Premium
Parkinsonian signs and substantia nigra neuron density in decendents elders without PD
Author(s) -
Ross G. Webster,
Petrovitch Helen,
Abbott Robert D.,
Nelson James,
Markesbery William,
Davis Daron,
Hardman John,
Launer Lenore,
Masaki Kamal,
Tanner Caroline M.,
White Lon R.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.20226
Subject(s) - substantia nigra , pars compacta , parkinson's disease , quadrant (abdomen) , midbrain , neuron , medicine , psychology , neuroscience , disease , pathology , central nervous system
Substantia nigra (SN) neurons were counted on single, transverse caudal midbrain sections from 217 male participants in the Honolulu‐Asia Aging Study, aged 74–97 years at death. Quadrants areas within the SN were determined with a planimeter and neuronal density was expressed as neurons/mm 2 for 10 Parkinson's disease (PD) cases, 29 incidental Lewy body cases, and 178 controls with neither condition. Mean densities in all quadrants were significantly lower in the PD group compared with the other groups ( p = 0.006). This relationship was strongest in the ventrolateral quadrant. In a subgroup of 50 controls who were examined with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale an average of 2.1 years prior to death, there was an association of stooped posture ( p = 0.009), postural instability ( p = 0.013), body bradykinesia ( p = 0.048), and gait disturbance ( p = 0.05) with neuron density in the dorsolateral quadrant; and impaired speech ( p = 0.014), abnormal facial expression ( p = 0.022), and difficulty rising from a chair ( p = 0.032) with neuron density in the dorsomedial quadrant. There was a significant association of increasing number of signs present with decreasing neuron density in both quadrants ( p = 0.001 for trend). Low SN neuron density may be the basis for parkinsonian signs in the elderly without PD. Ann Neurol 2004