A fourth revision of the McDonald diagnostic criteria is currently underway to address some of the conceptual and practical difficulties in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, according to Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. His remarks were made at the 43rd International Neuroscience Symposium of the Université de Montréal, held May 3-5, 2022, in Montreal. Read More
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Excess mortality during pandemic tops 14 million
May 24, 2022The World Health Organization estimates that excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) globally was 14.91 million. Excess mortality includes reported COVID deaths (5.42 million) as well as unreported COVID deaths, all-cause mortality where COVID played a role, and excess deaths related to healthcare delivery. This methodology was used to more accurately reflect deaths directly and indirectly related to the pandemic. Read More
Evolving picture of cognitive dysfunction in MS
May 19, 2022Recent imaging studies in multiple sclerosis have focused on the association between cognitive dysfunction and grey-matter tissue loss, most notably of the cerebral cortex and thalamus. For example, at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, an analysis of the SPRINT-MS trial proposed that lower thalamic volume at baseline may be a useful predictor of physical, cognitive and visual disability in progressive MS (Nicholson et al. AAN 2022;S12.007). Thalamic volume at the time of relapse may also be predictive of cognitive recovery as assessed by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (Weinstock et al. AAN 2022;P14.010). As such, thalamic volume (but not T2 lesion volume in this study) may serve as a marker of cognitive reserve. Read More
6 criteria to improve PMS outcomes
May 2, 2022Click here to take the survey on Improving PMS outcomes.
Canadian researchers have proposed six criteria that must be met for a disease-modifying therapy (DMT) to be effective in progressive multiple sclerosis (Yong & Yong. Nat Rev Neurol 2022;18:40-55). Over a dozen DMTs are currently available but they generally have limited effectiveness in slowing the neurodegeneration that underlies disability progression.