The 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
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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.
AAN report: long-term data for anti-CD20s, BTK inhibitors
April 25, 2022A number of new studies have provided data on the long-term safety and efficacy of high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies in MS. The data were presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) annual meeting, held April 2-7 in Seattle, Washington. The following is a summary of key studies. Read More