AAN

Study data from two phase 3 clinical trials announced at AAN 2014 show sustained effects one year after two years of treatment with alemtuzumab in patient with MS.

Phase 2 study results also show infants and children with spinal muscular atrophy treated with ISIS-SMNRx experienced improvements in muscle function scores, setting stage for phase 3 studies later this year.

Two-year data from the phase 3 ADVANCE study of peginterferon beta-1a in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis show that more frequent dosing yields greater improvements, and that treatment with the drug is associated with a reduction in relapse rates, slower disease progression, and fewer T2 lesions compared to placebo.

Literature review by the AAN shows that oral and oral spray forms of medical marijuana effectively treat some symptoms of MS, but there is little evidence to support efficacy in treating other neurologic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and Tourette syndrome.

Patients treated with ofatumumab, an anti-B cell antibody, for 24 weeks showed a significant reduction in disease activity, as measured by the appearance of new brain lesions.

Scientists studying patients with chronic pain have uncovered four specific genes that are associated with pain perception.

Study results to be presented at the 2014 AAN annual meeting show asymptomatic carotid stenosis may also contribute to impaired memory, cognitive function, and decision making.

Data from two studies involving drugs that target the calcitonin gene-related peptide for migraine prevention will be released at the 2014 AAN annual meeting.

Ability to differentiate between subtypes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration could accelerate research into the pathology and prevention of this disease and aid in the design of disease-modifying therapies.

Study results suggest that oxidative stress may play a direct role in the neurodegeneration that occurs in ALS.

DaTscanâ„¢ SPECT imaging can help physicians assess diagnostic category and improve diagnostic confidence for patients with dementia with Lewy bodies.

Severe neuropathic pain due to diabetic peripheral neuropathy is associated with negative health impact and increased healthcare utilization, underscoring the need for the development of safe and effective treatments.

Study results show a novel formulation of oxcarbazepine may provide long-term seizure reduction in patients with refractory epilepsy, while a separate trial produced promising results for long-term lacosamide treatment in elderly patients with partial-onset seizures.

Data presented at the 2013 AAN Annual Meeting indicate that MAP0004, which delivers dihydroergotamine (DHE) via oral inhalation, is effective in the acute treatment of severe migraine pain.

Patients with Parkinson's disease and neurogenic orthostatic hypotension treated with droxidopa showed improvements in symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness, and in systolic blood pressure.

Researchers report the monoclonal antibody solanezumab may improve cognition and activities of daily living for patients with mild Alzheimer's disease.

Study shows levetiracetam, carbamazepine, and topiramate are equally safe and effective in the treatment of adult patients with epilepsy induced by MELAS. However, valproate was found to be less effective and associated with more adverse events.

Compared with placebo, teriflunomide was shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of relapses with sequelae and relapses treated with corticosteroids in a post-hoc analysis of pivotal clinical trial data.

While phenotypes of multiple sclerosis (MS) are well-established, there remains heterogeneity among patients that fit existing clinical definitions.

Oral dimethyl fumarate (BG-12) is in development for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), though experimental evidence already suggests it may provide anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects by activating the transcription factor Nrf2.

Researchers successfully treated a patient with refractory complex regional pain syndrome by inducing a coma with ketamine and dexmedetomidine.

Study results show that intrathecal ziconotide provides significant pain relief for patients with refractory painful myelopathies and neuropathies.

Better understanding of the processes of cortical rewiring and recruitment will enable researchers to develop more effective treatments for multiple sclerosis.

Results from the multicenter SET study suggest that smoking, response to Epstein Barr virus, and other environmental factors contribute to disease progression in multiple sclerosis.

MRI studies show comorbid depression and fatigue may have an effect on gray matter atrophy in specific regions of the brain in patients with multiple sclerosis.

MRI data shows that multiple sclerosis patients with central neuropathic pain often have lesions focused in the center of the mid-thoracic spinal cord.

Electronic data can be used to create "virtual cohorts" to rapidly implement studies of MS disease activity, comorbidities, pharmacogenomics, and presymptomatic disease.

More than 90% of participants in the Therapy Optimization in Multiple Sclerosis (TOP MS) study were still on their original disease modifying therapy at one year follow-up.

Study results show that IPX066 demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile throughout extended dosing in early Parkinson's disease (PD) and during the long-term management of patients with advanced PD.

Updated guideline recommends athletes with suspected concussion "be immediately taken out of the game and not returned until assessed by a licensed health care professional trained in concussion, return to play slowly and only after all acute symptoms are gone."