Projects / Programmes
Biological markers of neurodegenerative syndromes manifesting with parkinsonism and dementia
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.03.00 |
Medical sciences |
Neurobiology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B640 |
Biomedical sciences |
Neurology, neuropsychology, neurophysiology |
parkinsonism, dementia, neuropsychology, genetics, functional brain imaging
Researchers (19)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are among the most common causes of morbidity in the old age. They often occur as a combination of parkinsonism and dementia, with the most common syndromes presenting as Parkinson's disease (PD), Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD), diffuse Lewy body dementia (DLBD) and Alzheimer's dementia (AD). In the initial stages of the disease, it may be quite difficult to distinguish between the syndromes. A hypothesis exists that neurodegenerative disorders represent a continuum, with PD and AD on the extremes, and PDD and DLBD between them. The purpose of this study is to find out pros and cons of the two theories: neoredegenerative disorders as separate entities vs. Neurodegenerative disorders as a continuum. The issue will be address with the use of biological markers (neuropsychological testing, morphologic and functional imaging, genomic expression in peripheral blood). Biological markers maj help in confirming the correct diagnosis, they may clarify pathophysiological processes in neurodegeneration and thus contribute to a more successful treatment and enable a more precise prognosis in early stages of the disease.
Significance for science
The project encompasses wide range of neurological conditions, including cognitive impairments, dementias and parkinsonism. The project group contributed to the following areas: 1. clinical neurology: results will help towards understanding and classification of neurodegenerative diseases. Different neurodegenerative diseases present with a variety of clinical symptoms (symptoms of dementia and parkinsonism or a combination of dementia and parkinsonism). It is not clear if these syndromes are different nosological entities or are they just a different expression of the same disease. Based on the results (neurological, psychiatric, paraclinical) we try to differentiate between different disorders in early stage of their manifestation; 2. genetic characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases: we have sampled blood for genetic studies from every patient, and than analysed by using biochips. This will improve our knowledge of the genetic basis of neurodegenerative diseases; 3. use of imaging studies: functional imaging shows brain activity, which is usually considerably changed in neurodegenerative diseases. Some of them (SPECT, DATScan) show changes in brain activity in the early stages of the diseases, which helps to diagnose particular syndromes early in the disease course. 4. utility of neuropsychology in differential diagnosis of dementias: tests are designed in such a way, to evaluate different cognitive domains. These tests reflect the cortical function and the connection of cortex to basal ganglia. The results from cognitive testing would help compare different aspects of cognitive functioning, which is invaulable in differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases presenting as a combination of dementia and parkinsonism. 5. cognitive neurosciences: decision making is one of the cognitive domains, which is very frequently affected by neurodegenerative disorders.
Significance for the country
The avarage life expectancy considerably increased in Slovenia in the last decades, increasing the incidenece and prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders (dementia and parkinonism). The importance of the study for the development of Slovenia is reflected through the following project activities: 1. For the first time, a specialized cognitive, out-patient, tertiary clinic was introduced in Slovenia; 2. Activities in the Gait and Movement Disorders Lab were initiated. Cognitive and clinical evaluation of patients with neurodegenerative diseases is being performed (spirography, gait analysis, video analysis). 3. Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology was established, where neurophysiological analysis (P300, Stroop) are being performed. 4. Cooperation with Clinic for Nuclear Medicine in Ljubljana was established - SPECT, DATScan, PET. 5. Researchers organized cognitive neurology section on a International congress for neurorehabilitation. 6. Head of the project (Z. Pirtošek), became a member of the council of the Joint Programme on Neurodegeneration in EU. 7. New international, interdisciplinary Master Studies Postgarduate Curriculum was established in Ljubljana (together with Universities in Budapest, Zagreb and Viena). 8. the project contributed to increase the public awareness of the neurodegenerative diseases (SINAPSA- Teden možganov, Emzin Journal). 9. students were also included in the reseasch activities within the project (Gaja Ferbežar and Andrej Poročnik received a Prešeren award for their research study; two students preformed a research, as a part of their undergraduate activities).10. In the Laboratory for liquor diagnostics we introduced liquor diagnostics of Azheimer's dementia, by analyzing CSF for tau, phospho tau and beta amyloid.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2008,
2009,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
