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Abstract Study Objectives To provide an overall estimate of the prevalence of idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (iRBD). Methods Two investigators have independently searched the PubMed and Scopus databases for population-based studies assessing the prevalence of iRBD. Data about type of diagnosis (polysomnographic diagnosis, defined iRBD [dRBD]; clinical diagnosis, probable RBD [pRBD]), continent, age range of the screened population, quality of the studies, sample size, screening questionnaires, and strategies have been gathered. A random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. Heterogeneity was investigated with subgroup analysis and meta-regression. Results From 857 articles found in the databases, 19 articles were selected for the systematic review and meta-analysis. According to the type of diagnosis, five studies identified dRBD cases given a pooled prevalence of 0.68% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38–1.05) without significant heterogeneity (Cochran’s Q p = 0.11; I2 = 46.43%). Fourteen studies assessed the prevalence of pRBD with a pooled estimate of 5.65% (95% CI 4.29–7.18) and a significant heterogeneity among the studies (Cochran’s Q p < 0.001; I2 = 98.21%). At the subgroup analysis, significant differences in terms of prevalence were present according to the quality of the studies and, after removing two outlaying studies, according to the continents and the screening questionnaire used. Meta-regression did not identify any significant effect of the covariates on the pooled estimates. Conclusion Prevalence estimates of iRBD are significantly impacted by diagnostic level of certainty. Variations in pRBD prevalence are due to methodological differences in study design and screening questionnaires employed.

Aim of the present study was to assess personality and psychopathological characteristics in patients with functional movement disorders (FMDs) compared to patients with other neurological disorders (OND). In this cross-sectional study, patients affected by clinically established FMDs and OND who attended the Neurologic Unit of the University-Hospital \"Policlinico-San Marco\" of Catania from the 1st of December 2021 to the 1st of June 2023 were enrolled. Personality characteristics were assessed with the Rorschach test coded according to Exner's comprehensive system and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-II). Thirty-one patients with FMDs (27 women; age 40.2±15.5 years; education 11.7±3.2 years; disease duration 2.3±2.5 years) and 24 patients affected by OND (18 women; age 35.8±16.3 years; education 11.9±2.9 years; disease duration 3.4±2.8 years) were enrolled. At the Rorschach, FMDs presented a significantly higher frequency of Popular (P) and sum of all Human content codes (SumH>5) responses and avoidant coping than OND. FMDs presented \"conformity behaviors\", excessive interest in others than usual a maladaptive avoidant style of coping and a difficulty in verbalizing emotional distress. These psychopathological characteristics may favor the occurrence of FMDs.

Late onset multiple sclerosis (LOMS) represents between 0.6 and 12% of all MS patients. However, little is known on the incidence of LOMS in the general population. Therefore, we aimed to study the annual incidence of LOMS in a population-based cohort. The study was conducted in the province of Catania, Italy. Case ascertainment was conducted retrospectively including all patients aged ≥ 50 years at onset and with the onset between 2005 and 2020. Incidence rates (IR) have been calculated for all the study period, according to sex, age classes and for subperiods. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) have been computed to compare incidence rates. During the study period, 183 patients with LOMS were identified (113 women; 61.8%). The mean age at onset was 55.8 ± 5.4 years and the main phenotype was Relapsing Remitting MS ( n  = 123; 67.2%). The average annual crude IR was 2.87/100,000 person-years (95% Confidence Intervals, CI 2.31–3.13). IR increased from 2.54/100,000 in 2005–2010 to 3.32/100,000 in 2016–2020, especially in in the age group 60–69 (IRR 3.48; 95%CI 1.41–9.76; p-value 0.002). In conclusion, an increased IR over the time was observed in the age-group 60–69, possibly reflecting an increased age at onset of MS.

Neurodegenerative diseases are common causes of impaired mobility and cognition in the elderly. Among them, tauopathies and α-synucleinopathies were considered. The neurodegenerative processes and relative differential diagnosis were addressed through a qEEG non-linear analytic method. Study aims were to test accuracy of the power law exponent β applied to EEG in differentiating neurodegenerative diseases and to explore differences in neuronal connectivity among different neurodegenerative processes based on β. N  = 230 patients with a diagnosis of tauopathy or α-synucleinopathy and at least one artifact-free EEG recording were selected. Periodogram was applied to EEG signal epochs from continuous recordings. Power law exponent β was determined by the slope of the signal power spectrum versus frequency in logarithmic scale. A data-driven clustering based on β values was performed to identify independent subgroups. Data-driven clustering based on β differentiated tauopathies (overall lower β values) from α-synucleinopathies (higher β values) with high sensitivity and specificity. Tauopathies also presented lower values in the correlation coefficients matrix among frontal sites of recording. In conclusion, significant differences in β values were found between tauopathies and α-synucleinopathies. Hence, β is proposed as a possible biomarker of differential diagnosis and neuronal connectivity.

To gain further insight on the association between human toxocariasis and epilepsy in light of the new evidence in the last years. A systematic review was conducted without date and language restriction in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), Ingenta Connect, Science Direct (Elsevier), RefDoc, Scopus, HighWire, Scielo and the database of the Institute of Neuroepidemiology and Tropical Neurology of the Limoges University (IENT). Two investigators independently conducted the search up to November 2017. A pooled odds ratio (OR) was estimated using a random effects model. Meta-regression was conducted to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity. Database search produced 204 publications. Eleven case-control studies were included that were carried out in 13 countries worldwide. A total number of 4740 subjects were considered (2159 people with epilepsy and 2581 people without epilepsy). The overall pooled OR was 1.69 (95% CI 1.42-2.01) for the association between epilepsy and Toxocara spp. seropositivity. A positive association was constantly reported in the restricted analysis (WB as confirmatory or diagnostic test, younger population, and population-based studies). Meta-regression showed no statistically significant association between covariates and outcome. The updated meta-analysis provides epidemiological evidence of a positive association between Toxocara seropositivity and epilepsy. New surveys supported the association, mainly population-based studies. On this basis, health strategies to reduce the impact of Toxocara spp are strongly advised. Further research should be performed to understand the physiopathological mechanisms of toxocara-associated epileptogenesis.

Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD) includes a spectrum varying from Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI) to PD Dementia (PDD). The main aim of the present study is to evaluate the incidence of PD-MCI, its rate of progression to dementia, and to identify demographic and clinical characteristics which predict cognitive impairment in PD patients. PD patients from a large hospital-based cohort who underwent at least two comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations were retrospectively enrolled in the study. PD-MCI and PDD were diagnosed according to the Movement Disorder Society criteria. Incidence rates of PD-MCI and PDD were estimated. Clinical and demographic factors predicting PD-MCI and dementia were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard model. Out of 139 enrolled PD patients, 84 were classified with normal cognition (PD-NC), while 55 (39.6%) fulfilled the diagnosis of PD-MCI at baseline. At follow-up (mean follow-up 23.5 ± 10.3 months) 28 (33.3%) of the 84 PD-NC at baseline developed MCI and 4 (4.8%) converted to PDD. The incidence rate of PD-MCI was 184.0/1000 pyar (95% CI 124.7-262.3). At multivariate analysis a negative association between education and MCI development at follow-up was observed (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.15-0.89; = 0.03). The incidence rate of dementia was 24.3/1000 pyar (95% CI 7.7-58.5). Out of 55 PD-MCI patients at baseline, 14 (25.4%) converted to PDD, giving an incidence rate of 123.5/1000 pyar (95% CI 70.3-202.2). A five time increased risk of PDD was found in PD patients with MCI at baseline (RR 5.09, 95% CI 1.60-21.4). Our study supports the relevant role of PD-MCI in predicting PDD and underlines the importance of education in reducing the risk of cognitive impairment.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1394374.].

Cysticercosis is caused by the invasion of human or pig tissues by the metacestode larval stage of Taenia solium. In Europe, the disease was endemic in the past but the autochthonous natural life cycle of the parasite is currently completed very rarely. Recently, imported cases have increased in parallel to the increased number of migrations and international travels. The lack of specific surveillance systems for cysticercosis leads to underestimation of the epidemiological and clinical impacts. To review the available data on epidemiology and management of cysticercosis in Europe. A review of literature on human cysticercosis and T. solium taeniasis in Europe published between 1990-2011 was conducted. Out of 846 cysticercosis cases described in the literature, 522 cases were autochthonous and 324 cases were imported. The majority (70.1%) of the autochthonous cases were diagnosed in Portugal from 1983 and 1994. Imported cases of which 242 (74.7%) diagnosed in migrants and 57 (17.6%) in European travellers, showed an increasing trend. Most of imported cases were acquired in Latin America (69.8% of migrants and 44.0% of travellers). The majority of imported cases were diagnosed in Spain (47.5%), France (16.7%) and Italy (8.3%). One third of neurosurgical procedures were performed because the suspected diagnosis was cerebral neoplasm. Sixty eight autochthonous and 5 imported T. solium taeniasis cases were reported. Cysticercosis remains a challenge for European care providers, since they are often poorly aware of this infection and have little familiarity in managing this disease. Cysticercosis should be included among mandatory reportable diseases, in order to improve the accuracy of epidemiological information. European health care providers might benefit from a transfer of knowledge from colleagues working in endemic areas and the development of shared diagnostic and therapeutic processes would have impact on the quality of the European health systems.

Aim of the study was to evaluate possible associations between cognitive dysfunctions and development of Levodopa Induced Dyskinesia (LID). PD patients from the Parkinson’s disease Cognitive impairment Study cohort who underwent a baseline and follow-up neuropsychological evaluations were enrolled. Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI) was diagnosed according to MDS level II criteria. The following cognitive domains were evaluated: episodic memory, attention, executive function, visuo-spatial function and language. A domain was considered as impaired when the subject scored 2 standard deviation below normality cut-off values in at least one test for each domain. Levodopa equivalent dose, UPDRS-ME and LID were recorded at baseline and follow-up. To identify possible neuropsychological predictors associated with the probability of LID development at follow-up, Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used. Out of 139 PD patients enrolled (87 men, mean age 65.7 ± 9.4), 18 (12.9%) were dyskinetic at baseline. Out of 121 patients non-dyskinetic at baseline, 22 (18.1%) developed LID at follow-up. The impairment of the attention and executive domains strongly predicted the development of LID (HR 4.45;95%CI 1.49–13.23 and HR 3.46; 95%CI 1.26–9.48 respectively). Impairment of the attention and executive domains increased the risk of dyskinesia reflecting the alteration of common cortical network.