Latest Conference Coverage

Challenges and Advancements in Biomarkers for Accurate Diagnosis in MS: Andrew Solomon, MD

At CMSC 2023, the associate professor of neurological sciences at the University of Vermont in Burlington talked about data surrounding multiple sclerosis diagnosis and misdiagnosis, suggesting the need for the development of diagnostic biomarkers. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Rethinking MS as a Smoldering Disease and the Role of the Epstein Barr Virus: Gavin Giovannoni, MBBCh, PhD, FCP, FRCP, FRCPath

At CMSC 2023, the professor of neurology at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry discussed the emerging paradigm shift in understanding multiple sclerosis (MS) as a smoldering disease and the potential role of Epstein Barr Virus in causing MS. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]

Positive Long-Term Safety, Low Discontinuation Rates Seen With Vidofludimus Calcium

Most patients completed at least 3 years of treatment, with no new safety signals observed and a treatment discontinuation rate of 5.3%.

Aerobic Exercise Provides Benefits for Gait and Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis

Using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, patients either forced to exercise or who volunteered saw significant improvements over a 12-week period.

Building and Expanding Wearable Devices to Alleviate MS Symptoms: Valerie J. Block, PT, DPTSc

The adjunct instructor at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences provided perspective on the next steps in research for potential wearable devices focused on treating issues of multiple sclerosis. [WATCH TIME: 2 minutes]

Certain Factors May Assist in Predicting Clinical Phenotype Following Optic Neuritis

Factors such as older age, poor steroid responsiveness, and plasma exchange were associated with NMOSD phenotype, while normal or thinned retinal nerve fiber layer and short-segment hyperintensity were associated with idiopathic optic neuritis.

Telomere Length in Aging Cells May Influence Disability Progression in Multiple Sclerosis

Jennifer Graves, MD, PhD, presented data at the CMSC annual meeting suggesting that secondary progressive disease might be more age-related than previously realized.

Long-Term Data of Ocrelizumab Highlights Specific Patient Population at Risk for Severe Infection

The combination of EDSS scores above 6 and age over 55 years resulted in higher serious infection rate that was nearly double that seen in the overall population.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Intervention Shows Potential to Treat Silent Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

In mixed-effect analyses adjusting for multiple cofounders, changes in inflammatory gene expression correlated inversely with changes in patient-reported stress, loneliness, hair cortisol, and aspects of interoceptive awareness.

Arterial Stiffness Associated With Processing Speed in Multiple Sclerosis

Investigators observed significant correlations between processing speed and arterial stiffness among patients with multiple sclerosis, but not in healthy controls.

MS Misdiagnosis Is Still a Problem, But Promising Biomarkers May Be Part of the Solution

Andrew Solomon, MD, discussed inherent biases affecting MS diagnosis and how advances in imaging may help curb diagnostic errors.

Ublituximab Outperforms Teriflunomide in Improving Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis

Over the 96-week treatment period, ublituximab-treated patients outperformed teriflunomide-treated patients on several domains of the Fatigue Impact Scale.

Multiple Sclerosis Onset Begins Significantly Earlier in Latinx Patients

Despite similar proportion of females and ever-smokers, age of onset of multiple sclerosis was significantly earlier for Latinx patients compared with White non-Latinx individuals.

Low-Fat Diet Intervention Demonstrates Significant Impact on Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue

Investigators observed significant decreases in Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and Fatigue Severity Scale with the low-fat diet in relation to controls.

Promising Efficacy of Teriflunomide in Radiologically Isolated Syndrome: Christine Lebrun-Frenay, MD, PhD, FAAN

The head of CRCSEP and coordinator of the Neurosciences Research Unit at Paris City University discussed the positive results of teriflunomide in treating radiologically isolated syndrome, a preclinical stage of multiple sclerosis. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Significant Impact of Carbidopa Levodopa Agent ND0162 in Parkinson Disease: Alberto J. Espay, MD, MSc

The director of the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center discussed data from the phase 3 BouNDless trial assessing a continuous, subcutaneous levodopa/carbidopa delivery system for patients with Parkinson disease experiencing motor fluctuations. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Pridopidine’s Impact on ALS, Assessing Results From HEALEY ALS Platform Trial: Melanie Leitner, PhD

The consultant and founder of Accelerating NeuroVentures talked about the pridopidine arm from the HEALEY ALS Platform trial, which showed significant benefits in speech measures. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Potential for Combination Approaches in Multiple Sclerosis and Role of CNM-Au8: Michael Barnett, PhD, MBBS, FRACP

The senior academic at the University of Sydney provided perspective on the role of CNM-Au8 in MS among a crowded treatment landscape, and the need for adjuvant treatments that address lingering lesion burden. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Unveiling the Efficacy and Safety of LX9211 as a Treatment for Postherpetic Neuralgia

Anand Patel, MD, CPI, chief medical officer at Conquest Research, discussed a phase 2 study that investigated the efficacy and safety of LX9211, an oral medication targeting neuropathic pain.

Potential for Preventing NMOSD, Improving Access to Panel Testing: Sean Pittock, MD

The director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology provided commentary on the possibility of preventing NMOSD, and the need to improve access to approved therapies and AQP4 testing. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Exploring the Risk of Hypertension Following Erenumab Treatment for Migraine: Nikita Chhabra, DO

The neurology PGY-3 at Mayo Clinic in Arizona talked about findings from a retrospective cohort study that examined blood pressure in patients who were prescribed a migraine medication. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]

Expanding Research on Genetic Differences in Multiple Sclerosis Progression: Daniel Ontaneda, MD, PhD

The associate professor of neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine provided insight on the necessary research needed to understand why certain races experience more significant multiple sclerosis disease progress. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

NeuroVoices: Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, DO, FAAN, on the Crossover Between Sleep and Epilepsy

The director of the Sleep Disorders Center and staff in the Epilepsy Center at Cleveland Clinic provided perspective on the current state of sleep and epilepsy research, including the role of postical generalized EEG suppression as a biomarker for SUDEP.

Positive Impact of Ataluren on Walking Ability in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Jeffrey M. Statland, MD

At the 2023 AAN Annual Meeting, the neuromuscular disease specialist and professor of neurology at the University of Kansas Medical Center talked about the phase 3 study investigating ataluren for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Success of Ravulizumab Through the Phase 3 CHAMPION-NMOSD Trial: Sean Pittock, MD

The director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology discussed findings from the phase 3 CHAMPION-NMOSD trial of ravulizumab in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. [WATCH TIME: 5 minutes]

Efficacy of Remote Neuromodulation for Migraine Prevention: Stewart J. Tepper, MD

At the 2023 AAN Annual Meeting, the professor of neurology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth talked about the effectiveness of a remote electrical neuromodulation device that offers potential relief for both episodic and chronic migraine. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Investigating Losmapimod in Phase 2 Trial for Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Leo H. Wang, MD, PhD, FAAN, associate professor of neurology, University of Washington Medical Center, talked about the phase 2 study of losmapimod for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy presented at the 2023 AAN Annual Meeting.

Utilizing More Effective, Descriptive End Points in Multiple Sclerosis Trials: Michael Barnett, PhD, MBBS, FRACP

Neuroprotection and Inflammation Reduction, Improvement in Biomarkers From ACT-AD Study: Hans J. Moebius, MD, PhD

At the 2023 AAN Annual Meeting, the chief medical officer at Athira Pharma spoke about findings from a phase 2 trial in which various biomarkers related to neurodegeneration showed significant improvements. [WATCH TIME: 4 minutes]

Effects of Catalytically Active Gold Nanocrystal Suspension in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis: Michael Barnett, PhD, MBBS, FRACP

The senior academic at the University of Sydney provided perspective on the promising findings of the phase 2 VISIONARY-MS study of CNM-Au8 in relapsing multiple sclerosis. [WATCH TIME: 6 minutes]