Thursday, February 1, 2024

A gut feeling about Parkinson’s disease

By the time patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) notice tremors and visit a neurologist, the disease has progressed into their central nervous systems. Gut-related symptoms, such as constipation and weight loss resulting from the loss of enteric neurons—a hallmark of PD—can appear 20 years prior to severe neurological symptoms, but why the neurons die is not clear. 

In a recent study published in Neuron, scientists reported that CD4 T cells in the gut drive enteric neuron loss by attacking alpha-synuclein, the protein that aggregates in the brains of people with Parkinson’s. These findings could pave the way for early detection of PD and development of immunotherapies. Click here to learn more.

Safety and efficacy of laquinimod for Huntington's disease

Laquinimod, a novel immunomodulatory agent, modulates CNS inflammatory pathways thought to be involved in the pathology of Huntington's disease. A team of researchers led by Ralf Reilmann, founder of the George Huntington Institute in Münster, Germany, aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of laquinimod in improving motor function and reducing caudate volume loss in patients with Huntington's disease.

The multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 study was conducted at 48 sites across ten countries: Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, UK, and the United States. While Laquinimod did not show a significant effect on motor symptoms assessed by the UHDRS-TMS, it significantly reduced caudate volume loss compared with placebo at week 52. Click here to learn more.

U.S. military members now eligible for focused ultrasound treatment reimbursement for ET

The Defense Health Agency, under the U.S. Department of Defense, has approved reimbursement for all Tricare members–both active and retired–and their covered dependents for focused ultrasound treatment for essential tremor. "We are thrilled to extend our services to the brave men and women of the military," said Maurice R. Ferré, M.D., CEO and chairman of the board of Insightec, who pioneered the incisionless treatment option. Click here to learn more.

Brain pathway lends fresh insight into the neural mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases

New findings published in Nature Neuroscience have shed light on a mysterious pathway between the basal ganglia—the reward center of the brain that is key to how we form habits—and the cerebellum, where nearly three-quarters of the brain’s neurons reside and assist in motor learning. Researchers say the connection between the two regions may lend fresh insight into the neural mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Click here to learn more.

Selective denervation for cervical dystonia

In a recent video, Megan M.J. Bauman, MS, Nikita Lakomkin, MD, and Robert J. Spinner, MD, present the case of a 41-year-old man with severe right rotational torticollis due to predominant right cervical paraspinal and left sternocleidomastoid muscle hyperactivity. Following failed medical management, the patient elected to undergo surgical treatment for his cervical dystonia.

The authors discuss the steps of selective denervation using a modified Bertrand procedure, highlighting the associated anatomy and surgical planes. At the 1.5-year follow-up, the patient had no pain and his head position remained straight. Click here to view the video.