The heroin analogue 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, MPP + , both in vitro and in vivo , produces death of dopaminergic substantia nigral cells by inhibiting the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase multienzyme complex, producing a syndrome indistinguishable from Parkinson's disease. Similarly, a fragment of amyloid protein, Aβ 1–42 , is lethal to hippocampal cells, producing recent memory deficits characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Here we show that addition of 4 mM d -β-hydroxybutyrate protected cultured mesencephalic neurons from MPP + toxicity and hippocampal neurons from Aβ 1–42 toxicity. Our previous work in heart showed that ketone bodies, normal metabolites, can correct defects in mitochondrial energy generation. The ability of ketone bodies to protect neurons in culture suggests that defects in mitochondrial energy generation contribute to the pathophysiology of both brain diseases. These findings further suggest that ketone bodies may play a therapeutic role in these most common forms of human neurodegeneration.
The vestibulospinal system was evaluated using a stabilometric method in patients with migraine and episodic tension-type headache during headache-free periods. Migraine patients often complain of dizziness or vertigo during headache attacks and some exhibit these symptoms between attacks. Computerized static stabilometry is a reliable and non-invasive technique to evaluate the equilibrium function in various diseases. The subjects consisted of 21 patients with migraine, 12 patients with episodic tension-type headache and, age-and sex-matched controls. We performed two sets of static stabilometric measurements with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) for 30 s. The averages of two sessions of the following six stabilometric parameters were used for the analysis: locus length (LNG), environmental area (ENV-AREA), rectangle area (REC-AREA), locus length per second, locus length per environ area (L/E), and root mean square area. Romberg quotients (EC/EO) of these six parameters were also analyzed. The mean values of LNG, ENV-AREA and REC-AREA in the EC session in the migraine group were significantly greater than those in the controls (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney rank sum test). Romberg quotients of all stabilometric parameters except the L/E in the migraine group were significantly greater than in the controls. Patients with episodic tension-type headache did not show any differences in the stabilometric study from the controls. The present findings suggest that patients with migraine show a significant increase of the body sway during the EC session, which indicates an underlying dysfunction in the vestibulospinal system.
Patients with migraine have hypofunction in the parasympathetic nervous system during normal daily activity in the headache-free period.
Background: The increasing number of patients with dementia in Japan, together with the rapid aging of society, is currently considered to have a substantial impact on Japan's medical, economic and sociological systems. Therefore, the longitudinal estimation of changes in the prevalence of dementia based on accurate diagnostic evaluation has important implications. Methods: We undertook three separate epidemiological studies on longterm changes, 10 years apart (1980, 1990 and 2000), in the prevalence of dementia in an elderly population using identical methods (DSM-III and Hachinski's ischemic score) for the same rural area in Japan (Daisen-cho). Results: The percentage of the population that was elderly (over 65 years of age) increased steadily from 16.0% in 1980 to 21.7% in 1990 and 27.1% in 2000. The prevalence of dementia (cases/100 people aged 65 years or older, adjusted to the population structure of 1980) in 1980, 1990 and 2000 was 4.4, 4.5 and 5.9, respectively, for all types of dementia, 1.9, 2.5 and 3.6, respectively, for Alzheimer-type dementia (DAT) and 2.0, 1.7 and 2.2, respectively, for vascular dementia (VaD). Conclusions: These findings of an increase in the number of cases and prevalence of DAT and VaD in a Japanese rural community have important implications for interventional medicine.
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