Clinicians & therapists

A blood test used by an air ambulance service identified every recorded brain bleed in an initial group of patients, with results available within minutes. The handheld test measures biological markers associated with brain injury, giving emergency clinicians information about possible serious bleeding before patients reach hospital. Early findings showed that the technology correctly identified [...]

Neuren Pharmaceuticals has received orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a potential treatment for newborn brain injury. The designation covers NNZ-2591, a drug being developed to treat neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition caused by insufficient oxygen or blood flow to a baby's brain before birth or shortly afterwards. [...]

Cerebral Palsy Scotland held its 13th annual conference in Glasgow earlier in early October, exploring how earlier intervention, coordinated care and long-long term planning can provide better outcomes for those living with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition, caused by abnormal brain development or birth injury. Those with cerebral palsy often require lifelong [...]

Author: Esme Mendel-Roe, Psychology Intern, Supervised by Dr Penny Trayner, Paediatric Clinical Neuropsychologist. A critical distinction exists between a building being described as “accessible” and an individual being able to use it functionally and independently. Too often, accessibility is treated as a simple checklist: a step-free entrance, an accessible toilet, a lift. While these provisions [...]

By Anna Long, PBS lead, Acuity Care One of the significant challenges faced by individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is the alteration of mental capacity across various domains. As professionals, a key element of our role is to support the individual's safety while encouraging them to maintain as much independence as possible. Although we [...]

Stroke survivors across the US are being recruited for a Phase 3 trial testing whether home-based stroke rehabilitation can improve arm movement and reduce disability. The study builds on a decade of research showing improvements in arm movement and overall function following intensive rehabilitation at home. The new trial will assess whether adding remote exercises [...]

International experts across institutions and disciplines have proposed a fundamental shift in how traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries in adults are understood and managed.  Sandro Marini, MD, of the Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute, is a co-first author, and Saef Izzy, MD, also of the Neuroscience Institute, is one of the co-senior authors and [...]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Juvmo, a once-daily Parkinson’s pill designed to help adults manage movement symptoms. The drug, known as tavapadon, can be used alone or alongside levodopa, an established treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Clinical trials found improved movement-related scores in people with early-stage Parkinson’s. When added to levodopa, tavapadon [...]

A brief, personalised rehabilitation programme may help people with MS manage cognitive difficulties, a feasibility study suggests. Participants in the Neuropsychological Evaluation and Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (NEuRoMS) programme reported improvements in planning daily activities, using cognitive strategies and managing fatigue. The intervention was also associated with a moderate improvement in the psychological impact of [...]

By Cygnet Health Care To mark SAS Doctors Week, we are highlighting the expertise and contribution of SAS doctors working across Cygnet Health Care, including the specialist role they play in supporting patients through complex neuro-rehabilitation journeys. For Dr You Chan (Ben) Shin, acting consultant in neuropsychiatry at Cygnet Hospital Taunton, a career spanning emergency [...]