John Otrompke, Medicine and Science Journalist

Patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) miss medical appointments less frequently than other neurology patients, according to a poster presented at this year’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Los Angeles.

Neurologists previously hypothesized that PD is associated with personality traits such as increased conscientiousness and punctuality, but prior evidence was based on subjective questionnaires. Poster 60, “A Real-World Inquiry of the So-Called Parkinsonian Personality -- Comparing No-Show Rates of the Neurology Outpatients with and without Parkinson's disease (PD),” supplemented the existing data with real world evidence.

In the study, researchers from Virginia Tech's Carilion Clinic examined data from medical records for all neurology appointments between January of 2010 and June of 2016. Of 19,501 patients, 400 had a diagnosis of PD, for whom the no-show rate was 3%, compared to 7.4% (p<0.001) among other neurology patients, according to the abstract.

In addition to punctuality, PD is associated with other characteristics thought to illustrate reduced novelty seeking, which in turn is thought to arise from a dopamine-deficient state. Examples of such personality characteristics include smoking and gambling (and maybe erectile dysfunction, as well- see below).

“Multiple studies show tobacco use is inversely associated with developing PD,” said Joseph Ferrara, MD, assistant professor at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, Virginia, who presented the poster.

“People have associated lower smoking rates with reduced novelty-seeking, hypothesizing that the lower dopamine state makes it less likely people will begin smoking, and easier for them to quit. Gambling has also been looked at, because of problematic gambling that occurs in a minority of patients treated with dopamine agonists,” added Ferrara.

Another poster presented at AAN looked at another characteristic in some PD patients which may be associated with dopamine deficiency: erectile dysfunction.

Traumatic brain injury was not associated with an increased risk for alpha-synucleinopathy (including PD), but erectile dysfunction was, according to poster 63, “Traumatic brain injury and erectile dysfunction preceding clinically diagnosed alpha-synucleinopathies: a case – control study in Olmsted County, MN (1991-2010).”

In the study, researchers from The Mayo Clinic examined data from all cases of alpha-synucleinopathies in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1991 to 2010. Erectile dysfunction was found to be more common in patients later diagnosed with PD. The odds ration was 1.48 (p=0.051).

Sunday, May 6, 2018

The Lancet has published my article from the American Academy of Neurology in LA

Here is my article for The Lancet's United States of Health blog from the American Academy of Neurology, on new guidelines for the treatment of multiple sclerosis in adults- a fascinating development in an increasingly complex field.

http://usa.thelancet.com/blog/2018-04-30-aan-issues-new-guidelines-disease-modifying-therapies-ms-including-switching

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Now registered for the American Academy of Neurology

Hello readers,

I am now registered for another very important meeting, the American Academy of Neurology in Los Angeles.

American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting

April 21-27, Los Angeles

http://aanmeeting.org

Monday, April 9, 2018

En route to AACR, and Points Beyond (And Offering Freelance Coverage)

Dear readers,

I will soon make my arrival at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in my home town of Chicago.

AACR

April 14-18, Chicago,

http://www.aacr.org/MEETINGS/PAGES/MEETINGDETAIL.ASPX?EVENTITEMID=136#.WibhmBSTUb0

I am very excited, because although I have written frequently about cancer in the past, I have never before attended AACR. Plus, it's always great to be back in Chicago (I just hope the weather holds up!)

Look forward to lots of great news opportunities on melanoma, lung cancer, targeted therapies, epidemiology, and maybe even a feature on the Cancer Moonshot Initiative!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or just to start a conversation.

~John
John_Otrompke@yahoo.com
847-766-4352

Other Medical Meetings I am Registered for Between Now and ASCO

Here is a list of other events for which I am registered, including the National Kidney Foundation, SCAI, and the American Society for Microbiology's Clinical Virology Symposium.

Contact info at the bottom. Don't hesitate to get in touch!

National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings

April 10- 14, Austin

https://www.kidney.org/spring-clinical

Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Scientific Sessions

April 25-28, San Diego

http://www.scai.org/SCAI2018/default.aspx

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Annual Meeting

April 26-May 1, New York City

https://www.surgery.org/downloads/microsite/meeting2018/index.php

The American Society of Breast Surgeons

May 2-6, Orlando

https://www.breastsurgeons.org/new_layout/index.php