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Brain : a Journal of Neurology Mar 2020Bradykinesia is one of the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonisms. The various clinical aspects related to bradykinesia and the... (Review)
Review
Bradykinesia is one of the cardinal motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonisms. The various clinical aspects related to bradykinesia and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying bradykinesia are, however, still unclear. In this article, we review clinical and experimental studies on bradykinesia performed in patients with Parkinson's disease and atypical parkinsonism. We also review studies on animal experiments dealing with pathophysiological aspects of the parkinsonian state. In Parkinson's disease, bradykinesia is characterized by slowness, the reduced amplitude of movement, and sequence effect. These features are also present in atypical parkinsonisms, but the sequence effect is not common. Levodopa therapy improves bradykinesia, but treatment variably affects the bradykinesia features and does not significantly modify the sequence effect. Findings from animal and patients demonstrate the role of the basal ganglia and other interconnected structures, such as the primary motor cortex and cerebellum, as well as the contribution of abnormal sensorimotor processing. Bradykinesia should be interpreted as arising from network dysfunction. A better understanding of bradykinesia pathophysiology will serve as the new starting point for clinical and experimental purposes.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Hypokinesia; Levodopa; Neural Pathways; Parkinsonian Disorders
PubMed: 31834375
DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz344 -
Neuron Mar 2019Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex, multi-system neurodegenerative disorder. The second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, it affects... (Review)
Review
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex, multi-system neurodegenerative disorder. The second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, it affects approximately 1% of adults over age 60. Diagnosis follows the development of one or more of the core motor features of the disease, including tremor, slowing of movement (bradykinesia), and rigidity. However, there are numerous other motor and nonmotor disease manifestations. Many PD symptoms result directly from neurodegeneration; others are driven by aberrant activity patterns in surviving neurons. This latter phenomenon, PD circuit dysfunction, is an area of intense study, as it likely underlies our ability to treat many disease symptoms in the face of (currently) irreversible neurodegeneration. This Review will discuss key clinical features of PD and their basis in neural circuit dysfunction. We will first review important disease symptoms and some of the responsible neuropathology. We will then describe the basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit, the major locus of PD-related circuit dysfunction, and some of the models that have influenced its study. We will review PD-related changes in network activity, subdividing findings into those that touch on the rate, rhythm, or synchronization of neurons. Finally, we suggest some critical remaining questions for the field and areas for new developments.
Topics: Basal Ganglia; Brain; Cerebral Cortex; Humans; Neural Pathways; Parkinson Disease; Thalamus
PubMed: 30897356
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.03.004 -
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) Jan 2020Various methods of rehabilitation for dysphagia have been suggested through the experience of treating stroke patients. Although most of these patients recover their... (Review)
Review
Various methods of rehabilitation for dysphagia have been suggested through the experience of treating stroke patients. Although most of these patients recover their swallowing function in a short period, dysphagia in Parkinson's disease (PD) and Parkinson-related disorder (PRD) degenerates with disease progression. Muscle rigidity and bradykinesia are recognized as causes of swallowing dysfunction, and it is difficult to easily apply the strategies for stroke to the rehabilitation of dysphagia in PD patients. Disease severity, weight loss, drooling, and dementia are important clinical predictors. Silent aspiration is a pathognomonic sign that may lead to aspiration pneumonia. Severe PD patients need routine video fluoroscopy or video endoscopy to adjust their food and liquid consistency. Patients with PRD experience rapid progression of swallowing dysfunction. Nutrition combined with nasogastric tube feeding or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeding should be considered owing to the increased risk of aspiration and difficulty administrating oral nutrition.
Topics: Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Disease Progression; Enteral Nutrition; Humans; Hypokinesia; Muscle Rigidity; Parkinson Disease; Pneumonia, Aspiration; Respiratory Aspiration; Stroke Rehabilitation
PubMed: 30996170
DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2373-18 -
Neuroscience Bulletin Oct 2017As a multi-factorial degenerative disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) leads to tremor, gait rigidity, and hypokinesia, thus hampering normal living. As this disease is... (Review)
Review
As a multi-factorial degenerative disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) leads to tremor, gait rigidity, and hypokinesia, thus hampering normal living. As this disease is usually detected in the later stages when neurons have degenerated completely, cure is on hold, ultimately leading to death due to the lack of early diagnostic techniques. Thus, biomarkers are required to detect the disease in the early stages when prevention is possible. Various biomarkers providing early diagnosis of the disease include those of imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, oxidative stress, neuroprotection, and inflammation. Also, biomarkers, alone or in combination, are used in the diagnosis and evolution of PD. This review encompasses various biomarkers available for PD and discusses recent advances in their development.
Topics: Biomarkers; Comorbidity; Humans; Neuroimaging; Parkinson Disease
PubMed: 28936761
DOI: 10.1007/s12264-017-0183-5 -
Clinical Neurophysiology Practice 2022This review is part of the series on the clinical neurophysiology of movement disorders. It focuses on Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism. The topics covered include... (Review)
Review
This review is part of the series on the clinical neurophysiology of movement disorders. It focuses on Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism. The topics covered include the pathophysiology of tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia, balance and gait disturbance and myoclonus in Parkinson's disease. The use of electroencephalography, electromyography, long latency reflexes, cutaneous silent period, studies of cortical excitability with single and paired transcranial magnetic stimulation, studies of plasticity, intraoperative microelectrode recordings and recording of local field potentials from deep brain stimulation, and electrocorticography are also reviewed. In addition to advancing knowledge of pathophysiology, neurophysiological studies can be useful in refining the diagnosis, localization of surgical targets, and help to develop novel therapies for Parkinson's disease.
PubMed: 35899019
DOI: 10.1016/j.cnp.2022.06.002 -
Clinical Interventions in Aging 2020Bradykinesia and muscle weaknesses are common symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD) and are associated with impaired functional performance, increased risk of falls, and... (Clinical Trial)
Clinical Trial
PURPOSE
Bradykinesia and muscle weaknesses are common symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD) and are associated with impaired functional performance, increased risk of falls, and reduced quality of life. Recent studies have pointed to progressive resistance training (PRT) as an effective method to control and reduce these symptoms, increasing possibilities to treat the disease. However, few studies have focused on assessing the PRT effects in the short-term. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the short-term PRT effects on people with PD, in order to offer new parameters for a better understanding of its effects, so as an adequation and PRT use as a complementary therapy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Forty individuals diagnosed with PD from stage 1 to 3 on the Hoehn and Yahr scale took part on the study and were allocated into 2 groups; Training Group (TG) performed a 9-week RT program twice a week, and the Control Group (CG) attended disease lectures. Bradykinesia UPDRS subscale (BSS), knee extensors isokinetic strength, Ten Meters Walk Test (TMW), Timed Up&Go Test (TUG) and 30-Second Chair Stand (T30) were measured before and after the intervention period. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
RESULTS
Significant time was noted by the group interaction for all functional tests (TUG, T30, and TWM; all p < 0.01) and BSS (p < 0.01). Post hoc analyses revealed that these differences were driven by significant improvements in these dependent variables (all p < 0.01) while the CG remained unchanged (all p > 0.05). Moreover, TUG, T30, TWM, and BSS were significantly different between TG and CG in the post-training assessments (all p < 0.01). Isokinetic muscle strength was slightly increased in the TG (2.4%) and decreased in the CG (-2.2%), but statistical analyses did not reach significance for interaction but only a trend (p = 0.12).
CONCLUSION
The results indicate that 9 weeks of PRT reduces bradykinesia and improves functional performance in patients with mild to moderate PD. These findings reinforce this mode of exercise as an important component of public health promotion programs for PD.
Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Disability Evaluation; Female; Humans; Hypokinesia; Knee; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle Strength; Parkinson Disease; Physical Functional Performance; Physical Therapy Modalities; Quality of Life; Resistance Training; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors
PubMed: 32158202
DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S231359 -
Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 2021Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein protein (Lewy bodies) in dopaminergic neurons... (Review)
Review
Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein protein (Lewy bodies) in dopaminergic neurons of the and other related circuitry, which contribute to the development of both motor (bradykinesia, tremors, stiffness, abnormal gait) and non-motor symptoms (gastrointestinal issues, urinogenital complications, olfaction dysfunction, cognitive impairment). Despite tremendous progress in the field, the exact pathways and mechanisms responsible for the initiation and progression of this disease remain unclear. However, recent research suggests a potential relationship between the commensal gut bacteria and the brain capable of influencing neurodevelopment, brain function and health. This bidirectional communication is often referred to as the microbiome-gut-brain axis. Accumulating evidence suggests that the onset of non-motor symptoms, such as gastrointestinal manifestations, often precede the onset of motor symptoms and disease diagnosis, lending support to the potential role that the microbiome-gut-brain axis might play in the underlying pathological mechanisms of Parkinson's disease. This review will provide an overview of and critically discuss the current knowledge of the relationship between the gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease. We will discuss the role of α-synuclein in non-motor disease pathology, proposed pathways constituting the connection between the gut microbiome and the brain, existing evidence related to pre- and probiotic interventions. Finally, we will highlight the potential opportunity for the development of novel preventative measures and therapeutic options that could target the microbiome-gut-brain axis in the context of Parkinson's disease.
PubMed: 35069178
DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.782082