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Tremor is one of the effects of nicotine as a toxic substance, especially in animal models. The intensity and duration of tremors were used to evaluate the effect of nicotine on locomotor activity in laboratory animals. In our observations, the time interval between nicotine injection and the onset of tremor changed depending on the dose. Therefore, by increasing the dose of nicotine in rats, the time interval of tremor onset was also shortened. These results suggest that the time interval between nicotine injection and the onset of tremors can be used as a complementary index for better evaluation of nicotine-derived motor disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To investigate whether structural network disconnectivity is associated with parkinsonian signs and their progression, as well as with an increased risk of incident parkinsonism. Methods In a prospective cohort (Radboud University Nijmegen Diffusion Tensor and Magnetic Resonance Cohort study) consisting of 293 participants with small vessel disease (SVD), we assessed parkinsonian signs and incident parkinsonism over an 8-year follow-up. In addition, we reconstructed the white matter network followed by graph-theoretical analyses to compute the network metrics. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging markers for SVD were assessed. Results We included 293 patients free of parkinsonism at baseline (2011), with a mean age 68.8 (standard deviation [ SD ] 8.4) years, and 130 (44.4%) were men. Nineteen participants (6.5%) developed parkinsonism during a median (SD) follow-up time of 8.3 years. Compared with participants without parkinsonism, those with all-cause parkinsonism had higher Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating scale (UPDRS) scores and lower global efficiency at baseline. Baseline global efficiency was associated with UPDRS motor scores in 2011 (β = −0.047, p  < .001) and 2015 (β = −0.84, p  < .001), as well as with the changes in UPDRS scores during the 4-year follow-up (β = −0.63, p  = .004). In addition, at the regional level, we identified an inter-hemispheric disconnected network associated with an increased UPDRS motor score. Besides, lower global efficiency was associated with an increased risk of all-cause and vascular parkinsonism independent of SVD markers. Conclusions Our findings suggest that global network efficiency is associated with a gradual decline in motor performance, ultimately leading to incident parkinsonism in the elderly with SVD. Global network efficiency may have the added value to serve as a useful marker to capture changes in motor signs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: White matter hyperintensites (WMHs), lacunes and brain atrophy have been demonstrated to be positively related to gait disorder. However, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) as a manifestation of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is still under-investigated. Therefore, correlations between CMBs and upper extremity, gait and balance performance were investigated in this study. Methods: A cross-sectional study of middle-aged to older adults was conducted. CSVD burden was measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the location and number of CMBs were analysed. Gait and balance functions were evaluated using a four meter walkway, Tinetti, Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tests. Upper extremity function was measured by 10 repeated pronation-supination time, 10 repeated finger tapping time, and 10 repeated opening and closings of the hands. Results: A total of 224 participants were included in this study, with a mean age of 60.6 ± 10.5 years. The prevalence of CMB was 34.8% and most was lobar. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CMB was associated with lower gait velocity, wider stride width, longer TUG test time, and poor performance on Tinetti and SPPB tests independently of other coexisting CSVD markers and risk factors. These relationships appeared to be explained by CMBs in the frontal, temporal, basal ganglia and infratentorial regions. The motor function of upper extremity also had independent correlations with CMBs especially in frontal, parietal, and temporal areas, and in the basal ganglia. Conclusions: CMBs were found to be associated with both gait, balance and upper extremity disturbances. The presence of CMB seems to be another major driving force for CSVD on lower and upper extremity impairment in healthy elderly subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Gait disturbances are common in the elderly and can lead to the loss of functional independence and even death. Enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) andmotor performancemay be related, but only few studies have explored this relationship. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of both the severity and location of EPVS on movement disorders. Method: Two hundred and six participants aged between 45 and 85 years old with complete magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were included in our analysis. EPVS were divided into basal ganglia (BG) and centrum semiovale (CSO), and their grades were measured. Gait was assessed quantitatively using a 4-m walkway and TUG test as well as semi-quantitatively using the Tinetti and SPPB tests. The function of upper extremities was evaluated by 10-repeat pronation-supination, 10-repeat finger-tapping, and 10-repeat opening and closing of the hands. Results: Both high-grade EPVS, whether in BG and CSO, were independently correlated with gait parameters, the TUGtime, Tinetti, and SPPB tests. The EPVS located in BG had a significant association with 10-repeat finger-tapping time (β = 0.231, P = 0.025) and a similar association was also observed between CSO-EPVS and 10-repeat pronation-supination time (β = 0.228, P = 0.014). Conclusion: Our results indicated that EPVS was associated with gait disturbances, and a further investigation found that EPVS has an association with upper extremities disorder. EPVS should be considered as a potential target for delaying gait and upper extremities damage since CSVD can be prevented to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: White matter hyperintensites (WMHs) , lacunes and brain atrophy have been demonstrated to be positively related to gait disorder. However, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) as a manifestation of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is still under-investigated. Therefore, correlations between CMBs and upper extremity, gait and balance performance were investigated in this study., Methods: A cross-sectional study of middle-aged to older adults was conducted. CSVD burden was measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the location and number of CMBs were analysed. Gait and balance functions were evaluated using a four meter walkway, Tinetti, Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tests. Upper extremity function was measured by 10 repeated pronation-supination time, 10 repeated finger tapping time, and 10 repeated opening and closings of the hands., Results: A total of 224 participants were included in this study, with a mean age of 60.6 ± 10.5 years. The prevalence of CMB was 34.8% and most was lobar. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that CMB was associated with lower gait velocity, wider stride width, longer TUG test time, and poor performance on Tinetti and SPPB tests independently of other coexisting CSVD markers and risk factors. These relationships appeared to be explained by CMBs in the frontal, temporal, basal ganglia and infratentorial regions. The motor function of upper extremity also had independent correlations with CMBs especially in frontal, parietal, and temporal areas, and in the basal ganglia., Conclusions: CMBs were found to be associated with both gait, balance and upper extremity disturbances. The presence of CMB seems to be another major driving force for CSVD on lower and upper extremity impairment in healthy elderly subjects., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Background and Objective: Gait disturbances are common in the elderly and can lead to the loss of functional independence and even death. Enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) and motor performance may be related, but only few studies have explored this relationship. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of both the severity and location of EPVS on movement disorders., Method: Two hundred and six participants aged between 45 and 85 years old with complete magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were included in our analysis. EPVS were divided into basal ganglia (BG) and centrum semiovale (CSO), and their grades were measured. Gait was assessed quantitatively using a 4-m walkway and TUG test as well as semi-quantitatively using the Tinetti and SPPB tests. The function of upper extremities was evaluated by 10-repeat pronation-supination, 10-repeat finger-tapping, and 10-repeat opening and closing of the hands., Results: Both high-grade EPVS, whether in BG and CSO, were independently correlated with gait parameters, the TUG time, Tinetti, and SPPB tests. The EPVS located in BG had a significant association with 10-repeat finger-tapping time (β = 0.231, P = 0.025) and a similar association was also observed between CSO-EPVS and 10-repeat pronation-supination time (β = 0.228, P = 0.014)., Conclusion: Our results indicated that EPVS was associated with gait disturbances, and a further investigation found that EPVS has an association with upper extremities disorder. EPVS should be considered as a potential target for delaying gait and upper extremities damage since CSVD can be prevented to some extent., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Hou, Yang, Li, Qin, Yang and Hu.)

Background and Aims: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between the original and modified total cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD) score and gait and balance impairment using quantitative and semi-quantitative tests., Methods: In our study, patients aged 45 to 85 consecutively recruited. CSVD manifestations were identified with brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and the original and modified CSVD scores were calculated based on the results. Gait and balance function were assessed using both gait parameters and clinical rating scales. The correlation between the original and modified total scores of the CSVD and gait and balance dysfunction was demonstrated., Results: 224 patients were enrolled in the study. Gait and balance disorders were associated with both the original and modified CSVD scores. A significant association remained after adjusting for gender, height, age, hypertension, and other relevant risk factors. The binary logistic regression and chi-squared trend tests revealed that impairment of movement function significantly correlated with the modified CSVD score and that the dysfunction was significantly higher for patients with modified CSVD scores of 5-6 than those with scores of 1-2. In Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, modified CSVD scores were more accurate in predicting gait impairment than original CSVD scores., Conclusion: We found both original and modified total CSVD scores to be related to gait and balance disorder, and the modified CSVD score was more accurate in identifying movement impairment and should be used as an effective tool in investigating CSVD and motor dysfunction., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)