In the News: Aducanumab (Aduhelm)

Topics: Aducanumab | Aduhelm | Cognition | Cognitive Decline | Complementary treatments | Dementia | Neurology | News of Note | Novel drug

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is devastating. There is no cure and existing treatments don’t slow or stop its progression. In June 2021, the FDA approved aducanumab (pronounced a-due-KAN-you-mab, brand name Aduhelm) for the treatment of AD. It’s the first new AD med since 2003 and is the only treatment that directly attacks a component of AD’s purpor

In Brief: Meds in the Fast Lane

Topics: Aducanumab | Cognition | Dementia | FDA | Neurology | Novel drug

In the last five years, more psychotropics have gained approval through the FDA’s expedited pathways than the slow and cautious routes we’ve grown used to. These “fast-track” and “breakthrough therapy” approvals allow drugs to enter the market on the basis of more efficient (ie, smaller) clinical trials. Instead of the typical 2000 participa

How COVID-19 Affects the Brain

Topics: C-Reactive Protein | Coronavirus | COVID19 | CRP | Lamictal | Lamotrigine | Medical Comorbidities | Neurology | Neuroscience in Psychiatry | Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The COVID-19 pandemic is a source of many stress-related conditions, from grief to depression to PTSD. But there’s another problem we need to look out for in those who’ve been infected with the virus: neuropsychiatric effects. The novel coronavirus can potentially invade neurons, and the immune response to this virus can affect the brain as well. Si

Assessing and Treating Traumatic Brain Injury

Topics: Amantadine | Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) | Neurology | Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

TCPR: How does a head injury differ from a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Dr. Silver: A head injury is not the same as a brain injury. Not all blows to the head result in an injury to the brain. TBI means there was an injury to the brain caused by the application of external force. That differentiates it from other kinds of brain injury, such as stroke

Nuplazid: Novel Mechanism, Modest Benefits

Topics: Dopamine | Geriatric Psychiatry | Neurology | Novel Medications | Nuplazid | Parkinson’s

Psychosis can be a paralyzing dilemma for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Most antipsychotics worsen the motor symptoms of PD, while the dopaminergic drugs that treat PD can worsen the psychosis. Psychosis afflicts up to 60% of patients with PD, and it is the leading cause of nursing home placement in these patients (Hacksell U et al, Neuroche

Antipsychotics Fall Short in Delirium

Topics: Dopamine | Geriatric Psychiatry | Neurology | Novel Medications | Nuplazid | Parkinson’s

Review: Oh ES et al, Ann Intern Med 2019;171(7):474–484; Nikooie R et al, Ann Intern Med 2019;171(7):485–495 Study type: Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials and prospective studies Delirium is common and costly. With an incidence rate approaching 50% in hospitalized older adults, the condition poses a burden that is anticipated

Meet the First H3 Antagonist

Topics: Histamine | Narcolepsy | Neurology | News of Note | Pitolisant | Wakix

On August 15, 2019, pitolisant (Wakix) received FDA approval for narcolepsy, making it the first release of a histamine-3 (H3) antagonist. Unlike other narcolepsy medications, pitolisant is not a controlled substance and lacks abuse potential. Those other options for narcolepsy are the stimulants (methylphenidate and amphetamine), the modafinils, sodiu