Quality of life improvements in patients with cervical dystonia following treatment with a liquid formulation of abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport® ).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with cervical dystonia, abobotulinumtoxinA solution for injection (ASI) has been shown to be similarly effective to freeze-dried abobotulinumtoxinA in reducing Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) total scores. In this secondary analysis, quality of life data as evaluated with the Cervical Dystonia Impact Profile (CDIP-58) are presented. METHODS: This was a double-blind, randomized, active and placebo-controlled study followed by an open-label extension (NCT01261611). In the double-blind phase, patients were randomized (3:3:1) to one cycle of ASI 500 U (n = 156), abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U (n = 159) or placebo (n = 54). Following the double-blind phase, all patients received open-label ASI for up to four cycles. RESULTS: The CDIP-58 total scores were significantly improved at week 4 of the double-blind phase in both the ASI 500 U and abobotulinumtoxinA 500 U groups versus placebo [least squares mean change from baseline of -9.5 (-11.51, -7.45) and -11.2 (-13.2, -9.26) vs. -0.9 (-4.04, 2.14), respectively; both P < 0.0001 vs. placebo]. All CDIP-58 domains contributed to this improvement and benefits were maintained across open-label treatment. Positive correlations were observed between CDIP-58 total score and all three TWSTRS domains (R = 0.42-0.62) and for all CDIP-58 subscales with the TWSTRS total score and domains (R = 0.23-0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat ASI injections are similarly effective to abobotulinumtoxinA in improving patient-reported outcomes of health-related quality of life. Positive correlations were found between TWSTRS total and domain scores and CDIP-58 total and domain scores.

Early detection of patients in the pre demented stage of Alzheimer's disease: the Pre-Al Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the Pre-Al study is to evaluate and compare the predictive value of different tools for an early identification of Alzheimer's disease. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients coming for consultation to memory clinics without dementia were included if they had an objective memory or attention trouble assessed by a MMSE score > 25 (with at least one missing item at the words recall) and / or an Isaac set test score < 28. All were examined by a neuropsychological battery (Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test, digit ordering test, WAIS-R digit symbol, Trail making test, Benton visual retention test, verbal fluency, confrontation naming and Baddeley's double task test). A subpopulation received an MRI and SPECT assessment. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 251 patients were included (mean age: 72.0 years; mean education duration: 10.9 years). Validation of the predictive tests will be based on the comparison of these tests in patients developing dementia and others, after a follow-up of at least 3 years. This paper presents methodology of the study and the population description.

Unawareness of memory impairment and behavioral abnormalities in patients with Alzheimer's disease: relation to professional health care burden.

OBJECTIVES: The present study investigates the impact of unawareness of deficit (anosognosia) in patients with Alzheimer's disease upon professional health care burden. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with a consecutive clinical sample from an Alzheimer day-care hospital in France. SUBJECTS: 65 patients with probable AD, aged from 75 to 94 years old, consecutively admitted at the Alzheimer Day Hospital to complete a program of cognitive stimulation and psychosocial rehabilitation. MEASUREMENTS: Each patient was submitted to a standardized evaluation including clinical investigation, cerebral imagery, and neuropsychological assessment. Anosognosia of memory deficit and anosognosia of behavioral disturbances were measured as the "discrepancy scores" between patients' self-reports and family member ratings of patient memory performance and behavioral disturbances. Professional health care burden was assessed with the Professional Health Care Dementia Burden Index (PCDBI; maximal score: 12), designed for this study. Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the correlations between the PCDBI and the severity of anosognosia. RESULTS: The findings showed a significant positive correlation between the PCDBI and both anosognosia of memory impairment and behavioral abnormalities (both p at least less than 0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the severity of the burden and the severity of cognitive decline or functional impairment (both p at least>0.05). CONCLUSION: Anosognosia in Alzheimer disease patients has a negative impact upon the professional caregivers' burden over and above the cognitive deficit and the functional impairments.

Amnestic syndrome of the medial temporal type identifies prodromal AD: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the power of tests assessing different cognitive domains for the identification of prodromal Alzheimer disease (AD) among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). BACKGROUND: Given the early involvement of the medial temporal lobe, a precocious and specific pattern of memory disorders might be expected for the identification of prodromal AD. METHODS: A total of 251 patients with MCI were tested at baseline by a standardized neuropsychological battery, which included the Free and Cued Selective Recall Reminding Test (FCSRT) for verbal episodic memory; the Benton Visual Retention Test for visual memory; the Deno 100 and verbal fluency for language; a serial digit learning test and the double task of Baddeley for working memory; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) similarities for conceptual elaboration; and the Stroop test, the Trail Making test, and the WAIS digit symbol test for executive functions. The patients were followed at 6-month intervals for up to 3 years in order to identify those who converted to AD vs those who remained stable over time. Statistical analyses were based on receiver operating characteristic curve and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: A total of 59 subjects converted to AD dementia. The most sensitive and specific test for diagnosis of prodromal AD was the FCSRT. Significant cutoff for the diagnosis was 17/48 for free recall, 40/48 for total recall, and below 71% for index of sensitivity of cueing (% of efficacy of semantic cues for retrieval). CONCLUSIONS: The amnestic syndrome of the medial temporal type, defined by the Free and Cued Selective Recall Reminding Test, is able to distinguish patients at an early stage of Alzheimer disease from mild cognitive impairment non-converters.