Category: News

Eight open-label studies and four placebo-controlled studies addressed this question. Seven of the eight open-label showed improvement in motor symptoms, but the placebo-controlled studies were all negative. A new study was presented at the 4th World Parkinson Congress by Gabriel Villafane. It involved high doses (90 mg per day) of transdermal nicotine and measured the… Read more »

This measures neurofilament-light chain levels. They are a maker to neuroaxonal damage, as the neurofilaments function as a lattice for axons. In the past, lumbar puncture was needed. Now, a blood test has been developed. This studied patients undergoing treatment with fingolimod. Another study involved patients treated with natalizumab. With treatment, levels of the neurofilament-light… Read more »

Essential tremor is common, thought to affect 1 in 10 people over the age of 70, and may be severe, causing significant functional disability. It is difficult to treat. Available medications reduce tremor only partly and do not work in a significant number of patients. Further, they may have adverse effects. They include mainly beta-blockers,… Read more »

Botox is the only approved prophylactic chronic migraine medication, although anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, and beta-blockers are often used off-label in chronic migraine, whereas several are on-label for episodic migraine. More effective treatment for chronic migraine is a great unmet need. Vagal nerve stimulation is approved for epilepsy and depression. Anecdotal reports of epilepsy patients treated… Read more »

Many patients with migraine use “complementary and alternative medicine” and often do not discuss this with their physicians. There have been guidelines from various professional societies, and recommendations often conflict. The greatest number of studies has been done with riboflavin, coenzyme Q10, magnesium, butterbur, feverfew, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Nutraceuticals are lightly regulated by… Read more »

There are now 4 monoclonal antibodies that block calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its receptor in clinical trials. A post-hoc analysis of a phase II trial, which was reported in Lancet Neurology, November 2015, and showed positive results, now found that the highest dose of the medication shows an effect within the first 3 days… Read more »

New daily persistent headache is a diagnosis seen frequently at headache centers. These are patients with no previous history of headache who recall a particular day when they developed a headache which has never improved. They are usually seen several months later after they have had normal neuroimaging and been treated with analgesics. In a… Read more »

Certainly, not by multiple sclerosis patients or their physicians. The more MS treatments that are available, the more complicated and confusing is the tiered system of drug prices. A pharmacy benefit provider contracted by an insurer is allowed to decide what is “preferred,” “nonpreferred,” or “not covered.” These decisions are made solely on the basis… Read more »

A new study has shown that men but not women who have higher urate concentrations had a lower future risk of developing Parkinson’s. It suggested that urate could be protective against risk for Parkinson’s and possibly could slow disease progression during the preclinical stage. Urate is an antioxidant. Several studies have shown that patients with… Read more »

Several studies presented at the 2015 ECTRIMS Conference addressed the issue of how to assess treatment response after the first year, specifically whether the appearance of new MRI lesions or new relapses is reliable. At least 7 studies have shown that newly diagnosed patients, started on interferon and assessed at 1 year, have very high… Read more »