Neurological disease in ex-Far-East prisoners of war.

In a group of 4684 ex-Far-East prisoners of war released in 1945, 679 had neurological disease; optic atrophy and peripheral neuropathy were the most common illnesses. However, in 89 patients neurological disease developed many years after their release; 35 of these patients had cord lesions unlike those seen in multiple sclerosis and other recognised diseases. In addition, Parkinson's disease often developed many years after release with a prevalence much higher than that in the normal population. The experiences that these patients had while in the Far East may have made them liable to develop cord disease and Parkinson's disease many years later.