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Post-Surgical Seizure Outcomes in MRI-Positive Focal Cortical Dysplasia

This comprehensive meta-analysis of the surgical outcomes for drug-resistant epilepsy caused by focal cortical dysplasia demonstrated an excellent result with post-surgical freedom from seizures in 70% of patients followed for more than 24 months.

Pyridoxine (B6) Toxicity in Chronic Idiopathic Axonal Polyneuropathy

In a careful prospective collection of features of chronic idiopathic axonal neuropathy, with retrospective ascertainment of vitamin B6 levels in the blood, the investigators reported there was no significant correlation between the severity of neuropathy symptoms and plasma B6 levels.

Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Transient Neurological Events: Can Intracerebral Hemorrhage Risk Be Predicted?

In this retrospective review and meta-analysis of reported cases of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the investigators suggested that the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage can be quantified by the type of symptoms the patient presents with, but there remain many questions around the accuracy of diagnosis of CAA without pathological verification.

Patterns of Weakness in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Unusual patterns of weakness in the various motor neuron disorders may point to a specific diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, if supported by electrophysiological evidence of chronic denervation.

The Natural History of Leigh Syndrome

The natural history of Leigh syndrome is characterized by quantifiable disease progression in fewer than three years, with the poorest outcomes predicted by surfeit locus protein 1 (SURF1) pathogenic variants, bilateral caudate involvement on magnetic resonance imaging, and rapid increases in yearly Newcastle Paediatric Mitochondrial Disease Scale scores.

White Matter Hyperintensities and Progression of Parkinsonism in Older Adults

Both higher levels of cerebral white matter hyperintensities and cerebrovascular disease pathologies may be associated with a more rapid progression of parkinsonism in older adults.

Rituximab Treatment for AChR Myasthenia Gravis: Results of the BeatMG Study

The B-Cell Targeted Treatment In Myasthenia Gravis (BeatMG) study was the first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to explore the role of targeted B-cell depletion in myasthenia patients. Although rituximab was found to be safe and well-tolerated, rituximab treatment did not confer a significant steroid-sparing effect compared to placebo. Results of a futility analysis suggested rituximab treatment would be unlikely to show a clinically meaningful improvement of 30% over placebo in a larger Phase III trial of mild to moderately symptomatic acetylcholine receptor autoantibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis patients.

Plasma Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Dementias: We Are Getting Closer

Two recent multicenter studies suggest that plasma biomarkers, including phosphorylated-tau181, could be used as cost-effective and more readily accessible biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of individuals with neurodegenerative dementias.

Is Physical Activity Associated with Mortality Risk in Parkinson’s Disease?

In individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD), physical activity (PA) at all intensities is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, with the greatest reduction seen in individuals who maintained PA before and after PD diagnosis.

The Effect of Disease-Modifying Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis on the Immune Responses to COVID-19 Vaccination

An analysis of a large group of patients with multiple sclerosis taking various disease-modifying therapies showed that the response to COVID-19 vaccination was not uniform across the therapies. Patients taking anti-CD20 therapies and fingolimod had attenuated responses to vaccines.