An estimated 26.7% of patients with Parkinson’s disease experience mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a Movement Disorder Society task force report (Litvan et al. Mov Disord 2011; 26: 1814-1824). The estimated point prevalence of MCI is 30%; the estimated cumulative prevalence is >75% for PD patients surviving more than 10 years (Hely et al. Mov Disord 2008; 60: 387-392; Bronnick et al. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2006; 77: 1136-1142).
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Calcium blockers for tardive dyskinesia
January 25, 2012Over the past two decades, a number of small studies and case reports have suggested that calcium channel blockers (e.g. nifedipine, verapamil, diltiazem) may be beneficial in the treatment of neuroleptic-induced tardive dyskinesia (Suddath et al. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1991; 39: 743-745; Duncan et al. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1990; 10: 414-416).
AMPA blockade in epilepsy: update on perampanel trials
January 11, 2012REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN EPILEPSY SOCIETY 65TH ANNUAL MEETING, BALTIMORE, MD, DECEMBER 2-6, 2011 – Perampanel (E2007) is a selective AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid)-type glutamate receptor antagonist that is currently in late-phase development for the treatment of refractory partial-onset seizures.
Targeting IL-1b in epilepsy: VX-765
January 11, 2012REPORT FROM THE AMERICAN EPILEPSY SOCIETY 65TH ANNUAL MEETING, BALTIMORE, MD, DECEMBER 2-6, 2011 – Animals studies have suggested that inflammation is a pathogenic factor in epilepsy, notably through the induction of caspase-1 and interleukin(IL)-1beta (Maroso et al. Neurotherapeutics 2011; 8: 304-315).
VX-765 is a small-molecule inhibitor of caspase-1 currently undergoing phase II testing in refractory partial-onset seizures.