Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehab.
Research
Antipsychotics for dementia linked to more harms
Antipsychotic use in people with dementia is associated with elevated risks of a wide range of serious adverse outcomes including stroke, blood clots, heart attack, heart failure, fracture, pneumonia, and acute kidney injury, compared with non-use, finds a study published by The BMJ today.These findings show a considerably wider range of harms associated with antipsychotic use in people with dementia than previously acknowledged in regulatory alerts, with risks highest soon after starting the drugs, underscoring the need for increased caution in the early stages of treatment.
Potential solutions for obesity-induced cognitive decline
Obesity has previously been linked to cognitive decline, including conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease and understanding the complex mechanisms underlying this cognitive impairment is crucial for developing effective interventions. In a recent study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, researchers investigated the neuroprotective effects of tocotrienols (T3s) in mitigating the adverse impact of diet-induced obesity on brain function.
Cognitively stimulating occupations may help protect against later-life dementia
People with a history of cognitively stimulating occupations midlife had a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia after age 70, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, the Columbia Aging Center, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The findings highlight the importance of cognitive stimulation during midlife for maintaining cognitive function in old age. This is the first study to fully advance this association with objective assessments rather than subjective evaluations.
Study reveals potential treatment for neurological Lyme disease
Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the US, announced the publication of a laboratory study showing that fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors may be appropriate as anti-inflammatory supplementary treatment for neurological Lyme disease, for which there are no universally effective treatments.
Company updates
First Alzheimer’s patients enrolled in amyloid-targeting therapy study
Hyperfine, the company behind the first FDA-cleared portable magnetic resonance (MR) brain imaging system (Swoop®), has announced that the first patients have been enrolled in the CARE PMR (Capturing ARIA Risk Equitably with Portable MR) observational study. The study is designed to assess the clinical utility and workflow benefits of Swoop® images acquired at infusion centers and clinics to help physicians detect amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) in Alzheimer’s patients receiving amyloid-targeting therapy.
New advances in Down syndrome research
The European Wellness Biomedical Group (EWBG), in collaboration with the European Wellness Academy (EWA), the Baden Research Lab, and Heidelberg University, has announced substantial advances in Down Syndrome research, revealing new neuroanatomical insights that open the way for novel care methods.
A groundbreaking study, conducted by pioneers in bioregenerative medicine and education, uses modern MRI methods to demonstrate a link between cognitive ability and brain volume changes in people with Down Syndrome. These findings suggest that early intervention techniques enhance the quality of life for individuals afflicted.
Inhibikase Therapeutics shareholder update
In a letter to shareholders, Inhibikase Therapeutics, a company developing protein kinase inhibitor therapeutics to modify the course of Parkinson’s disease, revealed that its 201 Trial is approximately 75% enrolled, with the last patient anticipated to enter the trial in June. It is also planning an end of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA in Parkinson’s, developing Phase 3 protocols, and continues to evaluate potential pathways to initiate a Phase 2/3 trial in Multiple System Atrophy and multiple indications for which IkT-001Pro could be a novel new agent.
