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DOACs Can Safely Be Started Early After Atrial Fibrillation-Associated Stroke

In ischemic stroke associated with atrial fibrillation, early restart of anticoagulation with apixaban one to three days after ischemic stroke, compared to late restart (seven to 14 days), there were no significant differences between the groups in the primary outcome — a composite endpoint including recurrent ischemic stroke, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and systemic embolism.

Neurologic Toxicity with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

In a nationwide, multicenter, retrospective study of patients with neurologic immune-related adverse events related to immune checkpoint inhibitors, more than half of patients developed a chronic condition associated with a higher rate of severe neurologic disability and mortality.

Migraine Trigger or Prodromal Symptom: Which Came First — the Chocolate or the Craving?

Knowledge of the differentiation between the triggers for a potential migraine attack and the prodromal symptoms of an initiated migraine attack reveals strategies that decrease migraine disability. Recognition of migraine triggers allows for a modification of behavior to avoid precipitating an attack. Recognition of common migraine prodromal symptoms creates an early time window when rapid treatment enhances the therapeutic intervention’s efficacy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thrombectomy for Basilar Artery Occlusion

This randomized trial from China demonstrates a dramatic benefit from endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute basilar artery occlusion. This benefit was sustained and improved at one year compared to 90 days.

Clinicopathological Correlation in Motor Neuron Disease and Frontotemporal Degeneration

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration commonly occurs with motor neuron disease and has similar cytoplasmic neuronal aggregates of TAR deoxyribonucleic acid-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in the brain as well as the spinal cord.

The Clinical Spectrum of Anti-GQ1b Antibody Syndrome

Antibodies targeting gangliosides, glycosphingolipids that play a role in synaptic plasticity, neurotransmission derangements, and axonal growth all are implicated in many autoimmune peripheral neuropathies. Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS) is the clinical triad of external ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia classically associated with anti-GQ1b. However, there are other subtypes that present with only one or two clinical features of the clinical triad.