The American Academy of Neurology has issued a guideline to help determine when people with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia should stop driving. The guideline recommends doctors use the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale to identify individuals at increased risk of unsafe driving. Caregivers and family members can als...
A new study found that smoking increases MS risk in individuals with high levels of Epstein-Barr virus antibody, but not those without it. The research suggests a link between smoking, immune response to the virus, and MS development.
A study published in Neurology found that high levels of C-reactive protein are associated with worse performance in executive function, a process in the brain that enables planning, decision-making, and behavior selection. Higher CRP levels also affected the frontal lobe of the brain, equivalent to 12 years of aging.
A study of 1,158 participants with mild cognitive impairment showed rapid memory and thinking skill declines compared to those without cognitive problems. The decline in skills was twice as fast for those with mild cognitive impairment than those without, while four times faster for those with Alzheimer's disease.
A new guideline recommends treatments to help people with Parkinson's disease manage sleep disorders, constipation and sexual problems. The guideline suggests medications like sildenafil citrate and isosmotic macrogol to improve erectile dysfunction and constipation.
A study of over 305,000 people found that those who smoked for 40+ years were 46% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. However, the risk did not decrease with the number of cigarettes smoked per day.
A recent study published in Neurology found that people with ocular shingles are four-and-a-half times more likely to experience a stroke compared to those without the infection. The research also discovered that individuals with ocular shingles were more likely to have ischemic strokes and less likely to have hemorrhagic strokes.
A new study published in Neurology found that women who didn't receive clot-busting drug tPA after a stroke had a worse quality of life compared to men. However, women who were treated with the medication responded just as well as men to the treatment.
The American Academy of Neurology has released a new guideline evaluating the treatment options for muscle cramps. Quinine is no longer recommended for routine muscle cramps due to potential serious side effects, while naftidrofuryl and diltiazem may be considered as alternative treatments. More research is needed on these options.
A study of 136,474 participants found that regular ibuprofen users were 40% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Higher doses of ibuprofen also showed a reduced risk of developing the disease.
A large-scale study found that women with multiple sclerosis (MS) are 47% more likely to develop migraines than those without. The research suggests a link between the two conditions, but further investigation is needed to determine causality.
Researchers developed a simple and inexpensive device to measure reaction time, which showed slower reaction times after concussions. The test was found to be effective in determining readiness to return to play for Division I college athletes.
Researchers found that 18% of people with an initial stroke had a recurrent stroke within four years, and the risk of recurrence rose steadily after one year. The study highlights the need for better secondary stroke prevention strategies to reduce mortality and morbidity rates.
A study found that medical dramas and reality TV shows responded inappropriately to seizures nearly half the time, with improper practices occurring in 25 cases. The American Academy of Neurology urges the TV industry to adhere to seizure management guidelines.
A study analyzing three studies on chocolate and stroke found that eating chocolate may reduce stroke risk by up to 46% and lower the risk of death after suffering a stroke. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.
A recent study published in Neurology found that people with migraine are at an increased risk of heart attack and other risk factors for heart disease. The study involved 6,102 participants with migraine and 5,243 without, and found that those with migraines were nearly twice as likely to have a heart attack compared to those without.
Research on workers and residents exposed to World Trade Center dust and fumes found that 55% reported exposure and 43% experienced headaches in the four weeks prior to enrollment. Those with headaches were more likely to experience other physical symptoms, including wheezing and reflux disease.
A preliminary study found that drinking milk during pregnancy can reduce the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in babies. The study, presented at the American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting, revealed that high milk and vitamin D intake during pregnancy lowered the risk of MS by up to 56%.
A Mediterranean-like diet was found to be associated with a lower risk of brain infarcts and areas of dead tissue linked to thinking problems. Researchers assessed the diets of 712 people and found those who closely followed the diet were 36% less likely to have brain damage.
A population-based study confirms exposure to TCE increases the risk of Parkinson's disease, with workers five and a half times more likely to develop the condition than those not exposed. The study used twins to evaluate environmental risk factors and found significant associations between TCE exposure and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found that new immigrants to Ontario, Canada had a 30% lower rate of strokes at age 16-65 compared to long-term residents. The study controlled for factors such as income level, smoking, and history of diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes.
A new study published in Neurology suggests that cognitive decline, regardless of dementia diagnosis, may increase the risk of stroke. The researchers found that men who scored lower on a mental test measuring planning and executive function were three times more likely to experience a stroke or brain infarction.
A study found that people with three or four of the following symptoms are more likely to have Alzheimer's disease: feeling drowsy, disorganized thinking, staring into space, and lethargy. Those with mental lapses also had more severe symptoms and poorer cognitive performance than those without lapses.
Research suggests that migraines and depression share a common genetic link, particularly in those with migraine with aura. The study found that 56% of migraine traits are explained by genetic factors, with heritability scores indicating a shared genetic pathway between the two disorders.
A new brain scan, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), has been shown to detect changes in the hippocampus that are associated with memory decline. DTI-MRI scans were found to be more accurate than traditional MRI in identifying changes related to Alzheimer's disease.
A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology finds that transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) is not effective in treating chronic low-back pain. Research shows conflicting results, but TENS may be beneficial for diabetic nerve pain.
A recent study found that people with Alzheimer's disease were less likely to develop cancer, while those with cancer were less likely to develop Alzheimer's. The study suggested that these two conditions may be linked, offering potential avenues for new treatments and a better understanding of both diseases.
A new web-based tool calculates a person's risk of having another stroke within three months by analyzing medical history, brain scans, and other risk factors. The study found that over 96% of patients who developed a second stroke showed signs of one or more risk factor.
Recreational ecstasy users may be at a higher risk for sleep apnea due to the damage caused by the drug on brain neurons related to serotonin. The study found that ecstasy users had over eight times the risk of sleep apnea compared to non-users, with longer use associated with increased episodes.
Researchers found that people born in the Southern stroke belt have a higher risk of dying from stroke as adults, even if they later move away. The study also found that those who live in the stroke belt in adulthood have an elevated risk of dying from stroke.
Men who engage in moderate-to-heavy intensity exercise have a lower risk of stroke compared to those with no physical activity. The study found that men who participated in such activities were 63% less likely to experience a stroke. However, the results did not show a similar benefit for women.
A new study published in Neurology shows pregnant women with multiple sclerosis are only slightly more likely to have cesarean deliveries and babies with poor prenatal growth rates than those without MS. Women with MS were not at increased risk for other pregnancy complications.
A study of 28 children aged 8-13 found that half with autism scored below 80% on handwriting assessments, compared to only one child without autism. Therapies targeting motor skills may help improve handwriting in children with autism, essential for school success and self-esteem.
A study published in Neurology found that teenage women who are obese may be more than twice as likely to develop multiple sclerosis as adult women compared to female teens who are not obese. Weight during adolescence, rather than childhood or adulthood, is critical in determining the risk of MS.
A study of 2,477 people with MS found that those who experienced relapses within five years of onset had a higher risk of needing a cane for walking. However, the impact of these early relapses diminished over time. The study suggests that younger people with MS may benefit from timely treatment to change the course of progression.
A recent study published in Neurology reveals that nearly 42% of participants with frontotemporal dementia had some family history, while only 10% were affected by an autosomal dominant gene. The study also found that behavioral problems are more likely to be hereditary than language problems.
Research published in Neurology suggests that people with both diabetes and Alzheimer's disease have a slower rate of memory loss than those with only Alzheimer's. The study found that diabetes may actually counteract the progression of cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients, although the reasons for this effect are still unclear.
A study of 15 patients with severe Tourette syndrome found that deep brain stimulation reduced tic frequency by 52% on average and improved OCD symptoms. The treatment showed no significant effect on thinking abilities.
A study of 2,240 people found that high CRP levels were associated with an increased risk of heart attack and death, while lower levels were linked to reduced risk. The protein was not linked to an increased risk of stroke in the study, suggesting it may be more useful for predicting heart health.
The new guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology identify riluzole as a treatment that can slow disease progression in ALS patients. Using an assisted-breathing device is also expected to increase life expectancy and quality of life for these patients.
A driving simulation test involving 67 people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease and 51 healthy individuals found that those with Parkinson's were more likely to crash in foggy conditions. Their reaction time was also longer, averaging 2.7 seconds compared to 2.1 seconds for healthy drivers.
A large study of over 4,500 participants found no association between streptococcal infection and Tourette syndrome or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Researchers also ruled out exposure to strep infections as a trigger for these conditions.
Research found that 1 in 8 strokes is preceded by a 'warning stroke', also known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke. Those who experienced a warning stroke were more likely to be older and have underlying health conditions, but may have been protected from the full effects of the larger stroke.
Researchers discovered a link between declining financial skills and the development of Alzheimer's disease. Participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who showed poorer money management abilities were more likely to progress to dementia.
Children with microcephaly are at risk of neurologic and cognitive problems, including epilepsy, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and eye and ear disorders. Doctors recommend screening for coexisting conditions, brain scans, and genetic testing to identify the causes of microcephaly.
A study found that people with infections were more likely to experience memory loss and cognitive decline compared to those without infections. The study suggests that reducing inflammation may be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease.
The American Academy of Neurology and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are monitoring H1N1 vaccine safety for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Neurologists are urged to report any new cases following vaccination, as a precautionary measure due to the association between GBS and previous pandemic vaccines.
A study published in Neurology found that smoking cigarettes significantly increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis, particularly in women. In contrast, using Swedish snuff was not associated with an elevated risk for MS. The researchers suggest that nicotine may not be the primary substance responsible for the increased risk.
Research published by the American Academy of Neurology links high blood pressure to cognitive impairment in people over 45. The study found that those with high diastolic blood pressure were more likely to experience memory and thinking problems.
A study published in Neurology found that smoking is associated with an increased risk of brain lesions and brain shrinkage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Smokers with MS had nearly 17% more brain lesions and 13% larger ventricles compared to non-smokers.