A recent study found that teens who are sensitive to light or noise after a concussion are more likely to experience emotional symptoms such as anxiety. Researchers also discovered that having anxiety can lead to attention difficulties, while irritability/aggression is linked to problems with attention.
The American Academy of Neurology has released a new position paper emphasizing the importance of educating and protecting athletes from concussion. The statement calls for doctors to safeguard athletes' mental and physical health and recommends wider use of baseline cognitive testing and mandatory concussion reporting.
A study published in Neurology found that brisk walking improved motor function, mood, and tiredness by up to 15%, as well as increased aerobic fitness and gait speed. Participants who walked for 45 minutes, three times a week, over six months showed significant improvements in their symptoms.
A recent study published in Neurology suggests that veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are 60% more likely to develop dementia than those without TBI. The study found that veterans with TBI developed dementia about two years earlier, highlighting the potential long-term consequences of TBI on cognitive health.
A new study published in Neurology suggests that group doctor visits can benefit individuals with muscle diseases, improving their quality of life. Participants who received group visits scored higher on a quality of life test compared to those who had individual appointments.
A meta-analysis found that people with higher protein diets, especially from fish, may have a lower risk of stroke. The study analyzed data from seven studies involving over 254,000 participants and found that moderate protein intake was associated with a 20% lower risk of stroke.
Research suggests that high blood pressure in middle age is associated with increased risk of brain lesions and tiny brain bleeds, particularly in those without a history of high blood pressure. In contrast, individuals with a history of high blood pressure may experience smaller brain volumes and lower memory scores.
People with high levels of cynicism are three times more likely to develop dementia than those with low levels, according to the study. High cynicism was also initially linked to earlier death, but this association disappeared after adjusting for other factors.
A study found that people exposed to paint, glue, and degreasers at work are at risk for memory and thinking deficits decades after exposure. The research suggests that high lifetime exposure can lead to cognitive problems regardless of when the exposure occurred.
Researchers discovered that tadalafil improves blood flow in the muscles of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, allowing for improved exercise performance. The study found that blood flow abnormalities were present even in boys taking corticosteroids, highlighting a potential new therapeutic strategy for treating the disease.
The American Academy of Neurology review found that medical marijuana can help treat spasticity, pain, and overactive bladder in multiple sclerosis patients. However, its effectiveness in other neurologic diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, Tourette syndrome, cervical dystonia, and epilepsy remains uncertain.
A new study found that reducing B cell levels can significantly decrease brain lesions and disease activity in people with relapsing-remitting MS. The research showed that maintaining B cell levels below a threshold of 32-64 cells per microliter resulted in an annualized rate of less than one new brain lesion per year.
A new study suggests that individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may experience an increased risk of mortality over a six-year period. The research, conducted by the American Academy of Neurology, found that those with MCI had an 80% higher death rate compared to those without MCI.
A study published in the American Academy of Neurology found that individuals with higher levels of education tend to recover better from traumatic brain injuries. This is attributed to the cognitive reserve theory, which suggests that educated individuals have a greater ability to maintain brain function despite damage.
Two new studies release promising results for migraine prevention, with one study showing a 66% decrease in migraine days and another demonstrating a 63% reduction. The new treatments target calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a protein thought to be involved in migraine, and are considered safe and well-tolerated.
Researchers have found that narrowing of the carotid artery in the neck without symptoms is linked to problems in learning, memory, thinking, and decision-making. The study compared people with similar risk factors but no narrowing in the neck artery to those with carotid artery narrowing.
A study found that certain genes, such as DRD1 and COMT, are associated with low, moderate, or high pain perception. The discovery may lead to new therapies and better understanding of chronic pain.
A study published by the American Academy of Neurology found that people with apathy symptoms have smaller brain volumes than those without apathy. Apathy is a lack of interest or emotion, and the findings suggest it may be an indicator of accelerated brain aging.
A study published in Neurology found that older adults with rapid memory and thinking skills decline may be less likely to die from cancer. The research followed over 2,600 participants aged 65 and above for nearly 13 years and found a significant difference in cancer mortality rates between those with fast versus slow cognitive decline.
A new study found that young adults who engage in regular cardio fitness activities, such as running, may preserve their memory and thinking skills in middle age. The study, which followed 2,747 healthy people for 20 years, measured verbal memory, psychomotor speed, and executive function.
The guideline states that certain forms of medical marijuana in pill or oral spray form may help reduce patients' reported spasticity symptoms, pain due to spasticity, and frequent urination. However, long-term safety of medical marijuana use is not known, and potential side effects include seizures, dizziness, and psychological problems.
A study published in Neurology found that developing diabetes and high blood pressure in middle age is associated with brain cell loss and cognitive problems later in life. Middle-aged individuals with these conditions had smaller brain volume and increased risk of thinking and memory issues compared to those without the conditions.
A meta-analysis of 19 studies involving over 760,000 participants found that people with pre-high blood pressure were 66% more likely to develop a stroke. The study also found that nearly 20% of strokes in the study population were due to pre-high blood pressure.
A new study suggests that Alzheimer's disease contributes to nearly as many deaths in the United States as heart disease or cancer. Researchers analyzed data from 2,566 participants aged 65 and older, finding a significant association between dementia diagnosis and increased mortality.
Researchers found that women who are obese at age 20 are twice as likely to develop MS later in life. Additionally, those who used hormonal contraceptives for at least three months were 35% more likely to develop MS compared to non-users, highlighting a potential contributing factor to the rise in MS cases among women.
A simple vision test, the King-Devick test, can be used to increase the accuracy of concussion diagnosis in athletes. The study found that 100% of concussions were identified when combining the test results with other concussion assessments.
A study by the American Academy of Neurology found that fatal heart attacks and strokes among firefighters frequently follow vigorous physical activity. The researchers analyzed data from 1998 to 2012 and discovered that 148 out of 199 events occurred after vigorous exercise lasting an average of 33 minutes.
The updated guideline recommends oral anticoagulants for people with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke. The new drugs are at least as effective as established treatment and have a lower risk of bleeding, making them suitable for many previously undertreated patients.
Researchers identified a polio-like syndrome in five California children over a year, highlighting the possibility of an emerging infectious polio-like syndrome. The children experienced paralysis affecting one or more limbs with abnormal MRI scans, and two tested positive for enterovirus-68.
Researchers found an antibody to KIR4.1 protein in the blood of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) years before symptoms appeared, suggesting a potential role in disease development. The study's findings may help detect MS earlier, enabling better treatment and prevention strategies.
Two new smartphone applications have been developed to aid in diagnosing epileptic seizures and managing acute stroke care. The epilepsy app was found to be informative in 87% of tested individuals, agreeing with medical diagnoses in 96% of cases.
A new study reveals that higher stress levels are associated with an increase in the number of headaches per month. The study found that for those with tension-type headache, a 10-point increase in stress was linked to a 6.3% rise in headache days per month.
A study found that watching videos of tasks before performing them can boost brain structure and increase motor skills in healthy adults. The group who completed this type of training showed significantly improved motor skill abilities compared to those who watched landscape videos.
A new study by the American Academy of Neurology found that football helmets on average reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury by only 20 percent compared to not wearing a helmet. The study also showed that some helmet brands, such as the Adams a2000, provide better protection against concussion and closed head injury than others.
A study of 65 participants with intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke and 65 healthy individuals found that those with depleted vitamin C levels had a higher risk of stroke. The study suggests that maintaining normal vitamin C levels may help reduce stroke risk.
A study found that people with both parents having Alzheimer's disease showed more severe brain abnormalities, including increased brain plaques and reduced brain volume. The research suggests a possible genetic link to the development of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that pesticides inhibiting aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme increase Parkinson's disease risk, especially in people with ALDH2 gene variant. Exposure to multiple pesticides at work and home also increases risk.
A recent study published in Neurology suggests that fish oil consumption may help preserve brain cells by increasing total brain volume and hippocampus area size. The study found that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids were associated with larger brain volumes, equivalent to a delay of one to two years of brain health.
A recent study published in Neurology found that heavy drinking in middle age is associated with faster decline in all areas of cognitive function in men. Moderate drinking, on the other hand, may not harm memory and executive function.
A new study has found that levetiracetam does not appear to be associated with thinking, movement, and language problems in preschool children born to mothers who took the drug during pregnancy. In contrast, valproate was linked to some difficulties in preschoolers.
Research published in Neurology suggests that having shingles may increase the risk of having a stroke years later, especially in young adults. People aged 18-40 who had shingles were found to be at a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, or transient ischemic attack compared to those who did not have shingles.
A new study suggests that a history of concussion may be related to the buildup of Alzheimer's-associated plaques in the brain. In people with memory and thinking problems, higher levels of amyloid plaques were found compared to those without head trauma.
The study involved 23 people with deep brain stimulators and 21 without stimulators, who completed driving tests in a simulator. Those with stimulators performed better on driving tests, especially when the device was turned on.
Researchers found that blows to the head during a single season of football or ice hockey can affect brain white matter and cognitive abilities. A subgroup of athletes who performed poorly on memory tests showed more change in the corpus callosum region of the brain.
A study published in Neurology suggests that a vaccine used to prevent tuberculosis may help prevent multiple sclerosis in people showing early signs of the disease. After six months, vaccinated individuals had fewer brain lesions than those who received a placebo, with 58% not developing MS compared to 30%.
Researchers have discovered a promising new treatment that can help people with spinal cord injuries walk better. The study involved 19 participants who received short periods of breathing low oxygen levels, resulting in improved walking speed and endurance.
Studies show that concussions can lead to brain abnormalities four months after symptoms have resolved, with memory and behavioral issues improving more quickly than physical injuries. These findings suggest that healing from concussions may be similar to recovering from burns, with tissue scabs forming before the body is fully healed.
Researchers found that people with higher pulse pressure in middle age are more likely to have Alzheimer's biomarkers in their spinal fluid. For every 10 point rise in pulse pressure, the average level of p-tau protein rose by 1.5 picograms per milliliter.
Research shows that speaking two languages can delay the onset of three types of dementias, including Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular dementia. The study found that people who spoke two languages developed dementia four and a half years later than those who only spoke one language.
A new study found that people with lower blood sugar levels performed better on memory tests, even within the normal range. Higher blood sugar levels were associated with smaller brain volumes and poor memory performance.