Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehabilitation.
Research
Earliest-yet Alzheimer’s biomarker found
A surge of a neural-specific protein in the brain is the earliest-yet biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease, report University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers studying a mouse model of the disease. The study also found that increased protein activity leads to the seizures associated with the earliest stages of neurodegeneration, and inhibiting the protein in the mice slows the onset and progression of seizure activity.
MS patients at almost double the risk of seizures
A new study which examined data from over 50,000 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) found that those with the condition are nearly twice as likely to experience seizures compared to people without MS.
Stroke risk in sleep apnea
The risk of stroke tied to sleep apnea may vary for Black people and white people, according to a study published in Neurology®. The study found that white people diagnosed with sleep apnea, whether or not they used a continuous positive airway pressure machine (CPAP), were at increased risk for stroke. White people who were at high risk for sleep apnea but had not been diagnosed with the condition were also at increased risk for stroke. The study did not find an increased risk of stroke in Black people meeting these same criteria.
Racial disparities in genetic testing
Genetic testing has become a more common way to diagnose and manage many neurologic conditions including dementia, Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, but a new study has found not everyone may have the same level of access to these tests. Black people were half as likely as white people to be evaluated for genetic testing, according to a study published in Neurology®.
Company updates
BlueRock stem-cell therapy continues to show promise in Parkinson’s
BlueRock Therapeutics announced details from the phase I clinical trial for bemdaneprocel, an investigational allogeneic stem cell derived cell therapy for treating Parkinson’s disease. At 18 months the treatment continues to be well tolerated with no major safety issues and exploratory clinical endpoints improved compared to baseline assessments.
$3.1m for spinal cord injury research
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has received three new spinal cord injury research grants totaling $3.1 million. The grants support clinical trials and research tools aimed at accelerating the therapeutic development of SCI treatments, led by Neurorestore and Pyschogenics.
Opportunity Project launches brain injury awareness campaign
Opportunity Project, a programme for adults with brain injuries who are seeking the next step in their journey of recovery, has launched its annual Brain Injury Awareness Month campaign.
Oragenics prepares drug candidate for clinical trials
Oragenics is preparing to undertake the final steps of GMP manufacturing and formulation of its drug candidate for its expected Phase IIA clinical trial. The drug candidate is expected to be combined with its novel intranasal device, for the treatment of mild Traumatic Brain Injury, aka concussion.
Technology
Doctors can now watch spinal cord activity during surgery
With technology developed at UC Riverside, scientists can, for the first time, make high resolution images of the human spinal cord during surgery. The advancement could help bring real relief to millions suffering chronic back pain.
New tool provides ‘unprecedented’ insights into the brain
A new tool developed by researchers at Rockefeller University is able to capture data from one million neurons simultaneously, painting a much fuller picture of brain dynamics than has previously been available.
