Biomedical subjects

R J Saan

Publications and source records attributed to R J Saan.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Head trauma and the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

A population-based case-control study of the association between head trauma and Alzheimer's disease was conducted in the Netherlands from 1980 to 1987. The study comprised 198 patients with clinically diagnosed early onset Alzheimer's disease and 198 age- and sex-matched population controls. Adjusted for sex, age, family history of dementia, and education, the odds ratio of a history of head trauma with loss of consciousness was 1.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-3.4). The odds ratio for men was 2.5 (95% CI 0.9-7.0), and that for women was 0.9 (95% CI 0.3-2.8). The increase in odds ratio was limited to head trauma that occurred within the period of 10 years prior to the onset of dementia (odds ratio = 10.0; 95% CI 1.0-96.8). There was no evidence of effect modification by family history of dementia as measured on a multiplicative scale. However, the power to show interaction may have been low in this study. The authors' findings are compatible with the view that head trauma may be implicated in Alzheimer's disease, with a short lag time between the head trauma and the first symptoms of disease. The association needs to be confirmed in a prospective follow-up study to fully exclude the possibility of recall bias.

Aged↗

PubMed1990

Is parental age related to the risk of Alzheimer's disease?

Advanced maternal and paternal age were investigated as putative risk factors for AD in 198 clinically diagnosed Alzheimer patients and in 198 randomly selected healthy controls. No significant differences in average age of fathers and of mothers at birth of the subject were observed. The risk of AD was not significantly different across categories of maternal and paternal age. The association with parental age was not different for sporadic and familial AD. These findings do not support the view of a maternal or paternal age effect on AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed1989

History of dementia and Parkinson's disease in 1st-degree relatives of patients with Alzheimer's disease.

We assessed the family history of dementia and Parkinson's disease in 198 Dutch patients with Alzheimer's disease diagnosed before the age of 70 years, and in 198 age- and sex-matched healthy population controls. Of the Alzheimer patients, 48% had at least 1 1st-degree relative with dementia, compared with 19% of the controls. There were 24 patients and 1 control with 2 or more 1st-degree relatives with dementia, yielding a relative risk of 40.0. More Alzheimer patients than controls had a 1st-degree relative with Parkinson's disease, with a relative risk of 2.9. This study strongly confirms earlier findings of familial aggregation of Alzheimer's disease and provides evidence for familial aggregation of Alzheimer's disease with Parkinson's disease. The latter may point at a joint etiology of these diseases.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1985

Carotid endarterectomy: does it improve cognitive or motor functioning?

In a group of 20 patients who were to undergo endarterectomy for atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the internal carotid artery, the stenosis did not appear to have resulted in cognitive or motor deficits. Consistent with this finding, surgery could not be shown to have a beneficial effect on cognitive or motor functioning. Control data were supplied by 20 patients who underwent peripheral vascular surgery and 20 healthy subjects. The test-retest interval was 10 weeks.

Arteriosclerosis↗

PubMed1980

Treatment of minor head injuries.

The results of various forms of treatment of patients with minor head injuries have been examined. The number and frequency of post-concussional sequelae was markedly reduced by treatment which included information, explanation and encouragement. Dizziness, loss of hearing and loss of balance were related to external lesions to the vestibular system caused by injuries to the parieto-temporal region of the skull. PTA proved to be a reliable indicator of the severity of cerebral concussion and correlated with post-concussional sequelae and periods of disability. Other factors which increased the number and frequency of post-traumatic sequelae, especially those related to stress before the accident, could be counteracted by better treatment of the patient. The results bear out the hypothesis that post-concussional sequelae start off on an organic basis (PTA) and that persistent sequelae after minor head injuries are also caused by psychogenic, and especially by iatrogenic factors.

Accidents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cerebrovascular complications of L-asparaginase therapy in children with leukemia: aphasia and other neuropsychological deficits.

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), treated with L-asparaginase are at risk for cerebral thrombosis or hemorrhage because of coagulation protein deficiencies. The results and the importance of serial neuropsychological examinations after such complications in three children with ALL are presented. All patients showed marked aphasia and other cognitive deficits. Recovery was complete in two of three children.

Adolescent↗