Essential tremor - drug treatments present and future
The main treatment options for essential tremor (ET), which is probably one of the most common movement disorders, have been propranolol and primidone, for many years. This review aims to synthesize therapeutic attempts with other drugs.
The involvement of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in the pathophysiology of mood disorders and therapeutic implications
There is a growing body of evidence implicating gut-brain axis dysfunction in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. Accordingly, gut microbiota has become a promising target for the development of biomarkers and novel therapeutics for bipolar and depressive disorders.
Novel techniques for early diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by a progressive loss of cognitive functions. The high prevalence, chronicity, and multimorbidity are very common in AD, which significantly impair the quality of life and functioning of patients. Early detection and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) can stop the illness from progressing thereby postponing its symptoms. Therefore, for the early diagnosis and monitoring of AD, more sensitive, noninvasive, straightforward, and affordable screening tools are needed.
An update on the treatment and management of cognitive dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis
Cognitive impairment (CI) occurs in 34-70% of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, significantly impacting quality of life. CI can occur independently of physical disability, even in those with 'benign MS.' Cognitive deficits are heterogeneous, but common areas affected include processing speed, memory, and executive functions.
Promising therapeutic strategies for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome: what's new?
The seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome are typically resistant to treatment. Seven antiseizure medications (ASMs) in the US (six in the UK/EU) are licensed for the treatment of seizures in LGS: lamotrigine, topiramate, rufinamide, clobazam, felbamate (not licensed in the UK/EU), cannabidiol and fenfluramine. Other options include neurostimulation, corpus callosotomy and dietary therapies, principally the ketogenic diet and its variants. New treatments and therapeutic strategies are needed to improve management of both seizures and cognitive/behavioral comorbidities in LGS.
Neuromodulation as a therapeutic approach for post-traumatic stress disorder: the evidence to date
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have debilitating effects on quality of life, and conventional treatments show mixed results. Neuromodulation is emerging as a promising approach for treating PTSD. This review examines current neuromodulatory treatments for PTSD, and highlights methodologies, clinical outcomes, and gaps in the literature to help guide future research.
Therapeutic barriers for headache management: issues facing the global north and global south in 2024
Tackling persistent neurological symptoms in patients following acute COVID-19 infection: an update of the literature
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught myriad lessons and left several questions we are yet to comprehend. Initially, the scientific community was concerned with the management of acute disease and immunization. Once the peak of the pandemic receded, it became clear that a proportion of patients were far from fully recovered. Researchers started to recognize those persisting symptoms as a new entity termed 'Long COVID,' where neurological symptoms are evident and have a major impact on quality of life.
The complexities in the differential diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (Willis-Ekbom disease)
We present a literature review on the clinical conundrums surrounding the differential diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS, Willis-Ekbom disease), as well as conditions that can mimic RLS. An extensive literature search showed that secondary causes of RLS ranged from commonly recognized causes, such as iron deficiency anemia, to less widely noted causes, such as rheumatoid disorders and hypothyroidism. There is a controversial association with Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and RLS, whereby RLS is proposed as a prodromal feature.
Managing cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: an update of the literature
Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD) substantially affects patient outcomes, function, and quality of life. PD-related cognitive dysfunction is often heterogeneous in clinical presentation and rates of progression. As cognitive changes occur in many people with PD, it is essential to evaluate cognition, provide education, and implement management strategies for cognitive symptoms.
Managing sleep issues in Parkinson's disease: an up-to-date review
In Parkinson's disease (PD), sleep-wake problems are disease-related symptoms that occur throughout the day and have a negative impact on patients' quality of life to an extent that is equal to or greater than that of typical motor symptoms.
The value of hypothermia as a neuroprotective and antiepileptic strategy in patients with status epilepticus: an update of the literature
Status epilepticus represents a significant neurological emergency, with high morbidity and mortality rates. In addition to standard care, the identification of adjuvant strategies is essential to improve the outcome.
Switching between anti-cgrp monoclonal antibodies in migraine prophylaxis
When a first anti-CGRP monoclonal antibody (anti-CGRP mAb) fails, switching to a different anti-CGRP mAb is an option often considered, despite this approach is not yet systemically studied.
Rimegepant for the acute and preventive treatment of migraine: a narrative review of the evidence
Rimegepant is an oral small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist approved in several countries for acute treatment of migraine and preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. This review summarizes the evidence, published to date, for the use of rimegepant as an acute or preventive treatment of migraine.
Treatment strategies for patients with spinal muscular atrophy
What are the main challenges in the treatment of neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy?
UK Medical Cannabis Registry: a cohort study of patients prescribed cannabis-based oils and dried flower for generalised anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common mental health condition. The endocannabinoid system has become a focus for new therapies, increasing interest in cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs). This study uses data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry (UKMCR) to investigate real-world outcomes and safety of different CBMP formulations in GAD patients.
Evaluating the value and risks of psychedelics for psychiatric medicine: a clinical perspective
After a long period of obscurantism, a possible role of psychedelics in clinical practice has progressively become a tangible perspective during the last two decades. However, the resounding enthusiasm linked to such 'psychedelic renaissance' runs the risk to unduly minimize the possible hazards associated with these compounds, while expanding their alleged benefits to improbable panacea-like proportions. In order to avoid mystifying or demonizing the properties of 5-HT2a agonists on emotional grounds, this subject requires a strictly unprejudiced and cautious approach to the evidence.
The impact of cognitive reserve relative to risk of Alzheimer's disease and rate of progression: an up-to-date review of the literature
Cognitive reserve (CR) is a crucial factor in explaining individual differences in the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cognitive decline. CR refers to the brain's ability to cope with pathology through compensatory mechanisms. This review examines the various methods used to measure, predict, and influence CR.
Using oral topiramate for primary generalized and focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures in patients 2 years of age and older: a review of the literature
Topiramate is a drug belonging to the second generation of antiseizure arsenal, used to treat focal onset seizures without generalization, focal-to-bilateral tonic-clonic seizures, and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Expert guidance on the differential diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome