Background/Aim: To determine the prevalence and incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and compare them with results from our previous studies. Methods: We examined epidemiological characteristics of PD patients using a service-based study in Yonago City, and a door-to-door study in Daisen Town. The prevalence days were April 1, 2004 in Yonago, and April 1, 2003 in Daisen. Results: In Yonago, we identified 254 PD patients. The crude prevalence was 180.3 (95% CI, 158.1–202.4) per 100,000 population. The adjusted prevalence was 145.8 (95% CI, 145.2–146.5) in 1980, 147.0 (95% CI, 146.3–147.6) in 1992, and 166.8 (95% CI, 166.1–167.5) in 2004, when calculated using the Japanese population in 2004. The crude incidence was 18.4 (95% CI, 11.3–25.5) per 100,000 population per year. The crude incidence in 1980 was 10.2 (95% CI, 4.6–15.8), and the adjusted incidence was 9.8 (95% CI, 4.3–15.3) in 1992, and 10.3 (95% CI, 4.7–15.9) in 2004, when calculated using the population in Yonago in 1980. In Daisen, there were 21 PD patients. The crude prevalence was 306.6 (95% CI, 175.7–437.6) and the adjusted prevalence was 192.6 (95% CI, 191.9–193.8). Conclusions: The prevalence of PD had increased, primarily because the population had aged. Differences in prevalence between these adjacent areas may have resulted from differences in the methods of investigation.

Aims: In order to determine the prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), we conducted a population-based study in Japan. Methods: Participants included 924 subjects aged 65 years or older who resided in the town of Ama-cho. In phase 1 of the study, the Mini-Mental State Examination and Clinical Dementia Rating were administered for screening purposes. In phase 2 of the study, the subjects who screened positive were further examined by neurologists. Dementia and MCI were diagnosed by means of DSM-IV and International Working Group on MCI criteria, respectively. Results: By the prevalence date of June 1, 2010, 24 subjects had deceased or lived outside the town. In total, 723 of the remaining 900 subjects received a phase 1 test. In phase 2, 98 subjects were diagnosed with amnestic MCI, 113 subjects with non-amnestic MCI, and 82 subjects with dementia. Of the subjects who did not receive the phase 1 test, 66 subjects were diagnosed as having dementia according to data from their town medical card or the Long-term Care Insurance System. The crude prevalence of amnestic MCI, non-amnestic MCI, and dementia were 10.9, 12.6, and 16.4%, respectively. Conclusion: Consistent with the striking increase in the number of elderly individuals, we report higher prevalence of MCI and dementia in Japan than previously described.

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BackgroundTo determine the relationships between regional white matter lesions (WMLs), lifestyle factors, and cognitive, motor function and mood.MethodsA comprehensive evaluation, including brain MRI, blood tests, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the Mini Mental State Examination, and the Geriatric Depression Scale, was performed for people aged 65 years or older living in Ama-cho on October 1, 2009. Participants were classified by severity of periventricular hyperintensities (PVH) and deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMH) using the Fazekas score.ResultsOf 900 eligible participants, 688 (76.4%) were enrolled, including 303 men. Significant predictors of severe PVH were older age, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, elevated blood pressure (BP), cerebral infarction, and no current alcohol use. Significant predictors of severe DWMH were older age, lower 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) levels, elevated BP, cerebral infarction, and no current alcohol use. Higher cognitive function was associated with younger age, female sex, mild DWMH, more years of education, and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Depressive symptoms were associated with lower 1,5-AG levels, lower LDL-C levels, moderate to severe PVH, and no current alcohol use.ConclusionsWhite matter lesions in elderly people were related to hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance. The severity of WMLs was associated with cognitive function and mood.

The size and shape of novel partially fluorinated gemini surfactant 1,2-bis[dimethyl-(3-perfluoroalkyl-2-hydroxypropyl)ammonium]ethane bromide (CnFC3-2-C3CnF, where n=4, 6, and 8) were investigated in aqueous solution by means of light scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The sizes of these molecular aggregates changed with increasing carbon number of the alkyl chain and concentration. For example, the apparent hydrodynamic radius by dynamic light scattering was 18 nm at a concentration of cmcx5 for n=4, 115 nm at the cmcx15 for n=6, and 62 nm at the cmcx30 for n=8, at 298.2 K. The shapes of CnFC3-2-C3CnF aggregates drastically changed with the alkyl chain length; the aggregates were mainly in the form of large or irregular small aggregates (n=4), string-like aggregates (n=6), and vesicles (n=8). The bromide-ion activity was measured using a bromide-ion-selective electrode to determine the degree of counterion binding to the aggregates. The degree of counterion binding to aggregate was very small compared with that in the typical hydrogenated gemini surfactants. These results indicated that the small curvature of large aggregates was not influenced by an electrostatic repulsion between the cationic head groups in the case of the bulky molecular volume of fluorinated gemini surfactants.