Neurology Alert – November 1, 2024

MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Treating Essential Tremor

This open-label study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of staged bilateral magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy for bilateral essential tremor with excellent efficacy rates at one year. Most adverse events were mild, but greater real-world experience is needed to understand its true safety profile.

Genetic Testing for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

In this large scale, international study of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, approximately 15% of participants were found to have a positive PD-related genetic variant, most commonly in the GBA1 and LRRK2 genes.

Repeated Head Trauma May Lead to Parkinsonism in Patients with CTE

Repeated head injury from years of contact sports play in men with confirmed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) may cause pathological changes in the substantia nigra that lead to parkinsonism in a subset of patients with CTE.

A microRNA Diagnostic Biomarker for ALS

A specific pattern of eight micro ribonucleic acids (microRNAs) has been shown to differentiate patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from those with primary lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and healthy controls. It remains to be determined if these differences will continue throughout the course of the disease.

Eculizumab for Treating Aquaporin-4 Antibody-Positive NMOSD

In this retrospective study of a cohort of aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients treated with eculizumab, the authors reported efficacy with decreasing relapse rate, magnetic resonance imaging changes, and disability outcomes, but cautioned about the risk of serious infections.