Latest Conference Coverage

Ongoing Therapeutic Developments for Movement Disorders: Saar Anis, MD

When asked about developments, the neurologist and movement disorders specialist at Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center in Israel commented on the need to identify disease-modifying therapies. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

The Glymphatic System and Sleep Cycle’s Role in Dementia Risk

At the Third International Congress on the Future of Neurology, experts in the care of sleep medicine offered insight into sleep and the glymphatic system’s roles in the development of dementias.

Survey Finds Barriers to Access, Availability of Genetic Testing for Parkinson Disease

Data were collected from the MDS’s membership worldwide, assessing current practices, concerns, and barriers to genetic testing.

Dance Class Intervention Safe for Patients With Parkinson Disease

Data found that synchronic dance classes conducted through Zoom may be particularly effective for patients who live remotely.

Understanding the Use of Medical Cannabis for Movement Disorders: Saar Anis, MD

Following his presentation at the MDS Society Virtual Congress 2021, the neurologist and movement disorders specialist at Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center discussed his views on the use of medical cannabis. [WATCH TIME: 3 minutes]

Treatment With SAGE-324/BIIB124 Reduces Upper Limb Tremor Score

Patients were evaluated at day 29 for change in TETRAS item 4 score change from baseline.

Future Research into Medical Cannabis for Dystonia: Saar Anis, MD

Next steps for medical cannabis will need to include how cannabinoids affect the brain, according to the neurologist and movement disorders specialist at Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center in Israel.

Genetic Testing Cost for Huntington Disease Nonstandard Across Centers of Excellence

A study from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Virtual Congress suggest that despite protocol adherence, average costs are moderately high and vary significantly.

Improving Care in Dystonia via Medical Cannabis: Saar Anis, MD

The neurologist and movement disorders specialist at Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center in Israel discussed future use of medical cannabis and concerns for psychiatric adverse effects.

Efficacy of Medical Cannabis for the Treatment of Dystonia: Saar Anis, MD

The neurologist and movement disorders specialist at Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center in Israel outlined the small, retrospective study, shedding light on its findings.

Noncontact Boxing Exercise Assessed for Parkinson Disease Benefit

The FIGHT-PD study is expected to complete and read out interim results before the end of 2021. It aims to assess the exercise program’s safety, tolerability, and efficacy in Parkinson disease.

State of Care for Patients With Parkinson Disease: William Ondo, MD

The professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medical School commented on the available treatments for Parkinson disease, as well as ongoing therapeutic development.

Home Health DBS Management Proves Feasible for Parkinson Disease

Patients who underwent deep brain stimulation procedures that were managed postoperatively in the home reported significantly fewer clinic visits with similar MDS-UPDRS scores to standard of care.

Medical Cannabis Improves Related Pain, Symptoms of Dystonia

Investigators noted the psychiatric adverse effects of treatment with medical cannabis, requiring patient monitoring after initiation.

Prasinezumab Shows Potential Effect of Delaying Motor Progression in Parkinson Disease

Despite not meeting the primary end point, those in the early-start group showed reduced change from baseline in MDS-UPDRS-III scores compared with the delayed-start group at both weeks 52 and 104.

COVID-19 Stressors Associated With Poorer Mental Health in Parkinson Disease

Data from the PRIME-NL study showed stressors resulting from the pandemic impacted depression, anxiety, and quality of life.

Opicapone Demonstrates Small Benefit for Sleep in Parkinson Disease

Improvements in mean total amount of time and percentage of participants that were awake suggested limited effect with opicapone (Ogentys; Neurocrine Bio).

Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Apomorphine Sublingual Film: William Ondo, MD

The director of the Movements Disorders Clinic at Houston Methodist Neurological Institute discussed data presented at the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society Virtual Congress 2021.

ND0612 Subcutaneous Levodopa Delivery System Demonstrates Efficacy in Phase 2 Setting

Patients with Parkinson disease in both the 24-hour and 16-hour ND0612 dosing regimen groups had ON-state UPDRS-motor scores and UPDRS-ADL scores improve over the 12-month period.

Brisk Walking Exercise Improves Nonmotor Parkinson Disease Symptoms

Data from MDS 2021 suggest that a 6-week brisk walking program can improve MDS-UPDRS nonmotor scores significantly compared to standard stretching interventions.

Cervical Dystonia Subtype, Severity Impacts OnabotulinumtoxinA Utilization

Torticollis was the most common predominant cervical dystonia presentation subtype at injection 1, followed by laterocollis.

Aducanumab’s Implications for Future Clinical Trials: Pierre N. Tariot, MD

In addition to his work study pimavanserin in treating dementia-related psychosis, the director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute commented on the potential for aducanumab in Alzheimer disease.

Biomarkers, Tech Advances to Improve Alzheimer Disease Prevention: Pierre N. Tariot, MD

The director of Banner Alzheimer’s Institute spoke on the importance of biomarkers in Alzheimer disease, as well as the ongoing improvements in digital technologies.

Conducting Alzheimer Disease Trials Remotely: Pierre N. Tariot, MD

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, investigators are seeing a shift towards remote trials in an effort to avoid participants having to be in-person at a brick-and-mortar site.

Addressing Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Alzheimer Disease

Jacobo Mintzer, MD, MPA, discussed a wide range of Alzheimer disease related topics, including the use of methylphenidate, reactions to AAIC, and the aducanumab approval.

The State of Alzheimer Disease Trials: Pierre N. Tariot, MD

The director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute discussed areas of success and those facing challenges for Alzheimer disease clinical trials.

Innovative Alzheimer Prevention Research at IFN 2021: Richard Isaacson, MD

The director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic at Weill Cornell Medicine discussed the topics and ideas that clinicians should look forward to at the 2021 International Congress on the Future of Neurology.

Rachelle S. Doody, MD, PhD, on DIAN-TU Study Analysis, Additional Insights on Gantenerumab and Crenezumab

The global head of Neurodegeneration at Roche/Genentech offered her insights on additional analysis of the DIAN-TU trial of gantenerumab and perspectives on biomarker data.

Understanding Biomarker Trends in Alzheimer via Roche’s NeuroToolKit

The toolkit’s assays contain several biomarkers, including Aß 1-42, Aß 1-40, α-syn, GFAP, IL-6, neurogranin, NfL, phosphotau181, S100B, sTREM2, total tau, and YKL-40.

Public Misconceptions About Dementia: James E. Galvin, MD, MPH

The director of the Comprehensive Center for Brain Health at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine discussed the real-world level of dementia education and where it needs improvement.