Isabella Ciccone, MPH

Researchers developed a novel “closed-loop” system that delivered electrical pulses in a brain region to synchronize brain activity recorded from another region in the brain to improve memory.

Antinuclear antibodies seem to be more associated with severe disease activity and poor prognosis among patients with NMOSD, which further implies that they may be potentially used as a prognostic marker for the disease.

In honor of World Duchenne Awareness Day, held September 7, 2023, get caught up on some of the latest news in Duchenne muscular dystrophy as the NeurologyLive® team shares some of our data updates.

Findings showed that autonomic symptom burden was slightly more severe in patients with multiple sclerosis compared with those with NMOSD, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Catch up on any of the neurology news headlines you may have missed over the course of August 2023, compiled all into one place by the NeurologyLive® team.

Preliminarily data from in vitro experiments demonstrated that cytomegalovirus antigenic peptides can activate peripheral antigen-specific T cells among patients with NMOSD.

Nicolaas Bohnen, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and neurology at the University of Michigan, discussed the main takeaways from his keynote lecture on posture and gait in Parkinson disease presented at the 2023 MDS Congress.

On average, clinician-rated TD severity, measured by AIMS, and patient-reported assessment of the physical, social and emotional impact of TD, measured by TDIS, decreased with one-capsule, once-daily valbenazine over 48 weeks.

Findings from an open-label extension trial among 45 patients with ALS showed a significant median survival benefit of 19.3 months and a significant 52% decreased risk of ALS clinical worsening events after treatment.

Parkinsonian syndromes, including multiple systems atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy, have similar symptoms to Parkinson disease but are more distinct and each have corresponding therapies that are available for them.

Despite pamrevlumab being generally safe and well tolerated, the potential first-in-class connective tissue growth factor inhibitor antibody did not meet its primary endpoint in a phase 3 trial for ambulator Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Russell Lebovitz, MD, PhD, chief executive officer and cofounder of Amprion, discussed the ongoing collaboration focused on exploring the role of misfolded synuclein traditionally associated with Parkinson disease and in various forms of dementia.

Findings from a real-world study among 120 patients with SMA suggests that nusinersen administration is safe and well tolerated, with only 30% of the patients mostly experiencing mild adverse events.

Despite the challenge of distinguishing tics from extra movements, machine learning technology could potentially help researchers with reducing time spent analyzing video recordings of patients with tic disorders.

Christy Sheehy, PhD, chief executive officer and cofounder of C. Light Technologies, talked about the FDA clearance of Retitrack—retinal eye-movement monitor—and how the device holds promise for facilitating more accurate ocular motor assessments at bedside.

Previous neuroimaging studies in Parkinson disease suggest an altered interaction at a structural and functional level between cortical and subcortical areas of the brain that each contribute to gait dysfunction.

As part of our monthly clinician spotlight, NeurologyLive® highlighted expert Gary Hisch, MD, pediatric neurologist at Cleveland Clinic, who oversees programs for neuromuscular disorders such as for patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

Lixisenatide, commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier and has shown neuroprotective properties in preclinical models of PD.

TSHA-102, an adeno-associated virus vector-based gene therapy for Rett Syndrome, has also received Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease designations from the FDA.

According to a recent study, malnutrition is related closely to quality of life among patients with NMOSD, caused by a variety of physiological and psychological factors.

Five-year data revealed sustained and significant improvement for patients with tremor as well as an overall improvement in quality of life measures and without any progressive or delayed complications.

In a clinical study diagnosing genetic disorders, genomic sequencing did not report 19 variants found by a targeted neonatal gene-sequencing test and the targeted panel did not report 164 variants recognized by genomic sequencing.

A peer-reviewed analysis revealed critical gaps in care for patients with Parkinson disease in the United States, including disparities affecting women, people of color, and residents of rural areas.

The phase 2 trial represented the first-ever clinical data to be published of an oral orexin agonist for patients living with narcolepsy type 1.

AOC 1044, an exon 44-targeting agent, holds potential to fill a major unmet need for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as there are currently there are no approved therapies approved targeting this mutation.

A new platform showed the ability to effectively detect patients with synucleinopathies using serum samples, improving the time and accuracy for diagnosis of specific neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson disease.

Foralumab, a therapy designed to bind to T cell receptor, is about to be assessed in phase 2 trials of patients with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in the third quarter of 2023.

The phase 2 clinical trial ACTIVATE investigating BIA 28-6156 for Parkinson disease is currently screening for patients in North America and with the Europe-based study beginning sometime during the third quarter of 2023.

The majority of patients with ALS lack a monogenic mutation, with only 15-20% of patients having a disease that is driven and controlled by a single gene.

Prior research shows that a significant loss of the hypocretin-producing neurons, an increase in the histaminergic neurons, and contradicting signs of gliosis in the hypothalamus among patients with narcolepsy type 1.