Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Effects on Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Introduction: In the last thirty years, brain neuromodulation techniques have been used as an alternative to pharmacological treatment of neurological disorders. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to bradykinesia, rest tremor, postural changes, and non-motor symptoms such as depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, pain, and cognitive decline that compromises executive functions (EFs), responsible for the orderly execution of behaviors and tasks of daily life and intentional and directed actions. To this date, a few studies with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) have shown beneficial effects in PD patients concerning specific motor and non-motor symptoms, targeting the motor cortex and/or prefrontal regions. Objective: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of left prefrontal tDCS across a broad spectrum of motor and non-motor symptoms of PD using established validated scales. Method: Single-blind randomized clinical trial with 18 volunteers with PD, aged between 45 and 80 years (66.1 ± 9.65), who met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants were submitted to assessments of motor and non-motor functions employing psychometric scales and tests to evaluate EFs and were randomly divided into two groups: control (sham stimulation) and experimental (active stimulation). All participants were involved in three separate tDCS sessions. The anode was positioned over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the cathode over the right supraorbital region, with a direct current intensity of 2 mA, lasting 20 minutes. At the end of the three sessions, all participants were reassessed. Results: Significant effects of tDCS on non-motor functions were observed for cognition (verbal fluency of actions, clock copy test, appointment by visual confrontation, and verbal memory with immediate free recall) and subjective assessment of sleep quality (overall restlessness and discomfort in the arms and legs at night, leg and arm cramps at night and distressing dreams). There was also an improvement in the rate of errors and successes for congruent and incongruent stimuli of the Stroop Test. The beneficial effects on motor function were decreased rigidity, improved gait, and greater agility in the finger-tapping test. Conclusion: Three tDCS sessions showed positive results for participants with PD, producing significant improvements in various motor and non-motor functions, including sleep quality, cognition, and EFs. Additionally, the present results indicate that tDCS neuromodulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex region is feasible, safe, and provides significant objective benefits for PD patients.

Clinical Characteristics of Sleep Disorders in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

In order to investigate the sleep quality and influencing factors in patients with Parkinson＇s disease（PD）, 201 PD patients were enrolled and underwent extensive clinical evaluations. Subjective sleep evaluation was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index（PSQI）, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale（ESS）. It was found that poor sleep quality（77.11%） and excessive daytime sleepiness（32.34%） were commonly seen in PD patients and positively correlated with disease severity. Then 70 out of the 201 PD patients and 70 age- and sex-matched controls underwent a polysomnographic recording. The parameters were compared between PD group and control group and the influencing factors of sleep in PD patients were analyzed. The results showed that sleep efficiency（SE） was significantly decreased（P〈0.01）, and sleep latency（SL） and the arousal index（AI） were increased（P〈0.05） in the PD group as compared with those in the control group. SE and total sleep time（TST） were positively correlated with the Hoehn and Yahr（H＆Y） stage. There was significant difference in the extent of hypopnea and hypoxemia between the PD group and the control group（P〈0.05）. Our results indicate that PD patients have an overall poor sleep quality and a high prevalence of sleep disorder, which may be correlated with the disease severity. Respiratory function and oxygen supply are also affected to a certain degree in PD patients.

Lack of Association between Impulse Control Disorders and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Purpose: Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and impulse control disorders (ICDs) are common in subjects with Parkinson’s disease. The association between these two conditions has been contradictory. The aim of this study is to analyze the association between these two non-motor symptoms. Methods: Consecutive subjects with Parkinson’s disease attending the Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinic were included. The presence of ICDs was assessed using the Questionnaire for Impulse Control Disorders Rating Scale. RBD was diagnosed by an overnight, single night polysomnography. Results: Fifty-five consecutive subjects with Parkinson’s disease were included. The prevalence of ICDs and related behaviors was 23.6% (ICD in 14.5% and related behaviors in 9.1%). RBD was diagnosed in 47.2% of the patients. No differences were found in the frequency of ICDs and related behaviors when comparing subjects with and without RBD (23% versus 24.1%, p = 0.926, respectively). Conclusion: No association between the presence of RBD and the frequency of ICDs in subjects with Parkinson’s disease was found.

Parkinson’s disease and affective disorder: The temporal relationship

In relationship between the affective disorders and Parkinson’s disease (PD) it was found that comorbidity was higher than expected in the majority of the studies. Patients with PD are at increased risk of developing depression and, conversely, recent studies have shown that patients with depressive disorders have increased risk of incident PD. However, the temporal associations between the disorders are not fully elucidated. From this review it could be learned that the temporal aspects strongly suggest that a neurobiological association exists between affective disorder and PD. This is illustrated with hitherto unpublished data. Some of these issues may be investigated in case register studies, e.g. by linkage of registers of somatic and psychiatric illness, and suggestions for future research are given. For GP’s, psychiatrists, geriatricians, and neurologists these new findings will lead to a better understanding and better treatment for patients with complicated comorbid conditions. Here timing is important!

Sleep Disturbance in Parkinson’s Disease Varies with Age of Onset and Family History

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease more common in those over the age of 60. PD is classically characterized by motor features, although patients may also experience non-motor symptoms. Sleep disturbances, such as rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder (RBD), are common in patients with PD and may precede onset of PD. Methods: Data was collected on patients with PD (358 subjects)in a movement disorders clinic at a safety net hospital. In this retrospective database analysis, the association of PD complications with age of onset was evaluated using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: Of the PD complications analyzed, there was a significant difference in sleep disturbances by age. Among the 358 PD patients, 120 individuals (33.5%) had information regarding the presence or absence of sleep disturbances. There was a significant difference between the early (onset < 50) and later onset (≥50) groups (p = 0.03) with the odds of having a sleep disorder for the early group 1.6 times that of the late group. Those subjects with siblings who also had PD had 2.0 times the odds of having a sleep disorder compared those without (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Non-motor symptoms such as sleep disorders are a useful predictor of early onset PD. Genetic components of PD impact both motor and non-motor aspects of the disease.

Assessing gray matter volume in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder(iRBD) is often a precursor to neurodegenerative disease. However, voxel-based morphological studies evaluating structural abnormalities in the brains of iRBD patients are relatively rare. This study aimed to explore cerebral structural alterations using magnetic resonance imaging and to determine their association with clinical parameters in iRBD patients. Brain structural T1-weighted MRI scans were acquired from 19 polysomnogram-confirmed iRBD patients(male:female 16:3; mean age 66.6 ± 7.0 years) and 20 age-matched healthy controls(male:female 5:15; mean age 63.7 ± 5.9 years). Gray matter volume(GMV) data were analyzed based on Statistical Parametric Mapping 8, using a voxel-based morphometry method and two-sample t-test and multiple regression analysis. Compared with controls, iRBD patients had increased GMV in the middle temporal gyrus and cerebellar posterior lobe, but decreased GMV in the Rolandic operculum, postcentral gyrus, insular lobe, cingulate gyrus, precuneus, rectus gyrus, and superior frontal gyrus. iRBD duration was positively correlated with GMV in the precuneus, cuneus, superior parietal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, posterior cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, lingual gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, middle temporal gyrus, and cerebellum posterior lobe. Furthermore, phasic chin electromyographic activity was positively correlated with GMV in the hippocampus, precuneus, fusiform gyrus, precentral gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, cuneus, inferior parietal lobule, angular gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, paracentral lobule, and cerebellar posterior lobe. There were no significant negative correlations of brain GMV with disease duration or electromyographic activity in iRBD patients. These findings expand the spectrum of known gray matter modifications in iRBD patients and provide evidence of a correlation between brain dysfunction and clinical manifestations in such patients. The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Huashan Hospital(approval No. KY2013-336) on January 6, 2014. This trial was registered in the ISRCTN registry(ISRCTN18238599).

Sleep Disorders in Parkinson＇s Disease： Present Status and Future Prospects

INTRODUCTION Parkinson＇s disease （PD） is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world. In China, approximately 48-89% of Chinese patients with PD have been shown to be affected by sleep disorders, in recent decades, there have been major advances in our understanding of the relationship between sleep disorders and PD, yet many questions remain unanswered.

Tremor and clinical fluctuation are related to sleep disorders in Chinese patients with Parkinson’s disease

Objective:To study the relationship between sleep disturbances and symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease(PD).Methods:The Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale-Chinese Version(PDSS-CV)was used to evaluate the sleep disturbances of PD patients in a cross sectional study.The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS)parts II-IV,and the Hoehn&Yahr(H&Y)stage were used to determine the level of motor function in PD and the severity of PD.The Spearman correlation and a multiple regression analysis were used to identify the relationship between sleep disturbances and symptoms of PD.The quantities derived from the UPDRS and the H&Y stage and disease duration were compared between groups of patients either with or without sleep disturbances identified by the PDSS.This study was conducted from December 2011 to March 2012 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University,in Guangzhou.Results:A total of 136 PD patients were included in this study.The overall total PDSS score in PD patients was 107.58±23.35 points(range:30–146).There were significant differences in the disease duration,the H&Y stage,and the UPDRS section subscores between groups of patients either with or without sleep disturbances(Kruskal-Wallis Test,p<0.05).There were significant negative correlations between PDSS scores and the UPDRS subscores,the H&Y stage and the disease duration(Spearman correlation,p<0.05).The multiple regression analysis indicated that sleep disturbances identified by the PDSS were only associated with daily life activity,tremor intensity and clinical fluctuation(R2=0.22,F(3,132)=12.4,p<0.001).The correlations were also significant when the contribution of the other two factors was excluded using partial correlations.Conclusions:The level of daily life activity and the occurrences of tremor and clinical fluctuation are likely to be important factors that lead to PD patients’sleep disturbances.This study may elucidate an important clue for the relationship between sleep disturbances and PD symptoms.

Effect of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity and Cognition of Parkinson＇s Disease Patients

Background：Rapid eye movement （REM） sleep behavior disorder （RBD） and obstructive sleep apnea （OSA） are the most common sleep disorders in Parkinson’s disease （PD）. The aim of this study was to identify whether RBD could alleviate OSA severity in PD patients and its effect on cognitive impairment.Methods：From February 2014 to May 2017, we recruited 174 PD patients from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, all of whom underwent polysomnography （PSG）. We collected clinical data, PSG results, and compared information between patients with and without RBD or OSA by analysis of covariance. We also investigated the effect of these sleep disorders on cognitive impairment using linear regression.Results：We grouped participants as follows： PD only （n = 53）, PD ＋ OSA （n = 29）, PD ＋ RBD （n = 61）, and PD ＋ RBD ＋ OSA （n = 31）. Minimum oxygen saturation （SaO2） during whole sleep and in REM sleep was higher in PD ＋ RBD ＋ OSA patients than that in PD ＋ OSA patients. PD ＋ RBD patients had worse Mini-Mental Status Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment （MoCA） scores than those in the PD group （P 〈 0.001）, especially in visuospatial/executive, attention, and memory functions. The PD ＋ OSA group performed worse than the PD group in the delayed recall domain. After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, education, disease severity, and other sleep disorders, MoCA was negatively associated with OSA （β = ？0.736, P = 0.043） and RBD （β = ？2.575, P 〈 0.001）. The severity of RBD （tonic/phasic electromyography activity） and OSA （apnea-hypopnea index/oxygen desaturation index/minimum SaO2） were also associated with MoCA. The adjusted β values of RBD-related parameters were higher than that for OSA.Conclusions：We found that RBD alleviated OSA severity; however, RBD and OSA together exacerbated PD cognitive impairment. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether OSA treatment can improve cognition in PD.

Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Symptoms Correlate with Domains of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson＆#39;s Disease

Background： Rapid eye movement （REM） sleep behavior disorder （RBD） may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson＆#39;s disease （PD）.However, little is known regarding the relation between the severity of RBD and the different domains of cognitive impairment.The aim of this study was： （1） to investigate the domains of cognitive impairment in patients with PD and RBD, and （2） to explore risk factors for PD-mild cognitive impairment （PD-MCI） and the relationship between RBD severity and impairment in different cognitive domains in PD.Methods： The participants were grouped as follows： PD without RBD （PD-RBD;n =42）, PD with RBD （PD ＋ RBD;n =32）, idiopathic RBD （iRBD;n =15）, and healthy controls （HCs;n =36）.All participants completed a battery of neuropsychological assessment of attention and working memory, executive function, language, memory, and visuospatial function.The information of basic demographics, diseases and medication history, and motor and nonmotor manifestations was obtained and compared between PD-RBD and PD ＋ RBD groups.Particular attention was paid to the severity of RBD assessed by the RBD Questionnaire-Hong Kong （RBDQ-HK） and the RBD Screening Questionnaire （RBDSQ）, then we further examined associations between the severity of RBD symptoms and cognitive levels via correlation analysis.Results： Compared to PD-RBD subjects, PD ＋ RBD patients were more likely to have olfactory dysfunction and their Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores were higher （P 〈 0.05）.During neuropsychological testing, PD ＋ RBD patients performed worse than PD-RBD patients, including delayed memory function, especially.The MCI rates were 33%, 63%, 33%, and 8% for PD-RBD, PD ＋ RBD, iRBD, and HC groups, respectively.RBD was an important factor for the PD-MCI variance （odds ratio =5.204, P =0.018）.During correlation analysis, higher RBDSQ and RBDQ-HK scores were significantly associated with poorer performance on the Trail Making Test-B （errors） and Auditory Verbal Learning Test （delayed recall） and higher RBD-HK scores were also associated with Rey-Osterrieth complex figure （copy） results.Conclusions： When PD-RBD and PD ＋ RBD patients have equivalent motor symptoms, PD ＋ RBD patients still have more olfactory dysfunction and worse daytime somnolence.RBD is an important risk factor for MCI, including delayed memory.Deficits in executive function, verbal delayed memory, and visuospatial function were consistently associated with more severe RBD symptoms.

Clinical features of Parkinson’s disease with and without rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Background:Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder(RBD)and Parkinson’s disease(PD)are two distinct clinical diseases but they share some common pathological and anatomical characteristics.This study aims to confirm the clinical features of RBD in Chinese PD patients.Methods:One hundred fifty PD patients were enrolled from the Parkinson`s disease and Movement Disorders Center in Department of Neurology,Shanghai General Hospital from January 2013 to August 2014.This study examined PD patients with or without RBD as determined by the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire(RBDSQ),assessed motor subtype by Unified PD Rating Scale(UPDRS)III at“on”state,and compared the sub-scale scores representing tremor,rigidity,appendicular and axial.Investigators also assessed the Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE),Clinical Dementia Rating(CDR),and Parkinson’s disease Sleep Scale(PDSS).Results:One hundred fourty one PD patients entered the final study.30(21.28%)PD patients had probable RBD(pRBD)diagnosed with a RBDSQ score of 6 or above.There were no significant differences for age,including age of PD onset and PD duration,gender,smoking status,alcohol or coffee use,presence of anosmia or freezing,UPDRS III,and H-Y stages between the pRBD+and pRBD−groups.pRBD+group had lower MMSE scores,higher PDSS scores,and pRBD+PD patients had more prominent proportion in anxiety,depression,constipation,hallucination and a greater prevalence of orthostatic hypotension.Conclusion:pRBD+PD patients exhibited greater changes in non-motor symptoms.However,there was no increase in motor deficits.

CSF Aβ1-42 level is associated with cognitive decline in early Parkinson’s disease with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder

Background:Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder(RBD)is associated with cognitive decline in early Parkinson’s disease(PD).However,the underlyling basis for this association remains unclear.Methods:Parkinson’s Progression Marker’s Initiative(PPMI)subjects underwent baseline RBD testing with RBD sleep questionnaire(RBDSQ).Serial assessments included measures of motor symptoms,non-motor symptoms(NMS),neuropsychological assessment,blood and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)biomarkers.Up to three years follow-up data were included.We stratified early PD subjects into PD with RBD(RBDSQ score>5)and PD without RBD groups.Then,we evaluated baseline biomarkers in each group as a predictor of cognitive decline using Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)score changes over three years in regression models.Results:Four hundred twenty-three PD subjects were enrolled at baseline,and a total of 350 PD subjects had completed 3 years of study follow-up with completely serial assessments.We found that at baseline,only CSF β-amyloid 1–42(Aβ1–42)was significantly lower in PD subjects with RBD.On three years follow-up analysis,PD subjects with RBD were more likely to develop incident mild cognitive impairment(MCI)and presented greater cognitive decline in MoCA score.Lower baseline CSF Aβ1–42 predicted cognitive decline over 3 years only in PD subjects with RBD(β=−0.03,P=0.003).A significant interaction between Aβ1–42 and the 2 groups confirmed that this effect was indeed higher in PD with RBD than the other individual(β=−2.85,P=0.014).Conclusion:These findings indicate that CSF Aβ1–42 level is associated with global cognitive decline in early PD with RBD.The addition of CSF Aβ1–42 to RBD testing increase the likelihood of identifying those at high risk for cognitive decline in early PD.

Circadian disruption and sleep disorders in neurodegeneration

Disruptions of circadian rhythms and sleep cycles are common among neurodegenerative diseases and can occur at multiple levels.Accumulating evidence reveals a bidirectional relationship between disruptions of circadian rhythms and sleep cycles and neurodegenerative diseases.Circadian disruption and sleep disorders aggravate neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative diseases can in turn disrupt circadian rhythms and sleep.Importantly,circadian disruption and various sleep disorders can increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.Thus,harnessing the circadian biology findings from preclinical and translational research in neurodegenerative diseases is of importance for reducing risk of neurodegeneration and improving symptoms and quality of life of individuals with neurodegenerative disorders via approaches that normalize circadian in the context of precision medicine.In this review,we discuss the implications of circadian disruption and sleep disorders in neurodegenerative diseases by summarizing evidence from both human and animal studies,focusing on the bidirectional links of sleep and circadian rhythms with prevalent forms of neurodegeneration.These findings provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and suggest a promising role of circadian-based interventions.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Parkinson＇s Disease： Clinical Implications and Management

Objective：Excessive daytime sleepiness （EDS） is one of the most common sleep abnormalities in patients with Parkinson’s disease （PD）, yet its multifactorial etiology complicates its treatment. This review summarized recent studies on the epidemiology, etiology, clinical implications, associated features, and evaluation of EDS in PD. The efficacy of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments for EDS in PD was also reviewed.Data Sources：English language articles indexed in PubMed and Cochrane databases and Chinese-language papers indexed in Wanfang and National Knowledge Infrastructure databases that were published between January 1987 and November 2017 were located using the following search terms： ＂sleepiness＂ , ＂sleep and Parkinson’s disease＂ , and ＂Parkinson’s disease and treatment＂ .Study Selection：Original research articles and critical reviews related to EDS in PD were selected.Results：EDS is a major health hazard and is associated with many motor and nonmotor symptoms of PD. Its causes are multifactorial. There are few specific guidelines for the treatment of EDS in PD. It is first necessary to identify and treat any possible factors causing EDS. Recent studies showed that some nonpharmacologic （i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy, light therapy, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation） and pharmacologic （i.e., modafinil, methylphenidate, caffeine, istradefylline, sodium oxybate, and atomoxetine） treatments may be effective in treating EDS in PD.Conclusions：EDS is common in the PD population and can have an immensely negative impact on quality of life. Its causes are multifactorial, which complicates its treatment. Further investigations are required to determine the safety and efficacy of potential therapies and to develop novel treatment approaches for EDS in PD.

Clinical Significance of REM Sleep Behavior Disorders and Other Non-motor Symptoms of Parkinsonism

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder （RBD） is one of the most common non-motor symptoms of parkinsonism, and it may serve as a prodromal marker of neurodegenerative disease. The mechanism underlying RBD is unclear. Several prospective studies have reported that specific non-motor symptoms predict a conversion risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease, including olfactory dysfunction, abnormal color vision, autonomic dysfunction, excessive daytime sleepiness, depression, and cognitive impairment. Parkinson＇s disease （PD） with RBD exhibits clinical heterogeneity with respect to motor and non-motor symptoms compared with PD without RBD. In this review, we describe the main clinical and pathogenic features of RBD, focusing on its association with other non-motor symptoms of parkinsonism.

Relationships between Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder and Neurodegenerative Diseases： Clinical Assessments, Biomarkers, and Treatment

Objective： Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder （RBD） is characterized by dream enactment and loss of muscle atonia during rapid eye movement sleep. RBD is closely related to α-synucleinopathies including Parkinson＇s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. Many studies have investigated the markers of imaging and neurophysiological, genetic, cognitive, autonomic function of RBD and their predictive value for neurodegenerative diseases. This report reviewed the progress of these studies and discussed their limitations and future research directions. Data Sources： Using the combined keywords： ＂RBD＂, ＂neurodegenerative disease＂, ＂Parkinson disease＂, and ＂magnetic resonance imaging＂, the PubMed/MEDLINE literature search was conducted up to January 1, 2018. Study Selection： A total of 150 published articles were initially identified citations. Of the 150 articles, 92 articles were selected after further detailed review. This study referred to all the important English literature in full. Results： Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in SCARB2 （rs6812193） and MAPT （rs12185268） were significantly associated with RBD. The olfactory loss, autonomic dysfunction, marked electroencephalogram slowing during both wakefulness and rapid eye movement sleep, and cognitive impairments were potential predictive markers for RBD conversion to neurodegenerative diseases. Traditional structural imaging studies reported relatively inconsistent results, whereas reduced functional connectivity between the left putamen and substantia nigra and dopamine transporter uptake demonstrated by functional imaging techniques were relatively consistent findings. Conclusions： More longitudinal studies should be conducted to evaluate the predictive value of biomarkers of RBD. Moreover, because the glucose and dopamine metabolisms are not specific for assessing cognitive cognition, the molecular metabolism directly related to cognition should be investigated. There is a need for more treatnaent trials to determine the effectiveness of interventions of RBD on preventing the conversion to neurodegenerative diseases.

清脑解郁方治疗帕金森病抑郁的临床疗效观察及对睡眠质量的影响

目的:探讨清脑解郁方治疗帕金森病抑郁的临床疗效和安全性及对睡眠质量的影响。方法:选取上海市静安区中医医院脑病科收治的帕金森病抑郁患者76例作为研究对象,采用随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组38例。对照组口服盐酸舍曲林片治疗,观察组口服盐酸舍曲林片+清脑解郁方治疗,分别于治疗前及治疗后第4、8周,观察中医证候积分、统一帕金森评定量表(UPDRS)、老年抑郁量表(GDS-15)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD-17)、匹兹堡睡眠质量指数量表(PSQI)的评分及差值,进行临床疗效评价和安全性分析。结果:治疗第4、8周后,观察组GDS-15、HAMD-17、中医证候积分较治疗前均明显改善(P<0.05)。治疗8周后,观察组PSQI评分优于对照组(P<0.05),UPDRS评分较治疗前下降明显(P<0.01)。同时,观察组的中医证候总有效率高于对照组(P<0.05)。2组均未出现严重不良反应。结论:清脑解郁方可改善帕金森病抑郁患者的精神活动、行为情感、运动检查、日常生活能力、睡眠质量及肝气郁结症状。

Premotor Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease

Typical Parkinsonian symptoms consist of bradykinesia plus rigidity and/or resting tremor. Some time later postural instability occurs. Pre-motor symptoms such as hyposmia, constipation, REM sleep behavior disorder and depression may antecede these motor symp- toms for years. It would be ideal, if we had a biomarker which would allow to predict who with one or two of these pre-motor symptoms will develop the movement disorder Parkinson＇s disease （PD）. Thus, it is interesting to learn that biopsies of the submandibular gland or colon biopsies may be a means to predict PD, if there is a high amour of abnormally folded alpha-synuclein and phosphorylated alpha-synuclein. This would be of relevance if we would have available means to stop the propagation of abnormal alpha-synuclein which is otherwise one of the reasons of this spreading disease PD.

Recent Progress in Non-motor Features of Parkinson’s Disease with a Focus on Circadian Rhythm Dysregulation

Parkinson’s disease(PD)is the second most common neurodegenerative disease,which manifests with both motor and non-motor symptoms.Circadian rhythm dysregulation,as one of the most challenging non-motor features of PD,usually appears long before obvious motor symptoms.Moreover,the dysregulated circadian rhythm has recently been reported to play pivotal roles in PD pathogenesis,and it has emerged as a hot topic in PD research.In this review,we briefly introduce the circadian rhythm and circadian rhythm-related genes,and then summarize recent research progress on the altered circadian rhythm in PD,ranging from clinical features to the possible causes of PD-related circadian disorders.We believe that future comprehensive studies on the topic may not only help us to explore the mechanisms of PD,but also shed light on the better management of PD.

Hot Topics in Recent Parkinson’s Disease Research:Where We are and Where We Should Go

Parkinson’s disease(PD),the second most common neurodegenerative disease,is clinically characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms.Although overall great achievements have been made in elucidating the etiology and pathogenesis of PD,the exact mechanisms of this complicated systemic disease are still far from being clearly understood.Consequently,most of the currentlyused diagnostic tools and therapeutic options for PD are symptomatic.In this perspective review,we highlight the hot topics in recent PD research for both clinicians and researchers.Some of these hot topics,such as sleep disorders and gut symptoms,have been neglected but are currently emphasized due to their close association with PD.Following these research directions in future PD research may help understand the nature of the disease and facilitate the discovery of new strategies for the diagnosis and therapy of PD.