Systemic features of retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations: a monogenic small vessel disease.

BACKGROUND: Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations (RVCL-S) is a small vessel disease caused by C-terminal truncating TREX1 mutations. The disease is typically characterized by vascular retinopathy and focal and global brain dysfunction. Systemic manifestations have also been reported but not yet systematically investigated. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we compared the clinical characteristics of 33 TREX1 mutation carriers (MC+) from three Dutch RVCL-S families with those of 37 family members without TREX1 mutation (MC-). All participants were investigated using personal interviews, questionnaires, physical, neurological and neuropsychological examinations, blood and urine tests, and brain MRI. RESULTS: In MC+, vascular retinopathy and Raynaud's phenomenon were the earliest symptoms presenting from age 20 onwards. Kidney disease became manifest from around age 35, followed by liver disease, anaemia, markers of inflammation and, in some MC+, migraine and subclinical hypothyroidism, all from age 40. Cerebral deficits usually started mildly around age 50, associated with white matter and intracerebral mass lesions, and becoming severe around age 60-65. CONCLUSIONS: Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations is a rare, but likely underdiagnosed, systemic small vessel disease typically starting with vascular retinopathy, followed by multiple internal organ disease, progressive brain dysfunction, and ultimately premature death.

The capability set for work - correlates of sustainable employability in workers with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine whether work capabilities differ between workers with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and workers from the general population. The second aim was to investigate whether the capability set was related to work and health outcomes. METHODS: A total of 163 workers with MS from the MS@Work study and 163 workers from the general population were matched for gender, age, educational level and working hours. All participants completed online questionnaires on demographics, health and work functioning. The Capability Set for Work Questionnaire was used to explore whether a set of seven work values is considered valuable (A), is enabled in the work context (B), and can be achieved by the individual (C). When all three criteria are met a work value can be considered part of the individual's 'capability set'. RESULTS: Group differences and relationships with work and health outcomes were examined. Despite lower physical work functioning (U = 4250, p = 0.001), lower work ability (U = 10591, p = 0.006) and worse self-reported health (U = 9091, p ≤ 0.001) workers with MS had a larger capability set (U = 9649, p ≤ 0.001) than the general population. In workers with MS, a larger capability set was associated with better flexible work functioning (r = 0.30), work ability (r = 0.25), self-rated health (r = 0.25); and with less absenteeism (r = - 0.26), presenteeism (r = - 0.31), cognitive/neuropsychiatric impairment (r = - 0.35), depression (r = - 0.43), anxiety (r = - 0.31) and fatigue (r = - 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Workers with MS have a larger capability set than workers from the general population. In workers with MS a larger capability set was associated with better work and health outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This observational study is registered under NL43098.008.12: 'Voorspellers van arbeidsparticipatie bij mensen met relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerose'. The study is registered at the Dutch CCMO register ( https://www.toetsingonline.nl ). This study is approved by the METC Brabant, 12 February 2014. First participants are enrolled 1st of March 2014.

Outcomes of neuropsychiatric events in systemic lupus erythematosus based on clinical phenotypes; prospective data from the Leiden NP SLE cohort.

Objective The objective of this study was to assess whether clinical and patient's reported outcomes are associated with a different pathophysiological origin of neuropsychiatric events presenting in systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods A total of 232 neuropsychiatric events presenting in 131 systemic lupus erythematosus patients were included. Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis was established per event by multidisciplinary evaluation. All neuropsychiatric events were divided according to a suspected underlying pathophysiological process into one of the following: non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus related, inflammatory and ischaemic neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. The clinical outcome of all neuropsychiatric events was determined by a physician-completed four-point Likert scale. Health-related quality of life was measured with the subscales of the patient-generated Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire. The change between scores at paired visits of all domain scores, mental component summary (SF-36 MCS) and physical component summary (SF-36 PCS) scores were retrospectively calculated and used as patient-reported outcome. The association among these outcomes and the different origin of neuropsychiatric events was obtained using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results The clinical status of 26.8% non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus events, 15.8% ischaemic neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and 51.6% inflammatory neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus improved after re-assessment. Almost all SF-36 domains had a positive change at re-assessment in all groups independently of the origin of neuropsychiatric events. Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus ( B = 0.502; p < 0.001) and especially inflammatory neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus ( B = 0.827; p < 0.001) had better clinical outcome, with change in disease activity being the only important predictor. The change in SF-36 MCS was also independently associated with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus ( B = 5.783; p < 0.05) and inflammatory neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus ( B = 11.133; p < 0.001). Disease duration and change in disease activity were the only predictors in both cases. The change in SF-36 PCS was only negatively associated with age. Conclusion Inflammatory neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus events have better clinical outcome and meaningful improvement in SF-36 MCS than ischaemic neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus or non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Mild deficits in attentional control in patients with the IGSF1 deficiency syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Male patients with the X-linked IGSF1 deficiency syndrome are characterized by central hypothyroidism, delayed pubertal testosterone rise, adult macroorchidism, variable prolactin deficiency and occasionally transient partial growth hormone deficiency. Thyroid hormone plays a vital role in brain development and functioning, and while most patients receive adequate replacement therapy starting shortly after birth, it is unknown whether this syndrome is accompanied by long-term impaired cognitive functioning. We therefore assessed cognitive functioning in male patients with IGSF1 deficiency. METHODS: Fifteen adult male patients with IGSF1 deficiency participated in neuropsychological assessment of executive functioning and memory, and completed validated questionnaires on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mood and fatigue. Results were compared to data from previous studies by our department: 54 healthy controls (76 for the attention task) for the test battery and 191 healthy controls for the questionnaires. RESULTS: All patients had central hypothyroidism, and twelve were treated with levothyroxine. Patients performed worse than controls in tasks that required attentional control (Trail Making Test, Letter-Digit Substitution Test, and Sustained Attention to Response Task) (all P < 0·001). Memory was unaffected. In addition, patients reported more mental fatigue and reduction of activity (Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory) (both P < 0·01), while HRQoL and mood reports were not different from controls. Age at the start of replacement therapy and current thyroxine levels were not related to outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Adult male patients with IGSF1 deficiency exhibit mild deficits in attentional control on formal testing. This finding was not related to the age at start of replacement therapy, or current levothyroxine treatment.

Mortality in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).

The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is three; SMR increases to six in case of renal involvement. Up to now data on survival in case of neuropsychiatric involvement in SLE (NPSLE) have been scarce, therefore we calculated an SMR for NPSLE. Furthermore, we identified characteristics that influenced survival by Cox regression analyses. All patients suspected of NPSLE in our center since 1989 were evaluated and included in this study when a diagnosis of primary NPSLE could be established. Patient's life/death status was tracked using the civic registries. Thirty-two (19%) of the 169 included NPSLE patients died within a median follow-up period of six years (range 0.5-24 years). This resulted in a significantly increased mortality rate compared to the general population: SMR 9.5 (95% CI 6.7-13.5). Hazard ratios (HRs) were highest in patients with acute confusional state (HR 3.4) and older age at diagnosis of NPSLE (HR 1.1). A decreased mortality risk was seen with the prescription of antiplatelet therapy (HR 0.22). The time period in which NPSLE was diagnosed did not significantly influence survival. Most frequent causes of death were infection and NPSLE itself.

NFL and GFAP in (pre)symptomatic RVCL-S carriers: a monogenic cerebral small vessel disease.

BACKGROUND: Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) have emerged as biomarkers for cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). We investigated their role in a hereditary SVD model, retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukoencephalopathy and systemic manifestations (RVCL-S). METHODS: NfL and GFAP levels of 17 pre-symptomatic, 22 symptomatic RVCL-S mutation carriers and 69 controls were measured using a Simoa assay. We assessed the association of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of NfL and GFAP with RVCL-S symptomatology and neuropsychological functioning. RESULTS: Serum and CSF NfL levels were higher in symptomatic RVCL-S compared to controls ≥ 45 years (33.5 pg/mL vs. 9.2 pg/mL, p < 0.01; 8.5*102 pg/mL vs. 3.9*102 pg/mL, p < 0.01, respectively). Serum NfL levels were higher in symptomatic RVCL-S than pre-symptomatic carriers (33.5 pg/mL vs. 5.9 pg/mL, p = 0.02). Pre-symptomatic RVCL-S carriers had increased CSF NfL levels compared to controls < 45 years (5.2*102 pg/mL vs. 1.9*102 pg/mL, p < 0.01). No differences were found in GFAP levels across groups, but in RVCL-S carriers higher serum levels of both NfL and GFAP were linked to poorer global cognitive functioning (ß[95%CI] = - 2.86 [- 5.58 to - 0.13], p = 0.04 and ß[95%CI] = - 6.85 [- 11.54 to - 2.15], p = 0.01, respectively) and prolonged psychomotor test times (ß[95%CI] = 6.71 [0.78-12.65], p = 0.03 and ß[95%CI] = 13.84 [3.09-24.60], p = 0.01). DISCUSSION: Higher levels of serum NfL and GFAP are associated with worse cognitive functioning in RVCL-S carriers and may serve as marker for disease progression. CSF NfL levels may serve as early marker as pre-symptomatic RVCL-S patients already show differences compared to young controls.

Longitudinal determinants of employment status in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: To investigate longitudinal relationships between employment status and disease-related, (neuro)psychological, and work-related factors in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: 170 employed people with MS underwent yearly neurological and neuropsychological examinations to assess MS-related disability and cognitive functioning. Additionally, they completed yearly questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, fatigue, cognitive complaints, workplace support and coping. Multilevel models for change were fitted to examine progression of these factors over three years, and to assess possible relationships with change in employment status. Results: People with a deteriorated employment status after three years reported more depression (p=0.009), a higher impact of fatigue (p<0.001), more cognitive complaints (p<0.001) and less workplace support (p=0.001) at baseline than people with a stable employment status. There were no differences in progression over time of the examined variables between people with a stable or deteriorated employment status. Conclusion: More depression, a higher impact of fatigue, more cognitive complaints and less workplace support are predictive of a deteriorated employment status after three years in individuals with MS. How these factors progress over time is not different between those with a stable or deteriorated employment. MS-related disability, anxiety, objective cognition and coping were not related to a deterioration in employment status.

The relationship between self-reported executive performance and psychological characteristics in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Self-reports of cognitive functioning are not always related to objective measures. We examined psychological characteristics of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who underestimate, overestimate or accurately estimate their executive performance. METHODS: The first phase was an inventory of cognitive complaints by means of self-reported (and partner-reported) questionnaires. At the second phase (January-October 2009), 114 of the 128 participants met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and underwent cognitive and neurological assessments. RESULTS: A total of 19% (N = 22) of participants reported subjective executive impairment, whilst 81% (N = 92) reported no subjective executive impairment. Based on Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome-Dysexecutive Questionnaire self-reports, 67% (N = 76) of the participants accurately reported no subjective executive impairment, 14% (N = 16) overestimated, and 15% underestimated (N = 17) their executive performance; 78% of the informants accurately reported no subjective executive impairment, 15% overestimated the patient's executive performance, and 4% underestimated the patient's executive performance. Patients with MS underestimating their executive performance were characterized by more depression (F(2,106 = 12.9, P < 0.001), anxiety (F(2,105) = 7.4, P = 0.001) and psychosocial stress (F(2,103) = 17.8, P < 0.001), more often used the coping style 'disclosure of emotions' (H(2) = 12.1, P = 0.002) than accurate estimators and overestimators and displayed a more passive reaction pattern (F(2,104) = 4.4, P = 0.014) than accurate estimators. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reports of executive performance are generally reliable, but 29% of patients with MS underestimated or overestimated their abilities. It is especially important to identify underestimators as they display underlying psychological problems and dysfunctional coping styles in need of further psychological treatment. Informants are valuable in this respect, but should not be seen as the 'gold standard' to identify cognitive impairment.

Plasma proteome profiling identifies changes associated to AD but not to FTD.

BACKGROUND: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is caused by frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), characterized mainly by inclusions of Tau (FTLD-Tau) or TAR DNA binding43 (FTLD-TDP) proteins. Plasma biomarkers are strongly needed for specific diagnosis and potential treatment monitoring of FTD. We aimed to identify specific FTD plasma biomarker profiles discriminating FTD from AD and controls, and between FTD pathological subtypes. In addition, we compared plasma results with results in post-mortem frontal cortex of FTD cases to understand the underlying process. METHODS: Plasma proteins (n = 1303) from pathologically and/or genetically confirmed FTD patients (n = 56; FTLD-Tau n = 16; age = 58.2 ± 6.2; 44% female, FTLD-TDP n = 40; age = 59.8 ± 7.9; 45% female), AD patients (n = 57; age = 65.5 ± 8.0; 39% female), and non-demented controls (n = 148; 61.3 ± 7.9; 41% female) were measured using an aptamer-based proteomic technology (SomaScan). In addition, exploratory analysis in post-mortem frontal brain cortex of FTD (n = 10; FTLD-Tau n = 5; age = 56.2 ± 6.9, 60% female, and FTLD-TDP n = 5; age = 64.0 ± 7.7, 60% female) and non-demented controls (n = 4; age = 61.3 ± 8.1; 75% female) were also performed. Differentially regulated plasma and tissue proteins were identified by global testing adjusting for demographic variables and multiple testing. Logistic lasso regression was used to identify plasma protein panels discriminating FTD from non-demented controls and AD, or FTLD-Tau from FTLD-TDP. Performance of the discriminatory plasma protein panels was based on predictions obtained from bootstrapping with 1000 resampled analysis. RESULTS: Overall plasma protein expression profiles differed between FTD, AD and controls (6 proteins; p = 0.005), but none of the plasma proteins was specifically associated to FTD. The overall tissue protein expression profile differed between FTD and controls (7-proteins; p = 0.003). There was no difference in overall plasma or tissue expression profile between FTD subtypes. Regression analysis revealed a panel of 12-plasma proteins discriminating FTD from AD with high accuracy (AUC: 0.99). No plasma protein panels discriminating FTD from controls or FTD pathological subtypes were identified. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a promising plasma protein panel as a minimally-invasive tool to aid in the differential diagnosis of FTD from AD, which was primarily associated to AD pathophysiology. The lack of plasma profiles specifically associated to FTD or its pathological subtypes might be explained by FTD heterogeneity, calling for FTD studies using large and well-characterize cohorts.

Subjective cognitive impairment is related to work status in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Unemployment is common among people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and has been associated with subjective cognitive difficulties, specifically in memory, attention, and executive functioning. However, longitudinal research on subjective cognitive difficulties and employment is scarce. Objective: We investigated whether subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), based on the clinical cut-off score of the MS Neuropsychological Screening Questionnaire (MSNQ), was associated with work status and negative work events (NWE) at baseline and after 2 years. Moreover, we investigated whether four MSNQ subdomains were related to work status and NWE. Methods: 287 participants (77.4% female, median age = 42 years) completed questionnaires on subjective cognitive functioning, depression, anxiety, and fatigue, and completed the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). After baseline comparisons, logistic regression analyses were performed, with work status and NWE at baseline, and employment change and NWE change within 2 years after baseline as dependent variables. Independent variables included SCI and the MSNQ domains. Covariates anxiety, depression, fatigue, and SDMT were added. Results: SCI, depression and anxiety were associated with work status (Nagelkerke R 2 = .286), but only SCI was associated with employment change (Nagelkerke R 2 = .164). No predictors were associated with NWE at baseline or follow-up. In addition, no MSNQ subdomain was related to work status, employment change or NWE. Conclusion: Unemployed pwMS and pwMS with a deteriorated work status reported more cognitive difficulties after 2 years than employed pwMS or pwMS with a stable work status. In addition, depression, and anxiety were associated with work status.

Basal ganglia volume is strongly related to P3 event-related potential in premanifest Huntington's disease.

BACKGROUND: The P3 event-related potential (ERP) is presumably partly generated by the basal ganglia. Because degeneration of these brain structures starts many years before clinical disease onset in Huntington's disease (HD), studying the interplay between P3 characteristics and basal ganglia volumes in 'premanifest' carriers might lead to new insights into the disease process. METHODS: Fourteen premanifest\ HD mutation carriers and twelve non-mutation carriers underwent clinical, MRI and P3-ERP investigations. The P3 was measured during the Sustained Attention to Response Task. RESULTS: P3 amplitude and latency did not differ between groups. In carriers, longer P3 latency during Go-trials was strongly associated with smaller caudate, putamen and globus pallidus volumes (r values up to -0.827, P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: The exceptionally strong relations of P3 latency with basal ganglia volumes in carriers suggest that the P3 may provide a marker for disease progression in HD.

Machine learning for automated EEG-based biomarkers of cognitive impairment during Deep Brain Stimulation screening in patients with Parkinson's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: A downside of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's Disease (PD) is that cognitive function may deteriorate postoperatively. Electroencephalography (EEG) was explored as biomarker of cognition using a Machine Learning (ML) pipeline. METHODS: A fully automated ML pipeline was applied to 112 PD patients, taking EEG time-series as input and predicted class-labels as output. The most extreme cognitive scores were selected for class differentiation, i.e. best vs. worst cognitive performance (n = 20 per group). 16,674 features were extracted per patient; feature-selection was performed using a Boruta algorithm. A random forest classifier was modelled; 10-fold cross-validation with Bayesian optimization was performed to ensure generalizability. The predicted class-probabilities of the entire cohort were compared to actual cognitive performance. RESULTS: Both groups were differentiated with a mean accuracy of 0.92; using only occipital peak frequency yielded an accuracy of 0.67. Class-probabilities and actual cognitive performance were negatively linearly correlated (ß = -0.23 (95% confidence interval (-0.29, -0.18))). CONCLUSIONS: Particularly high accuracies were achieved using a compound of automatically extracted EEG biomarkers to classify PD patients according to cognition, rather than a single spectral EEG feature. SIGNIFICANCE: Automated EEG assessment may have utility for cognitive profiling of PD patients during the DBS screening.

Self-reported occupational functioning in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: Does personality matter?

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) poses a major threat to sustainable employability. Identifying conditions and factors that promote work participation is of great importance. Our objective was to explore the contribution of personality traits in explaining occupational functioning in MS. METHODS: 241 participants with relapsing-remitting MS (78% female, median age: 42.0 years, median EDSS: 2.0) and 60 healthy controls (70% female, median age: 45.0 years) underwent neuropsychological and neurological examinations and completed questionnaires. Multivariate logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted to examine relations between personality traits and self-reported occupational functioning, while accounting for known correlates. RESULTS: Personality traits were not associated with self-reported occupational functioning when correcting for known correlates. A higher impact of fatigue (B = -0.05, p = .005 and B = -0.04, p = .009) and depression (B = -0.22, p = .008 and B = -0.21, p = .01) were associated with no paid job (R2 = 0.13) and considering to reduce work hours (R2 = 0.12). A higher impact of fatigue (B = -0.05, p = .008, ß = 0.46, p = .001 and ß = -0.36, p = .001) was associated with absenteeism from work (R2 = 0.15), more presenteeism (R2 = 0.35) and lower work ability (R2 = 0.25). A higher impact of fatigue (ß = 0.46, p = .001) and anxiety (ß = 0.25, p = .001) were associated with more work difficulties (R2 = 0.54). CONCLUSION: Personality traits did not explain additional variance in self-reported occupational functioning in persons with relapsing-remitting MS with mild disability. The impact of fatigue was the main and most consistent correlate of occupational functioning, often combined with depression or anxiety. Total explained variance of the models was limited, emphasizing the need to additionally examine other (contextual) factors when considering occupational challenges in MS.

Empathy in multiple sclerosis--Correlates with cognitive, psychological and occupational functioning.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies report deficits in social cognition in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Social cognitive skills such as empathy are important for adequate social and occupational functioning. Our objectives are: (1) to examine whether empathy differs between individuals with MS and healthy controls, (2) to examine relations between empathy and cognitive, psychological and occupational functioning. METHODS: 278 individuals with MS (relapsing-remitting subtype) and 128 healthy controls from the MS@Work study participated in this investigation. The participants completed questionnaires about demographics, cognitive, psychological and occupational functioning, and underwent neurological and neuropsychological examinations. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to examine group differences in empathy. Pearson and Spearman rank correlation analyses were used to examine relations between empathy and the other measures. RESULTS: Empathy did not differ between individuals with MS and healthy controls. In individuals with MS, higher empathy was correlated with a higher educational level (X2(df) = 13.2(2), p = 0.001), better verbal learning (r = 0.20, p = 0.001), less symptoms of depression (r=-0.21, p = 0.001), higher extraversion (r = 0.25, p ≤ 0.001), agreeableness (r = 0.55, p ≤ 0.001) and conscientiousness (r = 0.27, p ≤ 0.001) and better occupational functioning in terms of work scheduling and output demands (r = 0.23, p = 0.002) and less cognitive/psychological work barriers (r = -0.21, p = 0.001). In healthy controls, higher empathy was correlated with less symptoms of depression (r = -0.34, p ≤ 0.001), less fatigue (r = -0.37, p ≤ 0.001), higher agreeableness (r = 0.59, p ≤ 0.001) and better occupational functioning in terms of work ability as compared to lifetime best (r = 0.28, p = 0.001) and less cognitive/psychological work barriers (r = -0.34, p ≤ 0.001). Empathy did not differ between unemployed and employed individuals with MS or healthy controls. CONCLUSION: Empathy did not differ between individuals with MS and healthy controls. Within both investigated groups, higher empathy was weakly to moderately correlated with less symptoms of depression, higher agreeableness and better occupational functioning. We also found unique correlations for empathy within the investigated groups. Longitudinal studies are needed to further examine social cognition in relation to cognitive, psychological and occupational functioning in both individuals with MS and healthy controls. It would be particularly interesting to concurrently examine changes in the brain network involved with social cognition.

Carotid and basilar artery wall shear stress in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Vascular pathology is increasingly seen as a factor contributing to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). With this in mind we hypothesized that this vascular pathology could be directly detected in the arteries contributing to the cerebral circulation of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD patients by means of wall shear stress (WSS) measurements. METHODS: In this study we investigated the mean wall shear stress (MWSS), diastolic wall shear stress (DWSS) and systolic wall shear stress (SWSS) in the carotid and basilar arteries of control subjects (mean age: 72; SD: 8.8), patients suffering from MCI (mean age: 76; SD: 6.7), and patients suffering from AD (mean age: 72; SD: 8.2) that were consecutively referred to our outpatient memory clinic using in-house developed software on gradient echo phase-contrast MRI sequences. RESULTS: We found that all these parameters were significantly lower in the carotid arteries of patients suffering from AD or MCI when compared to control subjects. In the basilar artery only DWSS was lower in MCI or AD patients compared to control subjects. In none of the arteries a difference was found for any WSS parameter between MCI and AD patients. WSS parameters were significantly associated (corrected for age and sex) with the degree of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: Increased vascular pathology, as expressed by lower WSS measures, was found in patients suffering from MCI and AD compared to normal controls. This might point to the involvement of vascular pathology in the development of AD.

Strongly reduced volumes of putamen and thalamus in Alzheimer's disease: an MRI study.

Atrophy is regarded a sensitive marker of neurodegenerative pathology. In addition to confirming the well-known presence of decreased global grey matter and hippocampal volumes in Alzheimer's disease, this study investigated whether deep grey matter structure also suffer degeneration in Alzheimer's disease, and whether such degeneration is associated with cognitive deterioration. In this cross-sectional correlation study, two groups were compared on volumes of seven subcortical regions: 70 memory complainers (MCs) and 69 subjects diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease. Using 3T 3D T1 MR images, volumes of nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate nucleus, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen and thalamus were automatically calculated by the FMRIB's Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool (FIRST)--algorithm FMRIB's Software Library (FSL). Subsequently, the volumes of the different regions were correlated with cognitive test results. In addition to finding the expected association between hippocampal atrophy and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease, volumes of putamen and thalamus were significantly reduced in patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease. We also found that the decrease in volume correlated linearly with impaired global cognitive performance. These findings strongly suggest that, beside neo-cortical atrophy, deep grey matter structures in Alzheimer's disease suffer atrophy as well and that degenerative processes in the putamen and thalamus, like the hippocampus, may contribute to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.

Caregiver strain among life partners of persons with mild disability due to relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system with an unpredictable disease course. Life partners often become caregivers, which can be both rewarding and challenging, as the caregiver's physical and mental health is often negatively affected. Previous studies on caregiver strain focused on caregivers of persons with MS with relatively high disability levels, while caregiver strain may already be experienced by life partners living with mildly disabled persons with MS. OBJECTIVE: The current study examines factors associated with caregiver strain in life partners of persons with mild disability due to relapsing-remitting MS. METHODS: We included 173 persons with relapsing-remitting MS (79% female; mean age 42.8 years; 90% employed; median EDSS 2.0) and their life partners. The life partners completed questionnaires on caregiver strain and neuropsychiatric and cognitive functioning of the person with MS. The persons with MS completed questionnaires about demographics, fatigue, personality, physical, cognitive and neuropsychiatric functioning, and underwent neuropsychological and neurological examinations. A linear regression analysis was conducted to examine predictors of caregiver strain. RESULTS: 24% of the life partners experienced above average levels of caregiver strain. A multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that a higher age of the person with MS (ß = 0.16, p = 0.04), more physical disability (ß = 0.17 p = 0.04), more cognitive and neuropsychiatric problems of the person with MS as reported by the life partner (ß = 0.33, p = 0.001) and higher severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms as reported by the life partner (ß = 0.32, p = 0.001) were associated with higher caregiver strain (R2 = 0.49). CONCLUSION: Higher caregiver strain in life partners of persons with mild disability due to relapsing-remitting MS was primarily associated with cognitive and neuropsychiatric problems of the person with MS.

Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment plays a role in Parkinson's disease (PD) and has important consequences for patient management. However, many aspects of cognitive impairment in PD remain unclear because of the use of different and often invalid measurement instruments. In this study, a reliable and valid instrument, the SCales for Outcomes in PArkinson's disease-COGnition (SCOPA-COG), was used. AIM: To evaluate cognitive functioning in a large cohort of patients with Parkinson's disease and to assess the relations with demographic, disease related and clinical variables. METHODS: A cohort of 400 patients with PD was evaluated for cognition, motor and non-motor domains, as well as for demographic and disease related characteristics. Results were compared with 150 controls matched for overall age, sex and education distribution. RESULTS: Patients with PD scored significantly lower on all cognitive subdomains compared with controls, with the largest differences for executive functioning and memory. After correction for age and years of education, 22% of patients had impaired cognition, as measured by the total SCOPA-COG score, compared with controls. Across all patients, more severe cognitive impairment was associated with significantly more impairment in motor, autonomic, depressive and psychotic domains. Patients with the postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) dominant phenotype showed more cognitive impairment compared with patients with the tremor dominant phenotype. Contrary to tremor scores, PIGD scores significantly worsened with increasing disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Cognition is an important domain of the clinical spectrum of PD and poorer cognitive performance is associated with greater impairment in motor and non-motor domains in PD. The difference in cognitive scores between PIGD dominant patients and tremor dominant patients likely reflects more advanced disease.

EEG correlates in the spectrum of cognitive decline.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate relations between EEG measures and performance on tests of global cognition, memory, language and executive functioning. METHODS: Twenty-two controls, 18 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 16 with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) underwent neuropsychological and EEG investigations. We used the following EEG measures: theta relative power during eyes closed, alpha reactivity during memory activation (i.e. the percentual decrease in alpha power as compared to eyes closed) and alpha coherence during eyes closed and memory activation. RESULTS: Theta relative power was increased in AD patients as compared with controls (p<0.001) and MCI patients (p<0.01) and related to decreased performance in all cognitive domains. Alpha reactivity was decreased in AD patients as compared with controls (p<0.005) and related to decreased performance on tests of global cognition, memory and executive functioning. Alpha coherence did not differ between groups and was unrelated to cognition. CONCLUSIONS: EEG power measures were associated with decreased performance on tests of global cognition, memory, language and executive functioning, while coherence measures were not. SIGNIFICANCE: The EEG yielded several power measures related to cognitive functions. These EEG power measures might prove useful in prospective studies aimed at predicting longitudinal cognitive decline and dementia.

Lobar distribution of changes in gray matter and white matter in memory clinic patients: detected using magnetization transfer imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown involvement of both gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD). In this study, we assessed the lobar distribution of the GM and WM pathology over the brain and the association of lobar distribution with global cognitive decline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five patients with AD, 19 patients with MCI, and 43 subjects with normal cognitive function participated in this study. GM and WM were segmented on dual fast spin-echo and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MR images. A custom template representing anatomic areas was applied. Magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) peak height and mean magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) provided measures for structural brain damage. RESULTS: Both mean MTR and MTI peak height showed that patients with AD had more structural brain damage in the GM of all lobes compared with controls. Patients with MCI had lower GM peak height compared with controls for the temporal and frontal lobe. WM peak height was lower for all lobes investigated for patients with both AD and MCI. WM mean MTR was lower in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes for patients with AD compared with controls. Age and both temporal GM peak height and mean MTR were the only parameters that predicted cognition. CONCLUSION: This study shows that in addition to more focal GM MTI changes in the temporal and frontal lobes, widespread WM changes are present in the earliest stages of AD. This might point to an important role for WM pathology in the earliest stage of AD.