Neuroscience
Development of a disability scale for myotonic dystrophy type 1.
Acta Neurol Scand. 2011 Sep 8;
Authors: Contardi S, Pizza F, Falzone F, D'Alessandro R, Avoni P, Di Stasi V, Montagna P, Liguori R
Abstract
Objectives - Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystem disorder. Many tests in the literature have evaluated single aspects of DM1 patients, mainly focusing on muscular impairment, without an overall quantification of the different disease-specific neurological features. We developed and validated a new functional scale for DM1 patients based on neuromuscular impairment (NI) and disability. Materials and methods - Thirty-three patients were tested in basal condition, 18 were re-evaluated after therapeutic intervention with mexiletine, and 13 at one year follow-up without treatment. The scale includes 21 ordinal items in four areas: neuropsychology, motricity, myotonia and daily life activities. We evaluated inter- and intra-observer reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC and Spearman correlations, respectively), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), external validity (Spearman correlations between each area and other clinical and objective measurements and scales), and sensitivity to clinical changes after treatment or at follow-up. Results - Our analysis provided good results for inter-observer agreement (ICC = 0.72-0.97), intra-observer reliability, and internal consistency for all areas (Cronbach's α > 0.73). Total score and single area subscores were significantly correlated to objective measurements, disease duration and multisystem involvement. Finally, the scale was sensitive to clinical changes disclosing a significant improvement after treatment in the items assessing myotonia, and also to disease progression showing a significant worsening in all areas but myotonia in untreated patients. Discussion - Our scale provides a new practical measure to evaluate NI and disability of DM1 patients. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm its reliability in tracking disease progression and severity over a longer period of time.
PMID: 21902674 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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- Abstract Of The Day: Fatigue And Parkinson Disease
Alves G, Wentzel-Larsen T, Larsen JP. Is fatigue an independent and persistent symptom in patients with Parkinson disease? Neurology. 2004 Nov 23; 63(10): 1908-11. Department of Neurology, Rogaland Central Hospital, Postboks 8100, N-4068 Stavanger,...
Neuroscience
Neuropsychology Abstract of the Day: Disability Scale for DM1
Development of a disability scale for myotonic dystrophy type 1.
Acta Neurol Scand. 2011 Sep 8;
Authors: Contardi S, Pizza F, Falzone F, D'Alessandro R, Avoni P, Di Stasi V, Montagna P, Liguori R
Abstract
Objectives - Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystem disorder. Many tests in the literature have evaluated single aspects of DM1 patients, mainly focusing on muscular impairment, without an overall quantification of the different disease-specific neurological features. We developed and validated a new functional scale for DM1 patients based on neuromuscular impairment (NI) and disability. Materials and methods - Thirty-three patients were tested in basal condition, 18 were re-evaluated after therapeutic intervention with mexiletine, and 13 at one year follow-up without treatment. The scale includes 21 ordinal items in four areas: neuropsychology, motricity, myotonia and daily life activities. We evaluated inter- and intra-observer reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC and Spearman correlations, respectively), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), external validity (Spearman correlations between each area and other clinical and objective measurements and scales), and sensitivity to clinical changes after treatment or at follow-up. Results - Our analysis provided good results for inter-observer agreement (ICC = 0.72-0.97), intra-observer reliability, and internal consistency for all areas (Cronbach's α > 0.73). Total score and single area subscores were significantly correlated to objective measurements, disease duration and multisystem involvement. Finally, the scale was sensitive to clinical changes disclosing a significant improvement after treatment in the items assessing myotonia, and also to disease progression showing a significant worsening in all areas but myotonia in untreated patients. Discussion - Our scale provides a new practical measure to evaluate NI and disability of DM1 patients. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to confirm its reliability in tracking disease progression and severity over a longer period of time.
PMID: 21902674 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Aphasia Assessment
van der Meulen I, van de Sandt-Koenderman WM, Duivenvoorden HJ, & Ribbers GM (2009). Measuring verbal and non-verbal communication in aphasia: Reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the Scenario Test. International Joutnal of Language and...
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Parkinson's Disease
Pagonabarraga J, Kulisevsky J, Llebaria G, García-Sánchez C, Pascual-Sedano B, & Gironell A. Parkinson's disease-cognitive rating scale: A new cognitive scale specific for Parkinson's disease. Movement Disorders. 2008 Mar 31 [Epub ahead of print]....
- Neuropsychology Abstract Of The Day: Assessing Non-motor Symptoms In Parkinson's Disease
Chaudhuri KR, Martinez-Martin P, Brown RG, Sethi K, Stocchi F, Odin P, Ondo W, Abe K, Macphee G, Macmahon D, Barone P, Rabey M, Forbes A, Breen K, Tluk S, Naidu Y, Olanow W, Williams AJ, Thomas S, Rye D, Tsuboi Y, Hand A, & Schapira AH. The metric properties...
- Abstract Of The Day: Alzheimer Disease
Cummings JL, McRae T, & Zhang R. (2006). Effects of donepezil on neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia and severe behavioral disorders. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14(7), 605-612. Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and...
- Abstract Of The Day: Fatigue And Parkinson Disease
Alves G, Wentzel-Larsen T, Larsen JP. Is fatigue an independent and persistent symptom in patients with Parkinson disease? Neurology. 2004 Nov 23; 63(10): 1908-11. Department of Neurology, Rogaland Central Hospital, Postboks 8100, N-4068 Stavanger,...