Jason W. Robertson PhD, Isaac Adanyeguh PhD, Benjamin Bender PhD, Sylvia Boesch MD, MSc, Arturo Brunetti MD, Sirio Cocozza MD, PhD, Léo Coutinho MD, Andreas Deistung PhD, Stefano Diciotti PhD, Imis Dogan PhD, Alexandra Durr MD, PhD, Juan Fernandez-Ruiz PhD, Sophia L. Göricke MD, Marina Grisoli MD, Shuo Han PhD, Caterina Mariotti MD, Chiara Marzi PhD, Mario Mascalchi MD, PhD, Fanny Mochel MD, PhD, Wolfgang Nachbauer MD, PhD, Lorenzo Nanetti MD, Anna Nigri PhD, Sergio E. Ono MD, PhD, Chiadi U. Onyike MD, Jerry L. Prince PhD, Kathrin Reetz MD, Sandro Romanzetti PhD, Francesco Saccà MD, PhD, Matthis Synofzik MD, Hélio A. Ghizoni Teive MD, PhD, Sophia I. Thomopoulos BA, Paul M. Thompson PhD, Dagmar Timmann MD, Sarah H. Ying MD, Ian H. Harding PhD, Carlos R. Hernandez-Castillo PhD
Background
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive deterioration in both motor coordination and cognitive function. Atrophy of the cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord are core features of SCA2; however, the evolution and pattern of whole-brain atrophy in SCA2 remain unclear.
Objective
We undertook a multisite, structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study to comprehensively characterize the neurodegeneration profile of SCA2.
Methods
Voxel-based morphometry analyses of 110 participants with SCA2 and 128 controls were undertaken to assess groupwise differences in whole-brain volume. Correlations with clinical severity and genotype, and cross-sectional profiling of atrophy patterns at different disease stages, were also performed.
Results
Atrophy in SCA2 versus controls was greatest (Cohen's d >2.5) in the cerebellar white matter (WM), middle cerebellar peduncle, pons, and corticospinal tract. Very large effects (d >1.5) were also evident in the superior cerebellar, inferior cerebellar, and cerebral peduncles. In the cerebellar gray matter (GM), large effects (d >0.8) were observed in areas related to both motor coordination and cognitive tasks. Strong correlations (|r| > 0.4) between volume and disease severity largely mirrored these groupwise outcomes. Stratification by disease severity exhibited a degeneration pattern beginning in the cerebellar and pontine WM in preclinical subjects; spreading to the cerebellar GM and cerebro-cerebellar/corticospinal WM tracts; and then finally involving the thalamus, striatum, and cortex in severe stages.
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Johan Wallin MD, Anton Forsberg PhD, Per Svenningsson PhD, MD
Background
Dysregulated leukotriene signaling is proposed to be involved in pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD).
Objective
The objective was to examine the safety and tolerability of montelukast, a cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor1 and GPR17 antagonist, in patients with PD. Secondary outcomes were target engagement, effects on PD signs/symptoms, and central neuroinflammation.
Methods
Fifteen PD patients were recruited to a 12-week open-label trial of 20 mg bi-daily montelukast treatment. Patients underwent ratings with the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39), [11C]PBR28-PET, and lumbar punctures before and during montelukast treatment.
Results
All patients completed the study. Three patients reported loose stool. No serious adverse events related to treatment were reported. MDS-UPDRS-Total scores improved by 6.9 points. Very low levels of montelukast were detected in all cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and resulted in a reduction in inflammation/metabolism markers. [11C]PBR28 binding was lowered in high, but not mixed, affinity binders after montelukast.
Jules Janssen Daalen, Maudy van der Heiden, Marjan Meinders, Bart Post
Background: The Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Part III, is the gold standard for assessing motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, motor symptoms fluctuate significantly from day to day, potentially limiting the sensitivity of this scale for trials with short duration and crossover designs. This study investigated whether day-to-day variability in motor symptoms exceeds the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in the MDS-UPDRS, Part III.
Methods: Twenty PD participants (Hoehn & Yahr stages 1.5-3) underwent 10 weekly off-medication assessments by one assessor on the same morning. Several determinants of day-to-day variability were explored.
Results: Symptom variability often exceeded the MCID for worsening and improvement. Current mental stress and fatigue did not correlate with worse scores, nor did physical activity and sleep quality in the previous week.
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Patricia Krause, Philipp Mahlknecht, Inger Marie Skogseid, Frank Steigerwald, Günther Deuschl, Richard Erasmi, Alfons Schnitzler, Tobias Warnecke, Jörg Müller, Werner Poewe, Gerd-Helge Schneider, Jan Vesper, Nils Warneke, Wilhelm Eisner, Thomas Prokop, Jan-Uwe Müller, Jens Volkmann, Andrea A Kühn
Background: Pallidal neurostimulation is an effective treatment for severe isolated dystonia, but long-term data from clinical trials are lacking.
Objectives: To evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of pallidal neurostimulation in patients with isolated generalized or segmental dystonia.
Methods: Extension study of the prospective multicenter trial (n = 40; July 2002 to May 2004), all patients received effective stimulation and underwent regular follow-up. The 10-year follow-up (n = 31) included Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) motor and disability score, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Mattis Dementia Rating Scale. Primary and secondary endpoints compared motor symptoms, disability scores, mood, and cognition changes.
Results: Thirty-one patients (12 female), aged 23-72 years, completed the 10-year study extension. Per protocol analysis showed sustained significant improvement in BFMDRS motor scores at 10 years compared with baseline, without significant change from the 6-month or 5-year follow-up. On average, motor scores decreased by 25.3 ± 5.2 points at 10 years (P < 0.0001; 56% improvement). Individual outcomes varied, with 27 responders (≥25% improvement; mean improvement 65.2 ± 21.4%) and 13 non-responders compared with baseline. Sustained improvements were seen in disability, mood, and anxiety scores. Cognition remained stable.