Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehabilitation.
Research
Concussion alters connectivity
A new study comparing brain connectivity before concussion, in the immediate wake of it, and during recovery from it, found that the connections among certain brain regions actually strengthened in the aftermath of concussion, even as others weakened — and that some of those changes correlated with symptoms often accompanying concussion. The findings could help reveal how brain networks recalibrate their balance of cooperation and specialisation following a concussion, the researchers said.
New findings improve MS risk prediction
New research has shown for the first time that combining genetic risk for MS with demographic factors significantly improves MS risk prediction in people. According to the findings, young people could be spared from going blind by a new genetic risk tool that could also help diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) earlier and enable them to start effective treatments.
Call for predictive approach to stroke care
In order to determine the risk of stroke at an early stage, Professor Olga Golubnitschaja, head of the research group for 3P (predictive, preventive and personalised) medicine at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) with authors from 25 institutions around the globe, has developed a holistic approach to health risk assessment associated with targeted prevention and individualised treatment algorithms. The concept aims to help prevent strokes and focuses on ‘predictive’ rather than ‘reactive’ medicine. Read the full article here
Technology
Novel brain model to advance Alzheimer’s research
Scientists have created a novel organoid model of the human brain—a three-dimensional collection of cells that mimics features of human tissues—that contains mature, functional astrocytes. With this, researchers will be able to study inflammation and stress in ageing and diseases like Alzheimer’s with greater clarity and depth.
Company updates
UK Neurological Rehabilitation Centre expansion
The new Neurological Rehabilitation Centre opened its doors to the public in Doncaster on Wednesday 28 February. The business offers technology-led neurological rehabilitation programmes for adults and children with neurological impairments, difficulties or disabilities due to conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’ and cerebral palsy.
PharmAust completes Phase 1 trial
A Phase 1 trial into the effects of clinical-stage biotech company PharmAust’s lead candidate, monepantel (MPL), on patients with motor neurone disease MND / amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has delivered top-line results to establish the safety, tolerability and PK parameters of MPL when administered orally to patients.
Alpha Cognition files new patent application
Alpha Cognition, a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, has filed a new patent that secures broad protection for its lead asset, ALPHA-1062, currently under review by the FDA for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s Disease.
Volta Medical secures approval in Europe
Volta Medical has announced CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark according to the new European Medical Device Regulation MDR 2017/745 for its Volta AF-Xplorer™, an AI companion that is cleared in the United States for the real-time manual or automatic annotation of spatiotemporal dispersions during atrial fibrillation and atrial tachycardia (AT) procedures.
Argá Medtech raises €54m
Argá Medtech, a company developing a next-generation cardiac ablation system for treating cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (AF), has announced the closure of a €54 million oversubscribed Series B funding round. The financing enables the development of its innovative CSE™ Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) system for treating AF.
