Survey on Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis Impact: Patients, Caregivers and Health Care Professionals' Perspectives.

Background: The announcement of Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis may provoke negative feelings that impact the ability to cope with the disease and all life changes related to this new condition. There are scarce data on how to improve communication about PD diagnosis and which factors may influence this outcome. Methods: We performed a national French survey, investigating the diagnosis announcement impact on a large population of people living with PD (PwPD), who recently received the diagnosis (≤1 year since PD diagnosis), and on related caregivers and health care professionals (HCPs), from tertiary and community-based hospitals. Results: A total of 397 PwPD (45% female and 82% > 50 years old), 192 caregivers and 120 HCPs (69% neurologists) completed the questionnaire. The diagnosis was not expected by about 60% of PwPD and induced negative feelings in the majority (82%) of them. Negative feelings that PwPD experience in the moment of the diagnosis announcement were related with male gender [OR = 2.034, CI 95% 1.09-3.78; p = 0.025] and older age [OR = 1.05, CI 95% 1.01-1.08; p = 0.004], while tremor as the first symptom had a threshold significance [OR = 1.78, CI 95% 0.994-3.187; p = 0.052]. Half of the PwPD and caregivers considered that they did not receive enough information and one third had a short-term appointment to rediscuss the diagnosis. A total of 82% of PwPD expressed the willingness to have a multidisciplinary follow-up (PD nurse, psychologists). Only 24% of the HCPs had been trained for PD announcement. Conclusions: The way a PD diagnosis is delivered represents a pivotal moment in the journey of PwPD and caregivers. This process requires improvement in addressing the gaps expressed by PwPD, caregivers, and HCPs through a participatory approach.

Prevalence and characteristics of vascular cognitive impairment in a European cohort of adult patients with Moyamoya angiopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) is associated with a high risk of stroke, but it is also increasingly recognized as leading to cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, nature, and severity of vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND) in adults with MMA and to identify clinical and imaging factors associated with VCIND. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive adult patients with MMA followed in two tertiary hospitals (Toulouse and Paris Lariboisiere). All patients underwent neuropsychological assessment and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). VCIND was defined as at least two variables of the same cognitive process with z-scores of < 2 standard deviations, regardless of the cognitive domain, that do not interfere in everyday life. Baseline demographic, clinical, and imaging data were compared between patients with and without VCIND. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients (mean age 43 years; 65% women) were included. Thirty-four patients (33.3%) had VCIND. VCIND was mild in 20/34 (59%), moderate in 8/34 (23%), and severe in 6/34 (18%) patients. Executive function was the most widely affected (25.5%), followed by attention and processing speed (24.8%). In univariable analyses, VCIND was associated with ischemic stroke at diagnosis and the presence of ischemic lesions on MRI. CONCLUSIONS: VCIND is highly prevalent in adults with MMA. Executive functions and processing speed are predominantly affected. These findings may guide clinicians in their evaluation of patients with MMA. Further research should assess the effect of revascularization therapies on cognitive functions.

MRI hypoperfusion as a determinant of cognitive impairment in adults with Moyamoya angiopathy.

INTRODUCTION: In Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA), mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment remain debated. We aimed to assess the association of cognitive impairment with the degree and the topography of cerebral hypoperfusion in MMA. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of neuropsychological and perfusion MRI data from adults with MMA was performed. Ischemic and haemorrhagic lesion masks were created to account for cerebral lesions in the analysis of cerebral perfusion. Whole brain volume of hypoperfused parenchyma was outlined on perfusion maps using different Tmax thresholds from 4 to 12 s. Regional analysis produced mean Tmax values at different regions of interest. Analyses compared perfusion ratios in patients with and without cognitive impairment, with multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify predictive factors. RESULTS: Cognitive impairment was found in 20/48 (41.7%) patients. Attention/processing speed and memory were equally impaired (24%) followed by executive domain (23%). After adjustment, especially for lesion volume, hypoperfused parenchyma volume outlined by Tmax > 4 s or Tmax > 5 s thresholds was an independent factor of cognitive impairment (OR for Tmax > 4 s = 1.06 [CI 95% 1.008-1.123]) as well as attention/processing speed (OR for Tmax > 4 s = 1.07 [CI 95% 1.003-1.133]) and executive domains (OR for Tmax > 5 s = 1.08 [CI 95% 1.004-1.158]). Regarding cognitive functions, patients with processing speed and flexibility impairment had higher frontal Tmax compared to other ROIs and to patients with normal test scores. DISCUSSION: Cerebral hypoperfusion emerged as an independent factor of cognitive impairment in MMA particularly in attention/processing speed and executive domains, with a strong contribution of frontal areas. CONCLUSION: Considering this association, revascularization surgery could improve cognitive impairment.