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The natural history of the syndrome of primary progressive freezing gait
Factor SA, Jennings DL, Molho ES, Marek KL.. Archives of neurology, 2002-11-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Design/methods Review of medical records, videotape examinations, and computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and results of neurological evaluations, including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, in patients with PPFG. Results Thirty patients (16 male) were diagnosed as having PPFG (mean age at onset, 72.2 years; mean duration of disease, 5 years). Of the 23 patients with magnetic resonance imaging scans, results were normal in 9 and included minor nonspecific changes in 14. The computed tomographic scans obtained in 12 patients showed similar results.
Key findings
- Design/methods Review of medical records, videotape examinations, and computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and results of neurological evaluations, including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, in patients with PPFG.
- Results Thirty patients (16 male) were diagnosed as having PPFG (mean age at onset, 72.2 years; mean duration of disease, 5 years).
- Of the 23 patients with magnetic resonance imaging scans, results were normal in 9 and included minor nonspecific changes in 14.
- The computed tomographic scans obtained in 12 patients showed similar results.
Why it matters
This review of 30 patients describes the natural history of primary progressive freezing gait, with brain imaging normal or showing minor nonspecific changes in most cases. It concerns this syndrome's course, not treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants25
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Archives of Neurology: journal h-index 353 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2002 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 25 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 87 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.3 citations a year over 26 year(s) since 2002 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author KENNETH L. MAREK: h-index 81 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Albany Medical Center Hospital: institution h-index 240 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12433266) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Factor, S. A., Jennings, D. L., Molho, E. S., & Marek, K. L. (2002). The natural history of the syndrome of primary progressive freezing gait. Archives of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.59.11.1778
Vancouver
Factor SA, Jennings DL, Molho ES, Marek KL. The natural history of the syndrome of primary progressive freezing gait. Archives of neurology. 2002. doi:10.1001/archneur.59.11.1778. PMID: 12433266.
BibTeX
@article{factor2002-12433266,
author = {Factor, S. A. and Jennings, D. L. and Molho, E. S. and Marek, K. L.},
title = {{The natural history of the syndrome of primary progressive freezing gait}},
journal = {Archives of neurology},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1001/archneur.59.11.1778},
pmid = {12433266},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.59.11.1778}
}
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