Neurology Alert – February 1, 2023

Magnetic Brain Stimulation for Alzheimer’s Disease

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, targeted at the precuneus in an effort to maintain a normal default mode network, shows some promise in slowing cognitive decline and maintaining normal electrophysiology in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

Do Spinal Cord Stimulators Really Help for Chronic Pain?

A comprehensive analysis of a large clinical database regarding treatment of patients with chronic low back pain did not support the benefit of spinal cord stimulators compared to conventional medical management for chronic pain.

Can a Blood-Based Test Serve as a Biomarker for Parkinson’s Disease?

This proof-of-concept study proposes that a noninvasive assay detecting pathology-associated α-synuclein extracted from blood may reveal a reliable biomarker for Parkinson’s disease.

Late-Onset Pompe Disease: A Review of Clinical Features

In this systematic literature review of studies that evaluate motor and locomotion function in patients with adult, late-onset Pompe disease, the clinical spectrum reveals weakness of respiratory, axial, and proximal limb muscles.

Efficacy and Safety of Leriglitazone in Patients with Friedreich Ataxia

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal, recessive, multisystemic disease characterized by progressive weakness, ataxia, and dysarthria starting in childhood and resulting in severe morbidity and premature death. There are no approved treatments for FRDA. With recent preclinical studies suggesting potential benefit of PPARPγ agonists in motor function and reduced radiographic disease activity, the current study explores the effect of leriglitazone, a PPARPγ agonist, in patients with moderate to severe FRDA.