Neurology News and Research

Latest Neurology News and Research

AAN neurologist receives prestigious award at Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum

The American Academy of Neurology(AAN) has named neurologist Constantine Moschonas, MD, of Scottsdale, Ariz., as the AAN Donald M. Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum Advocate of the Year. Moschonas received his award at the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum on January 14, 2012, in Austin, Texas, for his outstanding work in raising awareness about brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, autism, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.

17 Jan 2012

Hot yoga practicing tips

Yoga is one of the hottest fitness trends and a style known as "hot yoga" is gaining in popularity. Hot yoga refers to yoga practiced in a heated environment, with the room temperature generally reaching 90 to 105 degrees. The theory behind it is that hot yoga helps the body to sweat out toxins while allowing the practitioner to safely achieve deeper poses. Bikram is a common form of hot yoga.

17 Jan 2012

Arm sling or cast use after injury may cause rapid brain shift

Using a sling or cast after injuring an arm may cause your brain to shift quickly to adjust, according to a study published in the January 17, 2012, print issue of Neurology-, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

17 Jan 2012

Memory boosters for seniors – vitamin B12 and folic acid: Study

Australian researchers have stumbled upon findings that show that taking folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements can prevent memory loss in people over 60.

15 Jan 2012

Heavy drinking may reinforce itself by stimulating endorphin release: Study

A new study has shown that drinking alcohol causes a pleasant feeling because it releases endorphins, the brain’s natural opioids. It adds that problem drinkers differ from social drinkers in the way alcohol affects one part of the brain. The report appeared Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine.

15 Jan 2012

Lack of iron early in life can affect brain's physical structure

Iron is a popular topic in health news. Doctors prescribe it for medical reasons, and it's available over the counter as a dietary supplement. And while it's known that too little iron can result in cognitive problems, it's also known that too much promotes neurodegenerative diseases. Now, researchers at UCLA have found that in addition to causing cognitive problems, a lack of iron early in life can affect the brain's physical structure as well.

12 Jan 2012

Drinking alcohol leads to release of endorphins in the brain

Drinking alcohol leads to the release of endorphins in areas of the brain that produce feelings of pleasure and reward, according to a study led by researchers at the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco.

12 Jan 2012

DBS safe and effective for patients with advanced Parkinson's

Researchers from the University of Florida and 14 additional medical centers reported results today in the online version of The Lancet Neurology journal indicating that deep brain stimulation - also known as DBS - is effective at improving motor symptoms and quality of life in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.

12 Jan 2012

Nicotine patches may help individuals with early memory loss

Star Scientific, Inc. - A study released in the January 9th issue of the Journal of Neurology suggests that nicotine patches may help individuals with early memory loss.

11 Jan 2012

Springer, Belgian Neurological Society collaborate to publish Acta Neurologica Belgica

Springer and the Belgian Neurological Society will collaborate to publish the journal Acta Neurologica Belgica (ANB). Founded in 1900, ANB is the second-oldest neurological publication in Europe. The first volume with Springer, Vol. 112, No. 1, will be published in March 2012. It was formerly published by Publications Acta Medica Belgica.

11 Jan 2012

UCLA researchers identify chemical changes in brains of patients with early-onset Alzheimer's

With a lack of effective treatments for Alzheimer's, most of us would think long and hard about whether we wanted to know years in advance if we were genetically predisposed to develop the disease. For researchers, however, such knowledge is a window into Alzheimer's disease's evolution.

11 Jan 2012

Nicotine patch may help those with mild dementia

The nicotine patch designed to help people quit smoking can also improve memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, a small clinical trial found.

10 Jan 2012

Study finds no support for primary pathogenic role of LBs in PD

The pathology of Parkinson's disease is characterized by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra (SN), an area of the brain associated with motor control, along with the development of α-synuclein (αS) protein in the form of Lewy bodies (LB) in the neurons that survive. The spread of LB pathology is thought to progress along with the clinical course of Parkinson's disease, although recent studies suggest that they are not the toxic cause of cell death.

10 Jan 2012

Nicotine patch may help improve mild memory loss in older adults

Using a nicotine patch may help improve mild memory loss in older adults, according to a study published in the January 10, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Jan 2012

Experts want young athletes to become more aware of warning signs of concussion

Concussion in youth sports is a serious issue, as young athletes' brains are more susceptible to injuries. These injuries can become more serious as players suffer repeated incidents. Sports related concussions have generated a significant amount of attention, with numerous well-known school and professional athletes out of the game due to concussion.

10 Jan 2012

AAN, Wolters Kluwer Health announce launch of Neurology Today for the iPad

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and Wolters Kluwer Health today announced the launch of Neurology Today for the iPad, a digital app of the most widely read newspaper for neurologists.

10 Jan 2012

Nicotine patch may boost memory in individuals with MCI

Wearing a nicotine patch may help improve memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, according to a study published today in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Jan 2012

The sharpness of the brain dulls beyond 45: Study

Researchers from the Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health in France and University College London in the UK studied more than 7,000 people over a 10-year period and show the brain's capacity for memory, reasoning and comprehension starts waning in middle age rather than in the 60s.

9 Jan 2012

Scientists identify two genes involved in major symptoms of MeCP2 duplication disorder

The anxiety and behavioral issues associated with excess MeCP2 protein result from overexpression of two genes (Crh [corticotropin-releasing hormone] and Oprm 1 [mu-opioid receptor MOR 1]), which may point the way to treating these problems in patients with too much of the protein, said Baylor of Medicine scientists in a report that appears online in the journal Nature Genetics.

8 Jan 2012

Questcor reports record vial shipments of Acthar in fourth quarter 2011

In preparation for meetings starting Monday, January 9 with investors and an investor presentation scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 12 at the J. P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced preliminary operating metrics for the fourth quarter 2011.

7 Jan 2012