The SEQ was able to characterize sensory features in young children with autism, and differentiate their sensory patterns from comparison groups. These unique sensory patterns have etiological implications, as well as relevance for assessment and intervention practices.

Background The effects of progressive resistance exercise (PRE) on the motor signs of Parkinson’s disease have not been studied in controlled trials. Our aim was to compare 6, 12, 18, and 24 month outcomes of patients with Parkinson’s disease who received PRE to a stretching, balance, and strengthening exercise program. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial between September 2007 and July 2011. Pairs of patients, matched by sex and off-medication Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, motor subscale (UPDRS-III), were randomly assigned to the interventions with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The PRE group performed a weight lifting program. The Modified Fitness Counts (mFC) group performed a stretching, balance, and strengthening exercise program. Patients exercised two days per week for 24 months at a gym. A personal trainer directed both weekly sessions for the first six months and one weekly session after six months. The primary outcome was the off-medication UPDRS-III score. Patients were followed for 24 months at six-month intervals. Results Of 51 patients, 20 in PRE and 18 in mFC completed the trial. At 24 months, the mean off-medication UPDRS-III score decreased more with PRE than with mFC (mean difference: - 7·3 points; 95% CI: -11·3 to -3·6; P < 0·001). The PRE group had ten adverse events. The mFC group had seven adverse events. Conclusions PRE demonstrated a statistically and clinically significant reduction in UPDRS-III scores compared to mFC and is recommended as a useful adjunct therapy to improve Parkinsonian motor signs.

This cross-sectional study seeks to (a) describe developmental correlates of sensory hyporesponsiveness to social and nonsocial stimuli, (b) determine whether hyporesponsiveness is generalized across contexts in children with autism relative to controls, and (c) test the associations between hyporesponsiveness and social communication outcomes. Three groups of children ages 11–105 months (N = 178; autism = 63, developmental delay = 47, typical development = 68) are given developmental and sensory measures including a behavioral orienting task (the Sensory Processing Assessment). Lab measures are significantly correlated with parental reports of sensory hyporesponsiveness. Censored regression models show that hyporesponsiveness decreased across groups with increasing mental age (MA). Group differences are significant but depend upon two-way interactions with MA and context (social and nonsocial). At a very young MA (e.g., 6 months), the autism group demonstrates more hyporesponsiveness to social and nonsocial stimuli (with larger effects for social) than developmental delay and typically developing groups, but at an older MA (e.g., 60 months) there are no significant differences. Hyporesponsiveness to social and nonsocial stimuli predicts lower levels of joint attention and language in children with autism. Generalized processes in attention disengagement and behavioral orienting may have relevance for identifying early risk factors of autism and for facilitating learning across contexts to support the development of joint attention and language.

The nature of hyperresponsiveness to sensory stimuli in children with autism, using a new observational measure, the SPA, was examined. Three groups of young participants were assessed (autism, developmental delay, typical). Across all groups, MA was a predictor of hyperresponsiveness, such that aversion to multisensory toys decreased as MA increased. The two clinical groups displayed higher levels of sensory aversion than the typical group. The groups did not differ in the proportion of children habituating to an auditory stimulus; however, nonresponders were more prevalent in the autism group. These findings elucidate developmental influences on sensory features and the specificity of hyperresponsiveness to clinical groups. Implications for understanding pathogenesis, differentiating constructs of hypersensitivity, and planning treatment are discussed.

Background This paper reports on the findings of the effect of two structured exercise interventions on secondary cognitive outcomes which were gathered as part of the Progressive Resistance Exercise Training in Parkinson’s disease randomized controlled trial. Methods This study was a prospective, parallel-group, single-center trial. Fifty-one non-demented patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease were randomly assigned either to modified Fitness Counts or to Progressive Resistance Exercise, and were followed for 24 months. Cognitive outcomes were the Digit Span, Stroop, and Brief Test of Attention. Results Eighteen patients in modified Fitness Counts and 20 patients in Progressive Resistance Exercise completed the trial. At 12 and at 24 months no differences between groups were observed. At 12 months, relative to baseline, modified Fitness Counts improved on the Digit Span (estimated change, 0.3; Inter-Quartile Range, 0, 0.7; p=0.04) and Stroop (0.3; 0, 0.6; p=0.04), and Progressive Resistance Exercise improved only on the Digit Span (0.7; 0.3, 1; p<0.01). At 24 months, relative to baseline, modified Fitness Counts improved on the Digit Span (0.7; 0.3, 1.7; p<0.01) and Stroop (0.3; 0.1, 0.5; p=0.03), while Progressive Resistance Exercise improved on the Digit Span (0.5; 0.2, 0.8; p<0.01), Stroop (0.2; −0.1, 0.6; p=0.048), and Brief Test of Attention (0.3; 0, 0.8; p=0.048). No neurologic or cognitive adverse events were seen. Conclusions This study provides Class IV level of evidence that 24 months of Progressive Resistance Exercise or modified Fitness Counts may improve attention and working memory in non-demented patients with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease.