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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.

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.

What Is the Best First-Line Treatment for Young Women with Generalized Epilepsy?

Valproate is a highly efficacious drug for treating idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) but is not an option for many young women because of known teratogenic risks. This retrospective, multicenter study examined women with IGE who were treated initially with either levetiracetam or lamotrigine monotherapy, demonstrated superior efficacy of levetiracetam, although exclusively in women with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

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.

Stratifying Seizure Risk with a Rapid EEG

In a retrospective, large, multicenter trial, rapid response electroencephalogram (EEG) was found to be non-inferior to conventional EEG when incorporated into the 2HELPS2B score to guide how long patients should stay on EEG.