Categorical factor analysis of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating scale in
Alzheimer's Disease 
   Lead Investigator:    Giuseppe Tosto
   Institution      :    Columbia U
   E-Mail           :    gt2260@cumc.columbia.edu
   Proposal ID      :    425


   Publications:


1  Tosto G,  Monsell SE, Hawes S , Mayeux R
   Pattern of extrapyramidal signs in Alzheimer's disease
   Journal Article  J Neurol,262:2548-2556,2015,PMC4776751

   PUBLISHED



2  Tosto G,  Monsell SE, Hawes SE , Giuseppe B, Mayeux R
   Progression of Extrapyramidal Signs in Alzheimer's Disease: Clinical and Neuropathological Correlates
   Journal Article  J Alzheimers Dis,49:1085-93,2015,PMC4779642

   PUBLISHED





   Proposal Description:
   Alzheimer Disease, although usually assessed as a unique entity, shows a high degree of phenotypical heterogeneity: motor and psychiatric manifestations, in particular extrapyramidal signs (EPS), are frequently observed although not homogeneously distributed among patients. Few studies have explored factor analysis of the motor UPDRS, mostly in Parkinson datasets, describing few clusters of features (limbs bradykinesia/rigidity/axial/tremors components). One of the most consistent findings across all studies is the low correlation of tremor versus the other items. This is in line with suggestions that, for example, tremor may have independent pathophysiological processes.  The main objective is to examine the factor structure of the UPDRS items in two large independent samples of AD patients (NACC and WHICAP), adopting a categorical confirmatory factor analysis. Potential clinical and neuropathological correlates of the resulting components are going to be investigated. Similar or different conclusions could highlight shared process across different neurodegenerative diseases as AD and PD.