Editorial: Advances in Multiple Sclerosis
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Neurology)
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - June 1, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: Edited by Hans-Peter Hartung Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Neurology)
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - June 1, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
Exploring the vagus nerve and the inflammatory reflex for therapeutic benefit in chronic spinal cord injury
Purpose of review
To describe features and implications of chronic systemic inflammation in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to summarize the growing therapeutic possibilities to explore the vagus nerve-mediated inflammatory reflex in this context.
Recent findings
The discovery of the inflammatory reflex provides a rationale to explore neuromodulation modalities, that is, electrical vagus nerve stimulation and pharmacological cholinergic modalities to regulate inflammation after SCI.
Summary
Inflammation in individuals with SCI may negatively impact functional recovery and medical consequence...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: SPECIAL COMMENTARY Source Type: research
Novel approaches to measuring neurocognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials
We present novel cognitive measures that were designed to exhibit reduced practice effects and stronger correlations with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers. In addition, we summarized some recent efforts in developing remote testing measures protocols that are aimed to overcome the limitations and inconvenience of in-person testing, and digital phenotyping, which analyses subtle forms of digital behaviour indicative of cognitive phenotypes. We discuss each measure's prognostic accuracy and potential utility in Alzheimer's disease research while also commenting on their limitations. We also describe our study, the Development ...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: DEGENERATIVE AND COGNITIVE DISEASES: Edited by Luca Giliberto Source Type: research
Overview of tau PET molecular imaging
This article reviews tau PET imaging with an emphasis on first-generation and second-generation tau radiotracers and their application in neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and non-Alzheimer's disease tauopathies.
Recent findings
Tau is a critical protein, abundant in neurons within the central nervous system, which plays an important role in maintaining microtubules by binding to tubulin in axons. In its abnormal hyperphosphorylated form, accumulation of tau has been linked to a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, collectively referred to as tauopathies, which include Alzheimer's disease...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: DEGENERATIVE AND COGNITIVE DISEASES: Edited by Luca Giliberto Source Type: research
The role of the locus coeruleus/norepinephrine system in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders: An update
Purpose of review
The aim of this review was to provide an update on current and emerging knowledge of the neuropathological processes affecting the locus coeruleus/norepinephrine (LC/NE) system, their effect on Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease symptomatology, including efforts to translate these notions into therapeutic actions targeting the noradrenergic system.
Recent findings
Over the past 2 years, work from multiple groups has contributed to support an early role of locus coeruleus degeneration and/or hyperactivation in the neurodegenerative process, including a trigger of neuroinflammation. Imag...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: DEGENERATIVE AND COGNITIVE DISEASES: Edited by Luca Giliberto Source Type: research
Deciphering the contributions of neuroinflammation to neurodegeneration: lessons from antibody-mediated encephalitis and coronavirus disease 2019
Purpose of review
Does neuroinflammation promote neurodegeneration? Does neurodegeneration promote neuroinflammation? Or, is the answer to both questions, yes? These questions have proven challenging to answer in patients with typical age-related neurodegenerative diseases in whom the onset of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration are largely unknown. Patients recovering from diseases associated with abrupt-onset neuroinflammation, including rare forms of antibody-mediated encephalitis (AME) and common complications of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), provide a unique opportunity to untangle the relationshi...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: DEGENERATIVE AND COGNITIVE DISEASES: Edited by Luca Giliberto Source Type: research
Editorial: Degenerative and cognitive diseases
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in Neurology)
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: DEGENERATIVE AND COGNITIVE DISEASES: Edited by Luca Giliberto Source Type: research
Neuropathology and epilepsy surgery
Purpose of review
Neurosurgical treatment of patients suffering from drug-resistant focal epilepsy is recognized as a successful, yet underutilized medical treatment option. By searching PubMed for articles published between January 2020 and September 2021 with the broad search terms ‘neuropathology’ AND ‘epilepsy surgery’, this review highlights the active field of etiology-based epilepsy research in human tissue.
Recent findings
All papers addressing the most common epileptogenic human brain disease entities, i.e. focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), brain tumors or hippocampal sclerosis, and written in Eng...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: SEIZURE DISORDERS: Edited by Claude Steriade Source Type: research
Network dysfunction in pre and postsurgical epilepsy: connectomics as a tool and not a destination
Purpose of review
Patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) sometimes continue to have seizures after surgery. Recently, there is increasing interest in using advanced network analyses (connectomics) to better understand this problem. Connectomics has changed the way researchers and clinicians view DRE, but it must be applied carefully in a hypothesis-driven manner to avoid spurious results. This review will focus on studies published in the last 18 months that have thoughtfully used connectomics to advance our fundamental understanding of network dysfunction in DRE – hopefully for the eventual direct benef...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: SEIZURE DISORDERS: Edited by Claude Steriade Source Type: research
Advanced neuroimaging techniques in epilepsy
Purpose of review
We review significant advances in epilepsy imaging in recent years.
Recent findings
Structural MRI at 7T with optimization of acquisition and postacquisition image processing increases the diagnostic yield but artefactual findings remain a challenge. MRI analysis from multiple sites indicates different atrophy patterns and white matter diffusion abnormalities in temporal lobe and generalized epilepsies, with greater abnormalities close to the presumed seizure source. Structural and functional connectivity relate to seizure spread and generalization; longitudinal studies are needed to clarify th...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: SEIZURE DISORDERS: Edited by Claude Steriade Source Type: research
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
Purpose of review
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major contributor to premature mortality in people with epilepsy. This review provides an update on recent findings on the epidemiology of SUDEP, clinical risk factors and potential mechanisms.
Recent findings
The overall risk rate of SUDEP is approximately 1 per 1000 patients per year in the general epilepsy population and that children and older adults have a similar incidence. Generalized convulsive seizures (GCS), perhaps through their effects on brainstem cardiopulmonary networks, can cause significant postictal respiratory and autonomic dys...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: SEIZURE DISORDERS: Edited by Claude Steriade Source Type: research
Learning from the comorbidities of epilepsy
Purpose of review
Comorbidities are a common feature in epilepsy, but neither the entire spectrum nor the significance of such comorbidities has been fully explored. We review comorbidities associated with epilepsy and their associated burden, provide an overview of relationships, and discuss a new conceptualization of the comorbidities.
Recent findings
The epidemiology of the comorbidities of epilepsy and effects on health outcomes, healthcare use, and healthcare expenditures have been partly delineated. Distinct mechanisms of the associations have been suggested but not entirely ascertained. Movement from conc...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: SEIZURE DISORDERS: Edited by Claude Steriade Source Type: research
Socioeconomic disparities in epilepsy care
Purpose of review
Epilepsy is a common, chronic neurologic disease with continued disparities in care. The COVID-19 pandemic and recent social movements have drawn greater attention to social determinants of health and our progress (or lack thereof) toward delivering more equitable care.
Recent findings
Recent studies continue to document racial and economic disparities in diagnosis, treatment, and overall care of epilepsy and associated conditions. Notably, an increasing number of studies are attempting to design healthcare pathways and other interventions to improve access and equity in epilepsy care.
Summa...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: SEIZURE DISORDERS: Edited by Claude Steriade Source Type: research
Contraception, fecundity, and pregnancy in women with epilepsy: an update on recent literature
Purpose of review
Caring for women with epilepsy requires specialized knowledge about potential teratogenicity of antiseizure medications, interactions with hormonal contraception, and pregnancy outcomes.
Recent findings
There has been an improvement in understanding the cognitive outcomes of infants exposed in utero in recent years. Folic acid supplementation helps mitigate the cognitive teratogenicity of antiseizure medications. Recent updates provide reassurance that seizure frequency tends to remain stable throughout pregnancy. There is conflicting evidence about the fecundity impact of epilepsy and antiseiz...
Source: Current Opinion in Neurology - March 10, 2022 Category: Neurology Tags: SEIZURE DISORDERS: Edited by Claude Steriade Source Type: research
