Search

We investigated the prevalence of dementia and the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype distribution in the elderly of Buttapietra, a village near Verona, Italy. All residents over the age of 74 (n = 238), including those who were institutionalized, were studied using a direct-contact, single-phase design. The overall prevalence of dementia, clinically defined by DSM-III-R criteria, was 15.8 cases per 100 population, with age-specific figures increasing steeply with advancing age in both sexes. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was the most frequent dementing disorder (43%). APOE genotyping was determined after DNA amplification by restriction isotyping. We found that the Ε4 allele and the Ε3/Ε4 genotype were associated with all types of dementia, although only the association of Ε3/Ε4 with AD reached statistical significance (odds ratio 4.5, 95% confidence interval 1.3–16.1). However, as reported in other Mediterranean countries, the frequency of the Ε4 allele in our population was low (8.9%), suggesting that the population-attributable risk for AD, at least for elderly individuals (≧75 years), could be small.

4 patients with prosopagnosia are described. They presented associated neuropsychological deficits (achromatopsia, topographical disorientation) and visual field defects. In 1 case, gross pathological examination revealed bilateral symmetrical infero-medial occipito-temporal infarcts. In 2 other cases, computer tomography (CT) demonstrated bilateral inferior temporo-occipital infarction. In 1 case CT showed only occipital infarctions in the occipital lobes. This brings to 16 the number of anatomically studied cases of prosopagnosia (8 by necropsy, 8 by CT). In contrast to clinical localization, which often indicates only a right cerebral lesion, all anatomically verified cases of prosopagnosia exhibit bilateral lesions in the posterior cerebral artery distribution.

The epidemiological, clinical, electrophysiological and nerve biopsy findings of 3 cases of n-hexane neuropathy in shoe industry are reported. The disease affects more than 1 person working in the sam