Publications (2)3.87 Total impact
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Article: In vivo evidence of global and focal brain alterations in anorexia nervosa.
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ABSTRACT: Brain alterations are known to be associated with anorexia nervosa (AN) and tend to be distributed across brain structures, with only a few reports describing focal damage. Magnetic resonance images of 21 anorexic patients with different disease duration and 27 control subjects were acquired and compared using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Patients had a significant reduction of total white matter (WM) volume and focal gray matter (GM) atrophy in cerebellum, hypothalamus, caudate nucleus and frontal, parietal and temporal areas. The cerebellum was more affected in patients with longer disease duration, whereas the hypothalamic alterations were more pronounced in patients with shorter food restriction. A correlation with body mass index (BMI) and GM was found in the hypothalamus. Our data demonstrate a diffuse reduction of WM together with focal areas of GM atrophy in AN. The finding of a hypothalamic focal atrophy points to hormonal dysfunction and opens the possibility for a central dysregulation of homeostasis. The involvement of temporoparietal areas could account for body image distortion. Finally, the cerebellar GM atrophy confirms previous findings and seems to be a late consequence of AN that could play a role in the chronic phase of the disease.Psychiatry Research 06/2011; 192(3):154-9. · 2.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Neuropsychologic assessment of patients with advanced Parkinson disease submitted to extradural motor cortex stimulation.
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in cognitive functioning and emotive state in 3 inpatients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD) treated with extradural motor cortex stimulation (EMCS), an experimental neurosurgical procedure. Studies on the neuropsychologic assessment of patients with PD after EMCS are in process. The procedure has been applied for some years as an experimental method for treating PD. A battery of neuropsychologic tests and emotive assessment scales were administered to 3 inpatients with PD 2 days before the intervention and then again after 1 year to evaluate changes in cognitive functioning and emotive state. At 1-year postintervention, cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were steady; 2 patients showed a mild improvement in quality of life. In this patient group, EMCS, an experimental neurosurgical treatment, had a positive effect on motor symptoms. Neuropsychologic assessment after a 1-year follow-up period showed that cognitive functions had not changed with respect to baseline characteristics.Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology 04/2007; 20(1):1-6. · 1.34 Impact Factor
