This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Snowden, M. B. Articles by Larson, E. B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Snowden, M. B. Articles by Larson, E. B. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Study of Alzheimer's Dementia Patients with Parkinsonian Features

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Dr. Snowden), Department of Medicine (Drs. Bowen and Larson), Division of Neurology (Dr. Bowen), and Department of Biostatistics (Dr. Hughes), University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.

James D. Bowen, MD

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Dr. Snowden), Department of Medicine (Drs. Bowen and Larson), Division of Neurology (Dr. Bowen), and Department of Biostatistics (Dr. Hughes), University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.

James Hughes, PhD

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Dr. Snowden), Department of Medicine (Drs. Bowen and Larson), Division of Neurology (Dr. Bowen), and Department of Biostatistics (Dr. Hughes), University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.

Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Dr. Snowden), Department of Medicine (Drs. Bowen and Larson), Division of Neurology (Dr. Bowen), and Department of Biostatistics (Dr. Hughes), University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington.

This paper presents a study to test the hypothesis that a parkinsonian subtype of Alzheimer's disease exists. Twenty-one patients with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) and coexistent parkinsonian features were matched to 21 DAT control patients without parkinsonian signs. All subjects were drawn from 136 patients with DAT evaluated between 1980 and 1982. Items from a standardized clinical evaluation at the time of diagnosis, from continuous yearly follow-ups, and neuropathologic examination were compared to determine if qualitative differences exist between the two groups. Those with parkinsonian features had significantly shorter duration of symptoms prior to presentation, a trend toward more reports of decreased self-care, and more primitive reflexes on physical examination. While the total Folstein Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores at presentation were not significantly different, the cases showed greater impairment in language and registration subitems. During follow-up, no differences were observed in performance on MMSE and Dementia Rating Scale scores. Survival curves showed a trend toward poorer survival in the cases. Neuropathologic data were obtained on seven patients with both DAT and parkinsonian features and showed three cases with Alzheimer's disease (AD) alone and four with AD and Parkinson's disease. Four of the DAT control patients were examined neuropathologically, and all had AD without evidence of Parkinson's disease. The results provide preliminary evidence that Alzheimer's patients with parkinsonian signs are a subtype characterized by distinct neurologic signs and a more rapid course.

Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, Vol. 8, No. 3, 154-158 (1995)
DOI: 10.1177/089198879500800302


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. B. Larson An 80-Year-Old Man With Memory Loss JAMA, February 23, 2000; 283(8): 1046 - 1053. [Full Text] [PDF]