Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Neurology for July 2020. 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.
Pandemic Causing Increased Anxiety Among MS Patients
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on the psychological health of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to a study published online July 21 in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
Telemedicine Use Explodes During COVID-19 Pandemic
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The emergence of telemedicine has accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. HD Live! sat down with Rujuta Saksena, M.D., an oncologist at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, New Jersey, and Ateev Mehrotra, M.D., associate professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School in Boston, to discuss the future of telemedicine and its impact on health care.
Survivors of Adolescent, Young Adult ALL May Suffer Late Effects
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) may experience late effects, with a high incidence of subsequent endocrine disease and cardiac disease, according to a study published in the August issue of JNCI Cancer Spectrum.
Sex Differences in Income Vary With Proportion of Male Doctors
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For surgical and nonsurgical specialists, sex differences in income vary with the proportion of male physicians in a practice, according to a study published online July 30 in The BMJ.
Dual Sensory Impairment Ups Dementia Risk
FRIDAY, July 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older adults with both hearing and visual impairments — dual sensory impairment (DSI) — are at a significantly increased risk for dementia, according to a study published online July 7 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
Chocolate Tied to Lower Coronary Artery Disease Risk
THURSDAY, July 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Eating chocolate at least once a week is associated with a lower risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a review published online July 22 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
More Diabetic Foot Amputations Seen During COVID-19 Lockdown
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with diabetes admitted to a tertiary care center for diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy had a more than threefold risk for amputation versus patients seen in 2019, according to a study published online July 23 in Diabetes Care.
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Poor Dental Health May Increase Risk for Incident Dementia, MCI
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Individuals with severe periodontal disease or edentulism have an increased risk for incident dementia, according to a study published online July 29 in Neurology.
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Study Looks at Phthalates, Sleep Quality in Women at Midlife
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For midlife women, phthalate exposure seems to be associated with sleep disruption, with the associations observed in nonsmokers or former smokers, according to a study published online July 29 in Menopause.
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Smoking Ups Risk for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm in Women
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Women aged 30 to 60 years with a positive smoking history and underlying hypertension have an increased risk for having an unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA), according to a study published online July 28 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Nearly Half of Hispanics, Blacks Scared to Go to Hospital During COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hispanics and blacks are most likely to stay home if experiencing medical emergencies, like a heart attack or stroke, to avoid the risk of contracting COVID-19 at the hospital, according to a poll released by the American Heart Association (AHA).
Obesity in Young Adulthood Tied to Later Venous Thromboembolism
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Men who are obese or severely obese in young adulthood have an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) later in life, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine.
Depression, Anxiety May Be Signs That COVID-19 Is Attacking Brain
WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Depression and anxiety exhibited in COVID-19 patients may be a sign that the virus impacts the central nervous system, as these symptoms are closely associated with a loss of smell and taste rather than more severe manifestations of the virus, according to a study published online July 2 in The Laryngoscope.
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Relapses Linked to Accelerated Disability Progression in SPMS
TUESDAY, July 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), relapses are associated with accelerated disability progression, according to a study published online July 27 in JAMA Neurology.
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Concussion Linked to Risk for Psych, Neurologic Disorders
TUESDAY, July 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Concussion is associated with an increased risk for diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood and anxiety disorders (MADs), dementia, and Parkinson disease, according to a study published online July 27 in Family Medicine and Community Health.
Risk Factors Provide Targets for Preventing Alzheimer Disease
MONDAY, July 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Ten risk factors should be targeted to prevent Alzheimer disease, according to a review published online July 20 in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Metabolomics Screening Tool May Detect Autism Spectrum Disorder
MONDAY, July 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A metabolomics screening tool may detect more than 50 percent of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published online June 18 in Autism Research.
Worse Multisensory Function May Accelerate Cognitive Aging
FRIDAY, July 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Worsening multisensory function is associated with accelerated cognitive aging, according to a study published online July 12 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
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CDC Guidance Issued for Testing, Management of HCP Exposed to Hep C
FRIDAY, July 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance report, published in the July 24 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, recommendations are presented for testing and clinical management of health care personnel (HCP) exposed to the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Financial Health of Hospitals ‘Dire’ Due to COVID-19
THURSDAY, July 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 continues to cause financial peril for U.S. hospitals, according to a report released by the American Hospital Association (AHA).
Few Dementia Caregivers Receive Firearm Safety Counseling
THURSDAY, July 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Few caregivers of adults with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) receive professional counseling about firearm safety, according to a study published online July 15 in JAMA Network Open.
Predictors of Amyloid-β Deposits Identified in Oldest Old
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Predictors of amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition have been identified in the oldest old, according to a study published online July 22 in Neurology.
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No Spike Seen in Cases of Polio-Like Condition in Children
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — It is not clear if acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) will follow its usual pattern and if we will see a spike of cases in 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
CDC: Former Smokers Have Higher Levels of Fair, Poor Health
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Smoking cessation is beneficial, but even after cessation, former smokers have worse health measures, according to a study published online July 22 in National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experiencing Racism May Worsen Subjective Cognitive Function
WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Experiences of racism are associated with lower subjective cognitive function (SCF) among African-American women, according to a study published online July 21 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring.
Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Tied to Childhood Sleep Problems
TUESDAY, July 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Prenatal cannabis exposure is associated with child sleep outcomes, according to a study published online June 28 in Sleep Health.
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Lopinavir/Ritonavir COVID-19 Treatment Linked to Bradycardia
FRIDAY, July 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/RTV) treatment of COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk for bradycardia, according to a study published online July 9 in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.
Variety of Symptoms Reported for COVID-19 Patients
FRIDAY, July 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly all symptomatic COVID-19 patients experience fever, cough, or shortness of breath, and a wide variety of other symptoms are reported, according to research published July 17 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Social Determinants of Health Linked to Incident Stroke Risk
FRIDAY, July 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For adults younger than 75 years, increases in the number of social determinants of health (SDOH) are associated with an increased risk for incident stroke, according to a study published online July 16 in Stroke.
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Premature Mortality Dropped With Adoption of Food Guidelines
THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adoption of national food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) is associated with about a 15 percent reduction in premature mortality, according to a study published online July 15 in The BMJ.
Physical Distancing Interventions Cut Incidence of COVID-19
THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Physical distancing interventions are associated with a reduced incidence of COVID-19 globally, according to a study published online July 15 in The BMJ.
Ticagrelor-Aspirin Beneficial for Mild-to-Moderate Stroke, TIA
THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Ticagrelor-aspirin is associated with a reduced risk for the composite of stroke or death within 30 days of mild-to-moderate acute noncardioembolic ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), according to a study published in the July 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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CV Risk Factors Linked to Faster Cognitive Decline in Midlife
THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are associated with accelerated cognitive decline in midlife, according to a study published online July 15 in Neurology.
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Stroke Recurrence Decreased Among Mexican-Americans
THURSDAY, July 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2000 to 2013, there was a decrease in stroke recurrence among Mexican-Americans, with no change in one-year mortality, according to a study published online July 16 in Stroke.
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n3-PUFAs May Protect the Brain From Effects of Air Pollution
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Long-chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFAs) attenuate the inverse association between fine particular matter (PM2.5) exposure and white matter volumes, according to a study published online July 15 in Neurology.
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Delirium Episode Tied to Long-Term Cognitive Decline
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An episode of delirium is significantly associated with long-term cognitive decline in both surgical and nonsurgical patients, according to a meta-analysis published online July 13 in JAMA Neurology.
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Global Population Anticipated to Peak in 2064
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The global population is anticipated to peak in 2064 and then decline to year 2100, according to a study published online July 14 in The Lancet.
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Layoffs Cost 5.4 Million Americans Their Health Insurance
TUESDAY, July 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — About 5.4 million Americans lost their health insurance after being laid off between February and May due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study shows.
Outcomes Worse for COVID-19-Linked Ischemic Strokes
TUESDAY, July 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19-associated ischemic strokes are more severe than non-COVID-19 ischemic strokes, with worse functional outcome and increased mortality, according to a study published online July 9 in Stroke.
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Surgery in Older Adults Does Not Up Risk for Alzheimer Disease
TUESDAY, July, 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older adults who have surgery with general anesthesia may experience a modest cortical thinning in the brain, but it does not appear to be tied to Alzheimer disease, according to a study recently published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.
Policy Guides Medical Marijuana Use at Pediatric Hospital
MONDAY, July 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Development of institutional policy and clinical support services is beneficial for pediatric hospitals interested in use of medical marijuana (MMJ), according to a special article published online July 13 in Pediatrics.
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Drop Seen in Rate of Sports and Recreation-Related TBI in Children
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2012 to 2018, there was a decrease in the rate of sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injury (SRR-TBI) emergency department visits for children, according to research published in the July 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Patterns Changing for Heart Disorder Hospitalizations in Canada
FRIDAY, July 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Standardized hospitalization rates declined for coronary artery and vascular disease, heart rhythm disorders, stroke, and heart failure in Canada from 2007 through 2016, according to a study published online July 1 in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
Electronic Health Records Fail to Detect Many Medication Errors
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is wide variation in the safety performance of electronic health record (EHR) systems used in U.S. hospitals, according to a study recently published in JAMA Network Open.
Spectrum of Neurological Disorders Linked to SARS-CoV-2
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with a spectrum of neurological disorders, according to a study published online July 8 in Brain.
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Serum Neurofilament Light May Help Assess Concussion, TBI
THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Serum neurofilament light (NfL) may be a biomarker for acute and repetitive sports-related concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to a study published online July 8 in Neurology.
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Huntington Disease Brain Changes ID’d 24 Years Before Symptoms
WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The earliest brain changes due to Huntington disease (HD) can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 24 years before clinical symptoms show, according to a study published in the June 1 issue of The Lancet Neurology.
Complementary, Alternative Medicine Use Increasing for MS
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), there has been an increase in use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a study published in the June issue of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
Acute Ischemic Stroke Risk Higher With COVID-19 Than Influenza
TUESDAY, July 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with COVID-19 appear to have a heightened risk for acute ischemic stroke compared with patients with influenza, according to a study published online July 2 in JAMA Neurology.
Incidence of Abusive Head Trauma in Infants May Be Up During Lockdown
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From March 23 to April 23, 2020, there was a very large increase in the incidence of abusive head trauma (AHT) seen in very young children, according to a research letter published online July 2 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
Most Primary Care Providers Screening Toddlers for Autism
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A majority of toddlers are being screened for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during primary care visits, according to a study published online July 6 in Pediatrics.
Decline in REM Sleep Linked to Increased Mortality
MONDAY, July 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A reduction in the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is associated with increased mortality in middle-aged and older adults, according to a study published online July 6 in JAMA Neurology.
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Neurological Symptoms Described in Children With COVID-19
THURSDAY, July 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children with COVID-19 may present with new neurological symptoms involving the central and peripheral nervous systems, and splenial changes on imaging, according to a study published online July 1 in JAMA Neurology.
Medical Management Alone Better for Brain AV Malformations
THURSDAY, July 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among patients with unruptured brain arteriovenous malformation, medical management alone is superior to its combination with interventional therapy for prevention of death or symptomatic stroke in the long term, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of The Lancet Neurology.
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Roughly 2 Million Americans Buy Prescriptions From Outside the Country
THURSDAY, July 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 1.5 percent of American adults purchase prescription medication from outside of the United States to save money, according to a study published online June 24 in JAMA Network Open.
Post-Vaxx Febrile Seizures Not Linked to Child Development Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Young children experiencing an initial vaccine-proximate (VP) febrile seizure (FS) do not have increased risk of developmental or behavioral problems, according to a study published online July 1 in Neurology.
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Increased Body Weight, Obesity Linked to Dementia Incidence
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Having increased body weight or abdominal obesity is associated with increased incidence of dementia, according to a study published online June 23 in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Spectrum of Imaging Findings Described in COVID-19 MIS-C
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The spectrum of imaging findings in children with post-COVID-19 inflammatory condition (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children [MIS-C]) is described in a case series published online June 25 in Radiology.
2005 to 2016 Saw Increase in Skeletal Muscle Relaxant Use
WEDNESDAY, July 1, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 to 2016, skeletal muscle relaxant (SMR) use increased in the United States, according to a study published online June 24 in JAMA Network Open.
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