Primitive reflexes and perceptual sensory tests in the elderly—Their usefulness in dementia

Release signs in Parkinson's disease with and without dementia

“…A grasp reflex was observed in just one demented PD-patient. No grasp reflex was found neither in our controls nor in our midly to moderately demented DAT-group (Kotler et al, 1982;Basavaraju et al, 1981). The snout reflex was elicited irrespective of diagnosis in 83% to 93% of the subjects.…”

“…We, too, found no correlations between severity of dementia or age concerning these two reflexes in all diganostic groups. Investigations on non-demented elderly revealed prevalences from 16.3% to 37% of a positive palmomental reflexes (de Noordhout and Delwaide, 1988;Jacobs and Gossman, 1980;Basavaraju et al, 1981) and an increase with age from the 3rd to the 9th decade (de Noordhout and Delwaide, 1988;Jacobs and Gossman, 1980). A persisting glabeallar reflex, increasing with age, has been described in 8% to 37% (Koller etal., 1982;Glatt etal., 1981;Jenkyn etal., 1985).…”

“…They disappear with the maturation of the central nervous system and the development of inhibitory mechanisms in adults, but may reappear in advanced age and dementia (Basavaraju et al, 1981;Paulson and Gottlieb, 1968). The clinical value of the evaluation of RS in demented or healthy elderly is still unclear (Koller etal., 1982;Huff etal., 1987) and findings concerning correlations between the frequencies of RS and the age or severity of dementia, respectively, are controversial (de Noordhout and Delwaide, 1988;Jacobs and Gossmann, 1980;Jenkyn etal., 1985;Tweedy etal., 1982;Koller etal., 1982;Franssen etal., 1991;Basavaraju etal., 1981;Glatt et al, 1981).…”

“…No study yet directly compared the frequencies of RS in PD with or without dementia with that in DAT and in the healthy elderly. Data on frequencies of RS in the healthy elderly are non-uniform (Jenkyn et al, 1985;Koller et al, 1982;Jacobs and Gossmann, 1980;de Noordhout and Delwaide, 1988;Jenkyn et al, 1977;Basavaraju et al, 1981).…”

“…Snout, grasp, palmomental reflexes and other release signs (RS) have been described in certain age-associated diseases of the central nervous system, like dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT) and Parkinson's disease (PD) (Tweedy et al, 1982;Basavaraju et al, 1981;de Noordhout and Delwaide, 1988;Jenkyn et al, 1977;Landau, 1989;Morel-Maroger, 1977;Koller et al, 1982). No study yet directly compared the frequencies of RS in PD with or without dementia with that in DAT and in the healthy elderly.…”