Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Neurology for December 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Low-Priced Generic Drugs Most Likely to Have Shortages
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The lowest-priced generic drugs are more likely to experience shortages, according to a study published in the November issue of Value in Health.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Targeted Muscle Reinnervation Can Reduce Phantom Limb Pain
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of primary targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) can prevent or reduce pain in below-the-knee amputees, according to a report published online Dec. 27 in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Oculomotor Response to Head Impacts Studied in Youth Football
THURSDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Near point of convergence (NPC) values change in response to subconcussive head impacts but begin to normalize over time in high school football players, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Initiative Can Cut Gender Gap in Medical School Faculty Salaries
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An institutional gender equity initiative (GEI) can reduce gender-based salary gaps among medical school faculty, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
Study IDs Risk Factors for Violent Sleep Disorder
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is more common among men, as well as those with psychological distress, mental illness, or posttraumatic stress disorder, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Risk of Arterial Thromboembolic Events Up Prior to Cancer Diagnosis
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In older adults, the risk of arterial thromboembolic events begins to increase 150 days before the date of cancer diagnosis and peaks 30 days before, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in Blood.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
ACOG: Interpregnancy Period Should Maximize Women’s Health
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Providers should maximize women’s health during the interpregnancy period, continuing care beyond the immediate postpartum period, according to a consensus report published online Dec. 20 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA Warns Companies on Unsafe, Unapproved Stem Cell Treatments
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After infections tied to unapproved stem cell treatments sent 12 people to the hospital this past year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a stern warning about the products.
Mental, Behavior, Developmental Disorders Up With Low-Income
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Children in lower-income households more often receive a diagnosis of mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders (MBDDs), according to research published in the Dec. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Incident Concussion 5.1 Percent Per Season for Youth Football
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The athlete-level incidence of concussion is 5.1 percent per season for American football players aged 5 to 14 years, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Number of People With Dementia Rose Twofold From 1990 to 2016
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of people living with dementia worldwide more than doubled from 1990 to 2016, according to a study published online Nov. 26 in The Lancet Neurology.
Age, BMI Predict Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment Success
FRIDAY, Dec. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with obstructive sleep apnea, older age and reduced body mass index (BMI) are predictors of upper airway stimulation (UAS) treatment response, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in the European Respiratory Journal.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Growth in Use of Telemedicine Seen From 2005 to 2017
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 to 2017, there was a substantial increase in telemedicine use, although use was still uncommon in 2017, according to a research letter published online Nov. 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Affordable Care Act Sign-Ups Higher Than Expected
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite numerous difficulties, early figures show that sign-ups for health coverage next year under the Affordable Care Act are higher than expected.
OCT Imaging Needle Can Detect Blood Vessels in Neurosurgery
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A miniaturized optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging needle can detect blood vessels intraoperatively in the human brain in vivo, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in Science Advances.
Restrictive, Obstructive Lung Disease Linked to Dementia Risk
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Both restrictive and obstructive lung disease are associated with an increased risk for incident dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Global Lifetime Risk for Stroke About 25 Percent in 2016
THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The global lifetime risk for stroke was 24.9 percent among adults aged 25 years and older in 2016, according to a study published in the Dec. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Exercise Promotes Executive Functioning in Sedentary Adults
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For sedentary adults at risk for cognitive decline, aerobic exercise (AE) is associated with significant improvement in executive functioning, according to a study published online Dec. 19 in Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
FDA Advisory Panels: Prescribe Naloxone With Opioid Painkillers
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The labels of prescription opioid painkillers should advise doctors to consider simultaneously prescribing the opioid overdose antidote naloxone, two U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panels recommend.
Food Allergy Linked to Increased Multiple Sclerosis Activity
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), food allergy is associated with a greater number of attacks and with a higher likelihood of gadolinium-enhancing lesions, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Several Factors Tied to Early Readmission After Hip Fracture Sx
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Several comorbidities are associated with an increased risk for early readmission after hip fracture surgery, according to a study recently published in Injury.
Modifying Criteria for Amnestic MCI Dx Increases Prognostic Accuracy
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Modifying diagnostic criteria to require impairment on at least two memory tests for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis can improve prediction of medial temporal atrophy and conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to a study published online Dec. 4 in Brain Imaging and Behavior.
Endocrine Tx Does Not Impair Neuropsychological Performance
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For early-stage breast cancer survivors, endocrine therapy (ET) appears to have no effect on neuropsychological performance or impairment over six years of follow-up, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in Cancer.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Cognitive Decline Similar After Cardiac Surgery, Catheterization
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, declines in memory after heart surgery and cardiac catheterization are similar, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Palliative Care in MS Inpatients Rises From 2005 to 2014
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 to 2014, trends in palliative care use increased substantially among multiple sclerosis (MS) inpatients, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Exclusion of Doctors From Public Health Insurance Up 2007 to 2017
TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2007 to 2017, the number of physicians excluded from Medicare and state public insurance programs increased, according to a study published online Dec. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
Type 2 Diabetes Risk Lower in Women With Active Migraine
MONDAY, Dec. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women with active migraine have a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in JAMA Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Solriamfetol Feasible for Sleep Apnea-Related Tiredness
MONDAY, Dec. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Solriamfetol therapy, compared with placebo, results in improvements in wakefulness and sleepiness measures in patients with excessive sleepiness due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study published online Dec. 6 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Dementia Often Misclassified With Brief Cognitive Assessments
THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — When using brief cognitive assessments, dementia is often misclassified, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in Neurology Clinical Practice.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Persistent Discrimination ID’d Among Physician Mothers
FRIDAY, Dec. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physician mothers experience discrimination in a range of ways, which can impact the medical profession, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in The BMJ.
T2DM Linked to Decline in Verbal Memory, Fluency in Older Adults
FRIDAY, Dec. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Type 2 diabetes is associated with declines in verbal memory and fluency among older community-dwelling adults, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in Diabetologia.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Certain Sites of Brain Lesions in MS Tied to Bowel Incontinence
FRIDAY, Dec. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Specific locations of cerebral multiple sclerosis lesions appear to be associated with bowel incontinence, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in the Journal of Neuroimaging.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Dementia Risk Up in Women With Military-Linked Risk Factors
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women with military-related risk factors have an increased risk for developing dementia, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Medication Errors Resulting in Death Most Common in Elderly
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medication errors in acute care that result in death occur most often in patients older than 75 years, with the most common error category being omitted medicine or ingredient, according to a study published online Nov. 22 in Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy.
Enrollment Under the Affordable Care Act Down From Last Year
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is down with just days left to sign up, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
2017 Saw Slowing in National Health Care Spending
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — National health care spending slowed in 2017, according to a report published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Case Numbers of U.S. Children With Polio-Like Illness Hit Record High
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There has been a record number of cases of a rare paralyzing illness among children in the United States this year, according to health officials.
AP News Article
More Information
U.S. Medical Schools See Increase in Diversity
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After implementation of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) diversity accreditation standards, U.S. medical schools saw increasing percentages of female, black, and Hispanic matriculants, according to a research letter published in the Dec. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Paid Childbearing Policies Lacking for Residents
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Policies for paid childbearing or family leave for residents are lacking at top-ranking medical schools and may be exacerbated by lack of direction from specialty boards, according to two research letters published in the Dec. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract/Full Text – Magudia (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Varda/Glover (subscription or payment may be required)
Intellectual Engagement Linked to Cognitive Performance Later
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Intellectual engagement is associated with level of cognitive performance in later life but does not influence the trajectory of age-related decline in cognitive performance, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in The BMJ.
Patients May Become Immune to Botulinum Toxin Treatments
TUESDAY, Dec. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — About 15 percent of patients treated with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) for dystonia or spasticity can develop an immune response to the treatment itself, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in Neurology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Risk Up for Later-Born Siblings of Children With ASD, ADHD
Low Levels of Placental Growth Factor in Pregnancy Linked to Subsequent ADHD in Offspring .jpg)
Time-Restricted Eating Shows Possible Benefits for Patients With Huntington Disease 
Past Blast Exposure Tied to Long-Term Chronic Medical Diagnoses in Veterans 
Women With Cerebral Palsy Receive Less Preventive Gynecological Care 
People With ADHD Experience 50 Percent More GI Symptoms 
1 in 4 Former NFL Players Had CTE at Death in 2016 to 2021 
Many With Atypical Alzheimer Disease Do Not Qualify for Anti-Amyloid Therapy 
Frequent TV Watching Linked to Smaller Brain Volume 
.jpg)
