Home Neurology August 2015 Briefing – Neurology

August 2015 Briefing – Neurology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Neurology for August 2015. 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.

Multidisciplinary Rehab Tops CBT for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), multidisciplinary rehabilitation treatment (MRT) is more effective for reducing fatigue than cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

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AMA: Ruling Makes It Easier for Insurers to Terminate Doctors

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The outcome of a recent case regarding the termination of physicians by an insurance company following a dispute over the necessity of medical services provided has serious implications for physicians and their patients, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Mixed Results for Cannabis Effect on Developing Brain

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The potential effect of cannabis on brain structure remains a subject of intense scientific scrutiny, but mixed results have emerged from two of the latest studies on the topic. Both studies were published online Aug. 26 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Alterations in Topological Architecture of Brain in PTSD

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit alterations in the topological architecture of the brain, according to a study published in the September issue of Radiology.

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Exercise, Supplements Don’t Help Preserve Cognition in Elderly

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Neither exercise nor supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids seem to preserve cognitive function in the elderly, according to research published in the Aug. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Too Few Blacks, Hispanics Pursuing Careers As Physicians

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Too few members of certain minority groups are pursuing careers in U.S. medicine, resulting in a serious lack of diversity among general practitioners and specialists, according to a research letter published online Aug. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Preterm Birth, Poor Fetal Growth Tied to ADHD Risk

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Risks of attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are greatest for children with the most severe degree of poor growth in the womb, according to research published online Aug. 24 in Pediatrics.

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No Cognitive Benefits Seen for Elderly Who Stop HTN Rx

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Discontinuing antihypertensive treatment in seniors with mild cognitive deficits does not improve mental functioning, according to research published online Aug. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Nine Modifiable Factors May Be Key in Reducing Alzheimer’s Risk

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Up to two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases worldwide may stem from any of nine conditions that often result from lifestyle choices, a broad research review suggests. The findings were published online Aug. 20 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

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Spouses of Stroke Survivors Report Reduced Quality of Life

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Caring for a spouse who has had a stroke can harm both mental and physical health, according to research published online Aug. 20 in Stroke.

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Patient, Family Advisors Can Play Key Role in Practices

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Practices can employ patient and family advisors in order to help them focus on patient-centered care needs, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Long Work Hours Linked to Increased Risk of Stroke

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Working long hours is associated with increased risk of stroke, and with a smaller increased risk of coronary heart disease, according to research published online Aug. 19 in the The Lancet.

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Report Highlights Ways to Improve Physician Resilience

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Strategies can be adopted for improving physician resilience and the ability to handle the challenges presented by patient care, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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AM, PM Cortisol Tied to Brain, Cognitive Variances in Later Life

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Evening and morning cortisol levels in older people may be differentially associated with tissue volume in gray and white matter structures and cognitive function, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in Neurology.

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High Energy Intake, Low BMI Linked to Increased Risk for ALS

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have higher presymptomatic total daily energy intake and lower body mass index (BMI) than controls, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in JAMA Neurology.

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Mandatory Eyewear Cuts Injuries in Girls’ Field Hockey

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among female high school field hockey players, implementation of a national mandate for protective eyewear (MPE) reduced the incidence of eye/orbital injuries and severe eye/orbital and head/face injuries, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in Pediatrics.

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Playing Football at Younger Age May Disrupt Brain Development

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For former professional football players, earlier age of first exposure (AFE) to repetitive head impacts (RHI) correlates with later-life altered corpus callosum (CC) microstructure, according to a study published online July 22 in the Journal of Neurotrauma.

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Insulin Resistance Tied to Signs of Cognitive Decline in Women

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A higher homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) score may be an early marker for an increased risk of cognitive decline in women, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in Diabetologia.

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More Physicians Reporting Dissatisfaction With EHR Systems

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More physicians report being dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their electronic health record (EHR) system, compared with five years ago, according to a report published by the AmericanEHR Partners and the American Medical Association.

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Some Minorities Less Likely to Call 911 for Stroke

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of emergency medical service (EMS) transport varies by race and sex among U.S. stroke patients, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Up’d Physical Activity Tied to Fewer Symptoms in Kids With MS

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For children with multiple sclerosis (MS), those reporting greater amounts of physical activity (PA) have fewer symptoms, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in Neurology.

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Age Associated With Amyloid-β Kinetics

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Increasing age is associated with slowed amyloid-β (Aβ) turnover, according to a study published online July 20 in the Journal of Neurology.

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Cholinesterase Inhibitors Pose Weight-Loss Risk

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Seniors with dementia newly prescribed cholinesterase inhibitors are at risk for significant weight loss, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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HAC Reduction Program Penalty Kicks in for FY2015

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) effort to reduce hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) is the HAC Reduction Program, according to an Aug. 6 health policy brief published in Health Affairs.

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In-Person Staff Meetings Are Valuable for Health Care Teams

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In-person staff meetings, which are not too short or too long and are held frequently, are valuable for health care team operation, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

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Acute CNS Complications After Breath-Hold Diving in Teens

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Acute central nervous system complications can occur in children after breath-hold diving, according to a case report published online Aug. 10 in Pediatrics.

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Coffee Habits Linked to Odds of Mild Cognitive Impairment

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A study of more than 1,400 Italian seniors has found a link between patterns of coffee consumption and risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The findings are reported in the September issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

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Many Hospitals Being Penalized for 30-Day Readmissions

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2015 (HealthDay News) — About half of the nation’s hospitals are being penalized by Medicare for having patients return within a month of discharge, losing a combined $420 million, according to a report published by Kaiser Health.

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Reduced Executive Function May Mean Higher CVD Risk

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Older adults with lower scores on executive function tests are significantly more likely to experience coronary heart disease or stroke, new research suggests. The study was published online Aug. 5 in Neurology.

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Sleeping on Side May Be More Efficient for ‘Clearing Brain’

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Removal of waste, including soluble amyloid β (Aβ), from the brain may be most efficient in the lateral versus the prone position, according to an experimental study published in the Aug. 5 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

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FDA Approves First 3D Printed Prescription Medication

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The age of three-dimensional (3D) printing has come to the drug industry, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approving the first pill made with the technology.

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USPSTF Finds Evidence Lacking for Autism Screening in Children

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms of screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in asymptomatic children age 3 and younger. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Aug. 3 by the USPSTF.

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Older Smokers With Migraines May Face Added Stroke Risk

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Older smokers who experience migraines appear to be at increased risk of stroke, a new study suggests. The findings were published online July 22 in Neurology.

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Review: mHealth Text Messages Promote Medication Adherence

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Mobile health (mHealth) short message service text messages can improve medication adherence, according to a review published online July 27 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

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