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Extrapyramidal signs in Alzheimer's disease
Neurology
|August 1, 1984
Summary
Most Alzheimer's disease patients exhibit extrapyramidal signs, primarily rigidity and hypokinesia, suggesting striatal dopaminergic hypofunction. Some patients show dyskinetic signs, indicating complex basal ganglia dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
- Extrapyramidal signs (EPS) are motor symptoms typically associated with basal ganglia dysfunction.
- The prevalence and pattern of EPS in AD are not fully characterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence and types of extrapyramidal signs in patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type.
- To explore the clinical implications of these signs for understanding basal ganglia involvement in AD.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 143 patients diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer type.
- Systematic assessment of extrapyramidal signs, including rigidity, hypokinesia, hypomimia, resting tremor, and dyskinetic movements.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of extrapyramidal signs was observed, with only 8% of patients being free of such symptoms.
- The most common pattern of EPS was rigidity, hypokinesia, and hypomimia.
- Resting tremor was infrequent, while dyskinetic signs, particularly orofacial, were present in 17% of patients.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest widespread striatal dopaminergic hypofunction in most advanced Alzheimer's disease patients, manifesting as hypokinesia and rigidity.
- The presence of predominantly dyskinetic signs in some patients indicates more complex basal ganglia dysfunction beyond simple dopaminergic deficits.