ABSTRACT
Dementia is an impairment of mental ability representing a decline from that level previously reached by the individual. It is usually of insidious onset, associated with neurologic changes, and results in the inability to appropriately interact with one's environment. Dementias may be static, progressive, or reversible, and have many etiologies. One percent of the population above age 40 suffers from dementia and this figure rises to 7% above age 80 and 50% above age 90. Forty-five percent of dementias are due to Alzheimer disease (AD) followed closely by vascular dementia. A stage along the way to dementia is mild cognitive impairment (MCI). There are various definitions but the simplest ones refer to a person who has some memory problems but can continue to live independently. A more specific description refers to deficits in two or more areas of cognition >1.5 SD below mean for the individuals age and education. Although previously considered a part of normal aging, a recent study has shown MCI to be a precursor of Alzheimer disease (1). In a cohort of nuns and priests studied annually until they developed MCI or dementia and died. 180 brains in this study have already been autopsied (37 MCI, 60 with no impairment, 53 with dementia). Pathologists measured theamount of AD pathology and cerebral infarcts. Of 37 with MCI, more than half had AD by pathology, 1/3 had infarcts (5 with both) and 14 did not have either pathology. One third of the 180 with average age of 85 had no cognitive decline! Since this study showed MCI patients to have Alzheimer disease pathology in their brains, recognition of MCI clinically is important for institution of therapy, although there has not yet been an effective therapy developed.
ABSTRACT
Fluoroscopically guided placement of sphenoidal electrodes for the assessment of epileptiform activity in the mesial-basal-temporal lobes offers distinct advantages over standard techniques, such as more precision in placement, reduced likelihood of facial pain, and fewer complications (vessel perforation or nerve injury). We describe our instrumentation, technique, and results in over 40 patients.
Subject(s)
Electrodes, Implanted , Electroencephalography/instrumentation , Fluoroscopy , Radiography, Interventional , Sphenoid Bone , Blood Vessels/injuries , Electrodes, Implanted/adverse effects , Electroencephalography/adverse effects , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Facial Pain/prevention & control , Humans , Peripheral Nerve Injuries , Temporal LobeSubject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/diagnosis , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Substantia Innominata/pathology , Aged , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Atrophy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Serial cerebral perfusion studies were performed in a patient with moyamoya disease, utilizing N-isopropyl iodoamphetamine (I-123 IMP). The SPECT findings correlated closely with those of a CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In fact, the perfusion defects seen on SPECT studies were larger than those seen on CT and MRI studies. The SPECT findings paralleled the patient's improving clinical course. Cerebral perfusion SPECT studies may be very helpful in the evaluation and follow-up of patients with moyamoya disease.
Subject(s)
Amphetamines , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Iodine Radioisotopes , Moyamoya Disease/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon , Adult , Cerebrovascular Circulation/physiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , Iofetamine , Moyamoya Disease/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The pathophysiology and clinical significance of high signal lesions, visualized on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), remain controversial. Since they are known to correlate with vascular disease and vascular risk factors, we reviewed the clinical correlates of periventricular high signal (PVH) and subcortical white matter lesions (WML) in a sample of 106 patients with probable AD, excluding persons with treated vascular risk factors or symptomatic cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. Grade 2 PVH were seen in 26 (25%) and scattered WML were identified in 29 (18%). PHV were associated with advancing age and gait disturbance. WML were associated with gait disturbance and incontinence. Neither radiologic finding was related to dementia severity. The findings suggest that these lesions are common in patients with AD even when those with evidence of cerebrovascular disease are excluded; their presence, therefore, should not preclude a diagnosis of AD. Additionally, the data suggest that HSL on MRI may be one of many risk factors associated with functional disability in persons with probable AD.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Brain/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology , Analysis of Variance , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
In this study, the relationship between facet geometry (joint angle and tropism) and disc degeneration was analyzed. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomographic scans of 46 subjects less than 50 years of age were evaluated. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to determine disc degeneration, and computed tomography was used to measure facet joint angles and determine tropism. Subjects with tropism had a significantly higher prevalence of disc degeneration at all three lumbar levels examined (L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1). The average facet angles increased from L3-4 to L4-5 and further to the L5-S1 level. There was no statistically significant relationship between the magnitude of the angle and the presence of disc degeneration at any of the three levels. It was concluded that the risk of disc degeneration is increased in the presence of facet joint tropism.