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Slow wave sleep (SWS) distribution across night sleep was shown to be different between infants and young adults. The present research aimed at studying the SWS distribution across night sleep in elderly subjects. Nine healthy elderly subjects, 61–71 years old, were submitted to nocturnal polygraphic sleep recording. Eleven young subjects, 21–23 years old, were the control group. Recordings were visually analyzed according to Rechtschaffen and Kales rules; the method proposed by Webb and Dreblow was used for scoring SWS. An NREM-REM cycle was defined as a sequence of NREM and REM sleep not interrupted by a waking period longer than 15 minutes. SWS percentage was calculated for each successive NREM episode. No significant association between SWS percentage and cycle rank was shown in elderly subjects, whereas a significant association was observed in the young ones. This kind of SWS distribution could be interpreted as reflecting the restructuring of internal organization of sleep in the elderly.

Olfactory function impairment has been observed in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) using psychophysical procedures. In this study, an electrophysiological technique based on spectral analysis and topographic EEG mapping was used to evaluate EEG arousal response to olfactory stimulation in ten normal subjects and ten PD patients in stage II according to Hoehn and Yahr's scale, all of whom had akinetic-rigid syndrome and were receiving chronic L-Dopa therapy. Olfactory function was stimulated using diluted benzaldehyde by means of an apparatus set up in our laboratory. Spontaneous and post-olfactory stimulus EEGs were recorded from 20 electrodes placed upon the scalp according to the Int. 10–20 System. Total EEG power (from 0.5 to 19.5 Hz) was evaluated over 10 sec. artefact-free epochs. An olfactory arousal reaction was detected in nine of the ten PD patients and was characterised by a significant decrease in total power similar to that observed in all of the 10 normal subjects; these variations in EEG were found in all but the anterior regions of the scalp. The use of this technique does not seem to reveal any clear alteration in the olfactory function of PD patients.

The 3alpha-hydroxy metabolites of progesterone (P), 3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one (allopregnanolone, A-PREG) and 3alpha-hydroxy-5beta-pregnan-20-one (pregnanolone, PREG), have been found to be among the most potent ligands of gamma-aminobutyric (GABA)-A receptors; in experimental animals, they have been found to have anxiolytic, hypnotic and anticonvulsant effects. Similar to those of the benzodiazepines and barbiturates that interact with GABA-A receptors. The present study was undertaken to determine plasma A-PREG and PREG concentrations in the luteal phase in women with partial epilepsy, in order to determine if an impaired metabolism of P occurs in this convulsive disorder. We measured plasma P, A-PREG and PREG levels in 15 women with partial epilepsy in the intercritical phase, and in 15 age-matched healthy women, during the luteal phase of the ovarian cycle (22nd-24th day). The mean plasma ± S.E. A-PREG levels (three blood samples) were 0.7±0.6 ng/ml in the epileptic women and 0.5±0.2 ng/ml in controls, with no significant difference between the two groups (p=NS); the PREG levels were also similar (1.4±1 ng/ml and 1±1.1 ng/ml, respectively: p=NS). A significant correlation was found between P levels and both A-PREG and PREG levels (r=0.72, p<0.001 and r=0.79, p<0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, dihydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, follicle stimulating hormone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone or estradiol levels.

On the long term Parkinson Disease (PD) treatment is often complicated by the occurrence of motor fluctuations. To find out whether early treatment of PD with levodopa, dopaminoagonists or 1-deprenyl is associated with any difference in motor fluctuations occurrence, the Italian Parkinson Study Groups initiated a multicenter, randomized study. Since November 1988, 475 patients cequiring effective treatment for idiopathic PD have been randomized to receive levodopa, dopoamine agonists or deprenyl. After 2 months of therapy, all patients evaluated with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale showed a significant amelioration. Daily living activities were more impaired in patients treated with deprenyl. Study design is presented and first resuts are discussed.