Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehabilitation.
Research
Potential therapeutic target for neurodegeneration
Scientists at the University of Zurich have developed an innovative neural cell culture model, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. Their research has pinpointed a misbehaving protein as a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
Blood test predicts functional outcome after stroke
The findings of a study from the University of Gothenburg, show that an ultra-sensitive blood test that reflects brain damage after acute ischemic stroke can also predict functional outcome. While larger studies are needed to validate the results, the discovery is expected to be of great significance in the future.
Air pollution linked to more signs of Alzheimer’s
People with higher exposure to traffic-related air pollution were more likely to have high amounts of amyloid plaques in their brains associated with Alzheimer’s disease after death, according to a study. Researchers looked at fine particulate matter, PM2.5, which consists of pollutant particles of less than 2.5 microns in diameter suspended in air.
Potential pathways to MND treatment
For the first time, researchers from The University of Queensland have mapped out the proteins implicated in the early stages of motor neurone disease (MND). Dr Rebecca San Gil from Associate Professor Adam Walker’s lab at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute has developed a longitudinal map of the proteins involved in MND across the trajectory of the disease, identifying potential therapeutic pathways for further investigation.
Technology
NHS rolls out wearable for Parkinson’s
Hundreds of NHS patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease are set to benefit from a portable drug infusion that is gradually released around-the-clock to help better control their symptoms.
The treatment, known as foslevodopa–foscarbidopa, will now offer an additional option for certain patients experiencing movement-related symptoms and whose condition is no longer responding to their oral medicines.
AI helps spot early risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease
UC San Francisco scientists have found a way to predict Alzheimer’s Disease up to seven years before symptoms appear by analyzing patient records with machine learning. The conditions that most influenced prediction of Alzheimer’s were high cholesterol and, for women, the bone-weakening disease osteoporosis.
App significantly improves speech in stroke patients
A new app that provides speech therapy for people with the language disorder aphasia has been found to significantly improve their ability to talk. iTalkBetter, developed by the Neurotherapeutics Group at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, provides users the digital platform to practice over 200 commonly used words, in their own time and without any limits on the amount of therapy they receive.
Company updates
Olatec Therapeutics
Olatec Therapeutics has been awarded a grant from Cure Parkinson’s to conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial investigating the potential of oral dapansutrile to slow or stop the progression of the disease.
ClearPoint secures FDA clearance for brain model
ClearPoint Neuro has announced FDA Clearance and the first-in-human cases using its integrated Maestro Brain Modeling ClearPoint 2.2 Software. It has also published a key validation study for its ClearPoint Maestro® Brain Model in the peer-reviewed journal NeuroImage.
Zynex launches new products to enhance patient care
Zynex has launched the Pro Hybrid LSO, presented as a three-in-one spinal brace with a modular design to meet various patient requirements. In addition, the Zynex DynaComp Cold Compression offers portable cold therapy and compression, targeting muscle soreness, swelling, and inflammation.
ZyVersa Therapeutics’ white paper on inflammasomes
A growing body of evidence supports that activation of more than one type of inflammasome contributes to development of common neurological diseases, and that extracellular ASC specks are involved in disease progression.
The new white paper summarises the preclinical research of leading experts, demonstrating that Inflammasome ASC Inhibitor IC 100 crosses the blood brain barrier, and that it displays strong pharmacologic and mechanistic proof-of-concept in a variety of neurological conditions.
