Neurology

Alzheimer’s disease prevention: Can antidepressants lend a hand?

Jairia Dela Cruz, Yesterday

The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor escitalopram holds promise in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, reducing amyloid-β-42 levels in cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue in older adults with normal cognitive function, according to recent evidence.

High glucose predicts poor outcomes after endovascular treatment for stroke

26 Nov 2020

Patients with acute ischaemic stroke undergoing endovascular treatment are at heightened risk of poor functional outcome and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) in the presence of hyperglycaemia at admission, a study has found.

SCD, anxiety symptoms may be independent predictors of MCI/dementia risk

Roshini Claire Anthony, 23 Nov 2020

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or anxiety symptoms in older individuals are independently associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, a recent study has shown.

From tablet to powder: Crushed prasugrel no help in STEMI reperfusion

Jairia Dela Cruz, 23 Nov 2020

Crushing prasugrel tablets and administering it as a powder to patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) prior to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) enhances the potency of platelet inhibition but fails to improve early coronary reperfusion, as shown in the results of the COMPARE CRUSH trial.

Doctor recommendations influence pain treatment preference

21 Nov 2020

Chronic pain patients show high degrees of interest in nonpharmacological, behavioural interventions to their condition, a recent study has found. This interest is even greater among patients whose doctors recommended these treatments.

Shifting paradigms in MS management: Early, optimized interventions improve patient outcomes

04 May 2018

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological disorders – affecting over 2.3 million people globally – and it is the leading cause of nontraumatic disability in young adults. However,the availability of supportive resources and services for people with MS is scarce in many regions of the world. In Malaysia, the prevalence of MS is estimated at 2-3/100,000; the current Malaysian clinical practice guidelines on the management of MS recommend disease modifying agents, such as interferon-β and teriflunomide, as first-line therapeutic agents. In this article, Dr Singer - in partnership with Sanofi and the Malaysian Society of Neurosciences - shares his insights into managing MS dynamically, highlighting the importance of early intervention in improving patient outcomes.

Eptinezumab improves outcomes, lowers medication use in patients with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache

Roshini Claire Anthony, 21 Aug 2020

In patients diagnosed with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache (MOH), treatment with eptinezumab led to improved patient-reported outcomes, fewer migraine days, and a reduction in acute medication use, according to subgroup analyses of the PROMISE-2* trial presented at AHS 2020.

Some antihypertensive meds tied to lower dementia risk

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20 Aug 2020

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may be associated with a reduced risk of dementia, according to a systematic review and network meta-analysis conducted by researchers from the Netherlands.

Pimavanserin may cut symptoms of dementia-related psychosis

Audrey Abella, 20 Aug 2020

Use of the antipsychotic drug pimavanserin led to a substantial reduction in psychosis symptoms in individuals with dementia regardless of severity or subtype, according to the results of the HARMONY trial presented at AAIC 2020.

Plasma P-tau217: Potential biomarker for Alzheimer's?

Pearl Toh, 19 Aug 2020

A new blood test for plasma P-tau217* accurately differentiates Alzheimer's disease (AD) from other neurodegenerative diseases — showing promise as a blood-based biomarker for early detection of AD, according to a study presented at the AAIC 2020 Meeting.