PKAN. Although our sample is small and heterogeneous, with different symptomatic treatments possibly influencing the results, it suggests that evaluation of sleep should be considered in their management.

Association of PSP phenotypes with survival: A brain-bank study.

INTRODUCTION: The MDS-PSP criteria expand the phenotypic spectrum of PSP by adding to Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS) other presentations such as PSP-parkinsonism (PSP-P), PSP-pure-gait-freezing (PSP-PGF), PSP-speech-language (PSP-SL), PSP-frontal (PSP-F), PSP-postural-instability (PSP-PI) and PSP-corticobasal-syndrome (PSP-CBS). Evidence about the prognostic differences between PSP phenotypes is scarce and focused on PSP-RS vs. non-PSP-RS. Using a brain-bank cohort we assessed PSP survival not only in PSP-RS vs. non-PSP-RS, but also in PSP-RS + cortical vs. subcortical phenotypes. Besides, we assessed sensitivity and specificity of the MDS-PSP criteria in of PSP and other degenerative parkinsonisms. METHODS: We retrospectively applied the MDS-PSP diagnostic criteria to 32 definite PSP cases and 30 cases with other degenerative parkinsonian syndromes (Parkinson's disease [PD; n = 11], multiple system atrophy [MSA; n = 11], corticobasal degeneration [CBD; n = 8]). We conducted survival statistics in neuropathologically confirmed PSP cases considering PSP-RS vs. non-PSP-RS and PSP-RS + PSP-cortical (PSP-F + PSP-SL + PSP-CBS) vs. PSP-subcortical (PSP-P + PSP-PGF) phenotypes. We also adjusted survival analyses for PSP tau scores. RESULTS: Diagnostic sensitivity was 100% and specificity ranged from 47% to 87% when excluding cases that met the "suggestive of PSP" definition early in their disease course but with other clinical features better matching with a non-PSP pathological diagnosis. Survival was significantly shorter in PSP-RS vs. non-PSP-RS cases, but it was more markedly shorter in PSP-RS + PSP-cortical vs. PSP-subcortical, independently of PSP tau scores, which were not associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS: PSP-subcortical phenotypes appear to have longer survival than PSP-RS and cortical phenotypes. This might be of prognostic relevance when informing patients upon clinical diagnosis.

Video-tutorial for the Movement Disorder Society criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy.

BACKGROUND: The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society-endorsed Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Study Group published clinical diagnostic criteria for progressive supranuclear palsy in 2017, aiming to optimize early, sensitive and specific diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To assist physicians in the application of these criteria, we developed a video-based tutorial in which all core clinical features and clinical clues are depicted and explained. METHODS: Patients provided written informed consent to the publication of their videos. High-quality videos along with essential descriptions were collected by the study group members. Most educational videos were selected in a structured consensus process. RESULTS: We provide 68 videos of all core clinical features and clinical clues defined by the diagnostic criteria, along with instructive descriptions of the depicted patients, examination techniques and clinical findings. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive video-based tutorial will support physicians in the application of the diagnostic criteria of progressive supranuclear palsy.

Prediagnostic motor and non-motor symptoms in progressive supranuclear palsy: The step-back PSP study.

BACKGROUND: Improved knowledge of the prediagnostic phase of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) might provide information on when and how the disease starts, along with the opportunity to test therapies in disease stages with lesser neurodegeneration. OBJECTIVE: To explore the symptoms in years preceding the PSP diagnosis. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective case-control study based on clinical charts review and a structured interview to PSP patients and their caregivers. Prediagnostic symptoms were defined as those present more than one year before the diagnosis. We explored 35 symptoms in the following domains: visual, dizziness, motor, mood/apathy, cognitive, behavioral, sleep, gastrointestinal/urinary and miscellaneous. Non-parametric statistics were applied, with significance set at <0.05 (FDR-corrected). RESULTS: We included 150 subjects: 50 PSP patients (38% females, age 75.8) and an age- and sex-matched control group of 50 Parkinson's disease (PD) and 50 subjects (CS) without neurodegenerative disease. The frequencies of visual, motor, cognitive, behaviour and dizziness domains were significantly higher in PSP vs. PD, and so were the motor, mood/apathy, cognitive, behaviour and dizziness ones in PSP vs. CS. Over 50% of prediagnostic falls, apathy and anxiety, depression and memory-attention-executive symptoms, and over 30% of gait disturbances started more than three and up to ten years before the diagnosis. PSP patients had more consultations to ENT and ophthalmologists than PD patients. CONCLUSION: PSP patients present a broad variety of motor and non-motor symptoms several years before the diagnosis. The definition of a prediagnostic PSP phase might be helpful to identify patients in early disease stages.

Cerebrospinal fluid cytokines in multiple system atrophy: A cross-sectional Catalan MSA registry study.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroinflammation is a potential player in neurodegenerative conditions, particularly the aggressive ones, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA). Previous reports on cytokine levels in MSA using serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have been inconsistent, including small samples and a limited number of cytokines, often without comparison to Parkinson's disease (PD), a main MSA differential diagnosis. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of CSF levels of 38 cytokines using a multiplex assay in 73 participants: 39 MSA patients (19 with parkinsonian type [MSAp], 20 with cerebellar type [MSAc]; 31 probable, 8 possible), 19 PD patients and 15 neurologically unimpaired controls. None of the participants was under non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at the time of the lumbar puncture. RESULTS: There were not significant differences in sex and age among participants. In global non-parametric comparisons FDR-corrected for multiple comparisons, CSF levels of 5 cytokines (FGF-2, IL-10, MCP-3, IL-12p40, MDC) differed among the three groups. In pair-wise FDR-corrected non-parametric comparisons 12 cytokines (FGF-2, eotaxin, fractalkine, IFN-α2, IL-10, MCP-3, IL-12p40, MDC, IL-17, IL-7, MIP-1ß, TNF-α) were significantly higher in MSA vs. non-MSA cases (PD + controls pooled together). Of these, MCP-3 and MDC were the most significant ones, also differed in MSA vs. PD, and were significant MSA-predictors in binary logistic regression models and ROC curves adjusted for age. CSF levels of fractalkine and MIP-1α showed a strong and significant positive correlation with UMSARS-2 scores. CONCLUSION: Increased CSF levels of cytokines such as MCP-3, MDC, fractalkine and MIP-1α deserve consideration as potential diagnostic or severity biomarkers of MSA.

Non-motor symptoms in Huntington's disease: a comparative study with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The presence of non-motor symptoms in Huntington's disease (HD) has not been systematically assessed so far. Our objective was to know their prevalence and to compare it with a cohort of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were consecutively recruited from our outpatient clinic. They were assessed through the motor part of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale, the motor part of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the total functional capacity scale and the PD non-motor symptoms questionnaire. RESULTS: We enrolled 123 participants: 53 HD, 45 PD and 25 healthy controls (HC). Non-motor symptoms were significantly more prevalent in HD patients than in HC. The most frequent non-motor symptoms in HD, involving more than 50% of patients, were attentional deficits, apathy, dysphagia, memory complaints, depression falls, insomnia and urinary urgency. The total score of non-motor symptoms correlated with disease duration, total functional capacity and disease stage. HD scored significantly higher than PD in 11 items (dysphagia, constipation, bowel incontinence, faecal tenesmus, weight loss, memory, apathy, attention, falls, nightmares, delusions) and in four domains (cognitive, hallucinations and delusions, digestive and cardiovascular). PD did not score significantly higher than HD in any domain. CONCLUSIONS: HD patients have a high prevalence of non-motor symptoms, which is even higher than in PD, and correlates with disease progression.