Dementia due to Meningovascular Syphilis in Medial Temporal Lobe and Cognitive Rehabilitation

The temporal lobe is essential in saving declarative memory and plays an important role along with the cerebral neocortex in creating and maintaining long-term memory. Damage to the temporal lobe is expected to result in cognitive impairment or dementia, which has characteristic symptoms such as cognitive and behavioral dysfunction and decreasing self-reliance in activities of daily living. We report on a patient, who suffered from dementia due to meningovascular syphilis affecting the medial temporal lobe, and on the outcome of cognitive rehabilitation.

Dementia due to Meningovascular Syphilis in Medial Temporal Lobe and Cognitive Rehabilitation

The temporal lobe is essential in saving declarative memory and plays an important role along with the cerebral neocortex in creating and maintaining long-term memory. Damage to the temporal lobe is expected to result in cognitive impairment or dementia, which has characteristic symptoms such as cognitive and behavioral dysfunction and decreasing self-reliance in activities of daily living. We report on a patient, who suffered from dementia due to meningovascular syphilis affecting the medial temporal lobe, and on the outcome of cognitive rehabilitation.

Effect of Premotor Cortex Stimulation on Motor Learning in Basal Ganglial Hemorrhage Patients

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of high frequency (10 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on visuospatial motor learning, stimulated on the premotor cortex in basal ganglia hemorrhage patients. METHOD: Nine patients were randomized to receive real and sham rTMS. We subdivided into two groups according to the integrity of the corticospinal tract measured by diffusion tensor tractography. The implicit visuospatial learning paradigm composed of numbers 1 to 4, in which 12 sequential numbers (2-3-1-4-3-2-4-1-3-4-2-1) were incorporated randomly. We obtained the mean fraction anisotrophy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values from the corticospinal tract and subdividing into two groups by calculating the relative value (laterality %). RESULTS: rTMS on the premotor cortex was effective only in simple motor learning but not in visuospatial learning in group analysis. The primary motor cortex excitability after the premotor cortex stimulation has been changed significantly. Subdividing into two groups according to the integrity of the corticospinal tract using the ADC value, the low ADC value group showed significant reduction of the visuospatial response time. CONCLUSION: High frequency rTMS on the premotor cortex was effective in simple motor learning and also in the group who maintained more integrity of the corticospinal tract in basal ganglia hemorrhage.

Multivalent Effect of Isokinetic Muscular Strengthening Exercise in Aged Persons

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the multivalent effects of isokinetic strengthening exercises in aged person. METHOD: Sixrteen physically active elderly men and women (age 64.40+/-3.66) were recruited. The subjects underwent a 12-week knee flexor/extensor isokinetic exercise program of concentric contractions at a velocity of 180 degrees/sec of the both knee twice a week for 12 weeks. Training was carried out on the isokinetic dynamometer. The subjects were evaluated with muscular strength at 90 degrees/sec, endurance at 180 degrees/sec, cardio-pulmonary function, balance, mood and life quality at baseline, 4-week, 8-week and 12-week. RESULTS: Six of 16 people gave up in the middle of the course, 10 people completed a muscle strengthening exercise program. Muscular strength, balance, mood and life quality improved. CONCLUSION: Isokinetic exercise of the knee joint muscle was carried out and showed the result of multivalent effect in old age. Therefore strengthening exercise in aged persons was thought to be provided for welfare policy of an aging society as well as personal health improvement.