REPORT FROM THE ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS – BOSTON, MA, SEPTEMBER 10-13, 2014 – A U.S. survey of academic and community neurologists from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) reports that clinicians tend to favour an earlier, more aggressive treatment approach (Tornatore et al. ECTRIMS 2014; abstract P295). Read More
Neurology
Novel theory proposed for AD
September 3, 2014Researchers in Texas have proposed that vascular activation contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, resulting in the overexpression of amyloid-beta and other factors (Grammas et al. J Alzheimers Dis 2014;40:619-630). Read More
Atacicept: the aftermath
September 3, 2014The debate about the relative importance of T cells and B cells in the pathogenesis of MS will be refueled with the long-awaited publication of the results of the failed ATAMS study of atacicept (Kappos et al. Lancet Neurol 2014;13:353-363). Preliminary results from the two atacicept studies, ATAMS in relapsing MS and ATON in optic neuritis, were presented at ECTRIMS 2011 (Kappos et al. Abstract 107; Sergott et al. Abstract P436) and signalled the death knell for the drug in MS. Read More
Sleep disorder in PD: a role for circadian rhythm disturbance?
August 6, 2014Sleep disorders are a non-motor symptom reported to occur in most PD patients at some stage of the disease. In newly-diagnosed PD, sleep disturbances appear to be uncommon although subjects may reported daytime naps and dream-related behaviours (Prudon et al. Mov Disord 2014;29:259-263).
Later in the disease course, sleep disorders may be due to neurodegenerative changes or secondary to drug treatment. Associated disorders may include restless legs syndrome, REM sleep behaviour disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (Schulte & Winkelmann. J Neurol 2011;258(suppl 2):S328-335). Read More
New dosing for glatiramer acetate
August 6, 2014The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved high-dose glatiramer acetate (40 mg/day) with a new three times per weekly dose schedule. Read More