Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Neurology for January 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
MRI May Help ID Suicide Risk in Young Bipolar Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Among adolescents and young adults with bipolar disorder, those who attempt suicide show reduced volume and activity in areas of the brain that regulate emotion and impulses, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.
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CVD-Related Hospital Admissions Up Second Day After Snowstorm
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is a sharp increase in hospital admissions for cardiovascular events two days after a major snowfall, according to research published online Jan. 30 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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Mentally Stimulating Tasks May Lower Risk of MCI in Older Adults
TUESDAY, Jan. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Activities that keep the brain busy — using a computer, crafting, playing games, and participating in social activities — appear to lower the risk of age-related mental decline in individuals 70 and older, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Neurology.
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Microbiota Transfer Therapy Could Help Children With Autism
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new approach to alter the gut microbiome and virome may be an effective treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to research published online Jan. 23 in Microbiome.
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U.S. Children Make Over 6 Million Office Visits/Year for ADHD
FRIDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An average 6.1 million physician visits in 2012 to 2013 were made by children aged 4 to 17 with a primary diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Low Levels of Brain Stimulation May Lessen Bulimia Symptoms
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Electrical stimulation of the brain may temporarily ease the symptoms of bulimia nervosa, according to research published online Jan. 25 in PLOS ONE.
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Most PCPs Oppose Complete Repeal of the Affordable Care Act
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A majority of primary care doctors oppose full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, according to a perspective piece published online Jan. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Strategies Presented for Addressing Uncompensated Time
THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Strategies can be employed to help physicians deal with the increasing burden of uncompensated tasks, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
High Rates of Cerebral Emboli in Patients Undergoing LV Ablation
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The rate of cerebral embolism with left ventricular ablations for premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) appears much higher than that seen for similar procedures for other types of heart rhythm disturbances, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Circulation.
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Safety Profile of Red Yeast Rice Found Similar to Statins
TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The cholesterol-lowering supplement red yeast rice could pose the same health risks to users as statin drugs, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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ACA Has Increased Coverage, Access for Chronically Ill Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Millions of Americans with a chronic illness gained health insurance coverage after the Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2010, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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QI Initiative Cuts Health Care Use in Children With Epilepsy
MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A quality improvement (QI) initiative can reduce emergency department and health care utilization for children with epilepsy, according to a report published online Jan. 20 in Pediatrics.
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Basivertebral Nerve Ablation Beneficial for Chronic Back Pain
MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic lumbar back pain, ablation of the basivertebral nerve (BVN) improves self-reported outcome at three months and through one year, according to a study published in the February issue of The Spine Journal.
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Obesity Underrepresented in Medical Licensing Exams
FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The most important concepts of obesity prevention and treatment are not adequately represented on the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step examinations, according to a study published recently in Teaching and Learning in Medicine.
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Cognitive Training Can Positively Affect Perception of Tinnitus
FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An internet-based program to improve mental acuity may help patients cope with tinnitus, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
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17 Million U.S. Adults May Have Masked Hypertension
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Seventeen million American adults may have masked hypertension, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
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MRI Helpful in Identifying White Matter Injury in Preemies
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shortly after birth might help determine which premature babies have sustained a brain injury that will affect their development, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in Neurology.
Effectiveness of One-Dose MenACWY-D Drops Over Time
THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For adolescents, the effectiveness of the one-dose meningococcal (groups A, C, W, and Y) polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-D) decreases at three to less than eight years post-vaccination, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in Pediatrics.
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Brief Bouts of Exercise Can Reduce Inflammation
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Just 20 minutes of moderate exercise may reduce inflammation in the body, according to research published online recently in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
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Dementia May Be Exacerbated by Hospital-Related Delirium
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalization-related delirium may speed mental decline in patients with dementia, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Hypertension Onset After Age 80 May Protect Against Dementia
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Developing hypertension in very old age may provide some protection from dementia, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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Neurodevelopment at Age 2 Not Worse After ART Conception
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cognitive, motor, and language development at age 2 years is similar for children born after assisted reproductive technologies (ART) conception and natural conception, according to a study published in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Physician Excess Charges Create Financial Burden for Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many doctors bill their private-paying patients two, three, even six times more than what Medicare pays for the same services, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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ACP, AAFP Raise BP Rx Threshold for Healthy Adults Over 60
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Two leading medical organizations are recommending a less aggressive target for the treatment of hypertension in adults 60 and older who are otherwise healthy. The new clinical practice guideline was published online Jan. 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Concussions May Accelerate Alzheimer’s Disease Progression
FRIDAY, Jan. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Concussions may be associated with accelerated cortical thickness and memory decline in Alzheimer’s disease-relevant areas, according to a study published online Jan. 12 in Brain.
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Cognitive Stress Reduces Levodopa Effect in Parkinson’s
FRIDAY, Jan. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cognitive co-activation is associated with a significantly smaller levodopa effect on resting tremor in Parkinson’s disease (PD), according to a study published online Jan. 10 in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.
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Heightened Activity in Amygdala Associated With CVD Events
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Heightened activity in a key part of the brain may explain why stress increase the odds for cardiovascular events, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in The Lancet.
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First U.S. Case of Locally Acquired Zika Described
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In a case study from the University of Miami, and published online Jan. 11 in the New England Journal of Medicine, doctors provide new insight into the Zika virus, showing fetal exposure doesn’t necessarily mean infection.
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New Comprehensive Report Looks at Benefits, Harms of Cannabis
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Current medical science has proven there are legitimate medical uses for marijuana and cannabis-derived drugs, according to a new report — The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids — published Jan. 12 by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
CDC: Higher Risk of Death From Leading Causes in Rural America
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Americans who live in rural areas have a higher risk of death from five leading causes than people who live in urban locations, according to research published in the Jan. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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fMRI May Be Better Way to Map Brain Prior to Epilepsy Surgery
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) might help doctors protect critical areas of the brain before surgery to treat epilepsy, according to new guidelines published online Jan. 11 in Neurology.
Low Serum Vitamin D Linked to Frequent Headache in Men
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) is associated with frequent headache in middle-aged and older men, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in Scientific Reports.
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No Cognitive Benefit for Long-Term Lifestyle Intervention
THURSDAY, Jan. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For overweight and obese adults with diabetes mellitus, a long-term intensive lifestyle intervention does not offer cognitive benefits, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Migraineurs May Face Higher Risk of Stroke After Surgery
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Migraine sufferers may face a slightly higher risk of stroke after an operation, according to research published online Jan. 10 in The BMJ.
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Vagus Nerve Might Play a Role in Fighting Inflammatory Disease
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Paired cervical vagus nerve stimulation (cVNS) with kilohertz electrical stimulation (KES) nerve block can preferentially activate efferent pathways, enhancing the anti-inflammatory benefits of cVNS, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in Scientific Reports.
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Excessive FDA Regulation Driving High Drug Prices
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The excessive regulatory regime at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is an important driver of high drug prices, and should be curbed to introduce more competition and lower prices, according to a report published online Jan. 5 by the National Center for Policy Analysis.
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Global Rates of Hypertension on the Rise
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The global rate of hypertension and prehypertension rose significantly between 1990 and 2015, according to a report published in the Jan. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Decline in MRSA Infection Rates in Veterans Affairs Facilities
TUESDAY, Jan. 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) rates decreased through September 2015 in Veterans Affairs facilities, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
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Many Ischemic Stroke Survivors Not Prescribed Anticoagulants
TUESDAY, Jan. 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many patients surviving ischemic stroke are not discharged with an oral anticoagulant (OAC), according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Continuing Warfarin Protective After Diagnosis of Dementia
FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For veterans receiving warfarin for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, continuing warfarin after a diagnosis of dementia is associated with a protective effect in prevention of stroke and mortality, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Fibromyalgia Symptoms Improve With CoQ10 Supplementation
FRIDAY, Jan. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with fibromyalgia (FM), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation is associated with improvement in clinical symptoms, according to a letter to the editor published online Jan. 4 in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.
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Dementia Risk Up for Those Living Near Major Roads
THURSDAY, Jan. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — People who live relatively close to busy traffic have a slightly higher risk for dementia, according to research published online Jan. 4 in The Lancet.
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Further Evidence Mediterranean Diet Ups Brain Health in Seniors
THURSDAY, Jan. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The heart-healthy Mediterranean diet may also help preserve brain health in older adults, according to research published online Jan. 4 in Neurology.
Respiratory Muscle Strength Can Predict Survival in ALS
THURSDAY, Jan. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Respiratory muscle strength assessments can predict survival or ventilator-free survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to research published online Dec. 30 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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Major Zika Outbreak Considered Unlikely in the United States
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The Zika virus is not likely to gain a foothold in the United States as it did in Brazil and other Latin American countries, according to a report published in the Jan. 3 issue of the Journal of Medical Entomology.
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Conventional Trials Can’t Detect Heterogeneity in BP Tx Effects
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Conventional clinical trials are unable to detect clinically important heterogeneity in intensive blood pressure (BP) treatment effects, according to a modeling study published online Jan. 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Caregiver Phone Support Ups Use of Community Resources
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A telephone-delivered psychosocial intervention for dementia caregivers increases use of community resources and reduces caregiver use of hospital-based health care resources, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Maternal, Paternal Obesity Tied to Childhood Development Delays
TUESDAY, Jan. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Maternal and paternal obesity are associated with delays in early childhood development, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in Pediatrics.
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