Most of the new onset seizures in our elderly patients were focal onset. Acute symptomatic etiology, remote symptomatic etiology, progressive symptomatic etiology and abnormal EEG features were powerful predictors of seizure recurrence, and mood disorder, sleep disorder and stroke were the common comorbidities.

Nocturnal manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD) are myriad, have diverse etiologies and include motor, sleep, urinary, and neuropsychiatric symptoms which are often associated with daytime somnolence. While most patients perceive these symptoms as troublesome, the recognition of nocturnal problems related to PD is still low in clinical practice. We conducted a survey using semi-structured interviews and self-rated questionnaires of 215 consecutive patients with PD enrolled in three centers in Thailand to determine the prevalence and risk factors of nocturnal disabilities and their relationship to daytime symptoms. We found that 96.6% of patients reported the presence of nocturnal symptoms as determined by the modified version of Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (MPDSS). Our survey indicated that the most frequent and distressing symptom was the interruption of sleep to pass urine (56.7%, 4.4 ± 3.9). The severity of symptoms revealed in the MPDSS increased along with the disease duration (p < 0.05) and Hoehn and Yahr stages (p = 0.01). There were similar to findings of the Nocturnal Akinesia Dystonia and Cramp Score (NADCS) where patients with advanced disease had significantly higher NADCS scores than early/moderate disease (p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation of total MPDSS scores with the total scores of the 9-item Wearing-Off Questionnaire (WOQ-9); (r = -0.43, p < 0.05) [motor (r = -0.35, p < 0.05) and nonmotor subscores (r = -0.43, p < 0.05)]; total nonmotor symptoms (NMS) scores (r = -0.55, p < 0.05); Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8 Summary Index (PDQ-8 SI) (r = -0.52, p < 0.05); and the total NADCS (r = -0.35, p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis identified PDQ-8 SI (β = -0.27, p = 0.005) as the most significant predictor of nocturnal manifestations of PD, followed by the nonmotor subscore of WOQ (β = -0.24, p = 0.006), and the NMS item 20 (feeling light-headed, dizzy, or weak when standing from sitting or lying) (β = -0.22, p = 0.003). Our study found that nocturnal symptoms of PD are very common and we suggest that good clinical practice should include a comprehensive review of nighttime manifestations, particularly for those patients who already experience "wearing-off" symptoms.

Parkinson's disease (PD) imposes a burden on those who care for the person afflicted. The objective of this study was to assess and analyze the main determinants of caregivers' burden, especially the nocturnal manifestations of PD. This multi-center, national, cross-sectional study included 89 patient-caregiver pairs. Caregiver self-assessments were performed with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZCBI). Patient self-assessments were performed with Modified Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (MPDSS), Nocturnal Akinesia Dystonia and Cramp Score (NADCS), HADS and Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-8). Most of the caregivers were employed women, and the majority had been permanently taking care of the patient for 6.8 ± 5.4 years. The study found that the ZCBI mean score of the caregivers significantly worsened as patients became more dependent (HY: 4-5, p = 0.036), and the mean ZCBI score of spousal caregivers (19.4; SD 15.5) was significantly higher than that of the offspring group (11.7; SD 7.9) (p = 0.008). Disease duration (r = 0.22), NADCS (r = 0.38), MPDSS (r = -0.36), PDQ-8 SI (r = 0.39) and HADS (total, anxiety and depression) scores (r = 0.46-0.49), and HADS (total, anxiety and depression scores (r = 0.37-0.52), had significant negative effect on caregivers' burden. Moderate association was found on MPDSS item 14 (r = 0.38) and NADCS akinesia score (r = 0.37). Patients' anxiety, nocturnal akinesia and the feeling of tiredness and sleepiness upon awakening in the morning were independent predictors of caregivers' burden (adjusted R2 = 0.46). Based on these findings, treatment of early mood symptoms of the patients and caregivers at risk may be helpful for the effective management of PD and it is also important to have well-designed psycho-educational and multicomponent interventions in the community for caregivers of persons with PD.