https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from IOS Press A team from the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth has conducted the largest characterization of plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) in community-dwelling non-Hispanic Blacks. The study is published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-exploring-alzheimer-biomarkers-diverse-populations.html Neuroscience Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:55:48 EST news653136943 In a recent study, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center has shed light on physician attitudes toward novel anti-amyloid treatments (ATT) for Alzheimer's disease (AD), revealing a spectrum of opinions across key specialties. With Israel's health system structured to provide universal health care, the high out-of-pocket costs for new AD therapies have raised questions among medical professionals about the feasibility and practicality of implementing these treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-highlights-physician-perspectives-emerging-anti.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Tue, 19 Nov 2024 16:40:11 EST news651256805 Innovative technological solutions can enhance the daily lives of individuals living with aphasia, especially when people living with communication disabilities, speech and language therapy clinicians, and academics collaborate at all stages of the research process. A special issue of Advances in Communication and Swallowing brings together research relevant to the use of technology in the assessment and treatment of aphasia, as well as social interactions including peer support, and practical applications that can influence future research and clinical practice. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-technological-stakeholder-collaboration-daily-people.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 03 Sep 2024 16:44:52 EDT news644600684 A pilot study using a new screening tool shows promise for assessing neurobehavioral difficulties in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and improving quality of life for patients and their families. Results appear in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-screening-tool-neurobehavioral-difficulties-children.html Neuroscience Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:35:18 EDT news642861312 The field of non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) is reaching maturity and has the potential to substantially improve patient care in the future. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-pharmacological-interventions-play-greater-role.html Parkinson's & Movement disorders Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:20:04 EDT news642784801 An article in a special issue on The Planetary Future published in Environmental Policy and Law considers the Planetary Trust as an essential framework underlying today's kaleidoscopic world, reviews important developments in implementing the Trust, and focuses on important steps to take now to ensure a just, robust Earth system for present and future generations. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-urgently-band-robust-earth-future.html Environment Mon, 12 Aug 2024 16:44:04 EDT news642699841 To date, Parkinson's disease (PD) is diagnosed clinically and rather late in the course of the disease. There is an urgent need to find an objective, quantifiable biomarker for the diagnosis of this highly prevalent movement disorder. Researchers have now found initial evidence that a blood test to detect the alpha-synuclein protein is a viable, less invasive option to diagnose PD. The study appears in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-blood-alpha-synuclein-protein-revolutionize.html Parkinson's & Movement disorders Mon, 22 Jul 2024 12:17:29 EDT news640869445 Work is frequently perceived as a risk factor rather than a source of well-being, life values, development, and health. A special issue of Work on work-related pain in collaboration with the Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation aims to challenge this perception and addresses the pressing need to study the balance on the cutting edge of social and health research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-focus-safety-experts.html Health Thu, 11 Jul 2024 16:41:49 EDT news639934906 A study lead by the Economic Evaluation of Chronic Diseases group of Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute has revealed the relationship between the use of antipsychotics in dementia and socioeconomic status. This work have been authored by Javier Mar, Uxue Zubiagirre, Igor Larrañaga, Myriam Soto-Gordoa, Lorea Mar-Barrutia, Ana González-Pinto and Oliver Ibarrondo from Biogipuzkoa HRI, Bioaraba HRI, Biosistemak and Mondragon Unibertsitatea. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-antipsychotics-dementia-socioeconomic-status.html Medications Tue, 02 Jul 2024 14:40:02 EDT news639149708 Because the majority of people living with cerebral palsy (CP) are adults, a focus on adult care in addition to pediatric and adolescent care is increasingly important to address their needs. A special issue of the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, highlights topics associated with CP across the spectrum of life, including issues surrounding mental health, sexuality, and independence. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-lifespan-individuals-cerebral-palsy-necessitates.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:23:04 EDT news636985382 A study by Duke and Columbia Universities finds older, non-white adults are more likely to live in areas with higher air pollution and near toxic disposal sites, among or environmental injustices, potentially underlying their cognitive health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05-black-adults-alzheimer-disease-polluted.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Fri, 17 May 2024 14:01:04 EDT news635173261 A new study has investigated how measures of thinking, memory, and Alzheimer's disease risk group together in Veterans aged 65 and older without dementia. Results of the study showed multiple patterns of cognitive strengths and weaknesses and Alzheimer's disease risk and may imply that older Veterans with certain cognitive difficulties could mistakenly receive a diagnosis of possible Alzheimer's disease, when other factors such as PTSD may really be the root cause of the cognitive difficulties. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05-older-veterans-cognitive-difficulties-mistakenly.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Thu, 09 May 2024 15:36:39 EDT news634487796 Because 80% of climate migrants are women and girls, a new international legal framework is needed to protect human rights, incorporating gender-sensitive and responsive measures in policies and legislation. https://phys.org/news/2024-04-environmental-lawyer-gender-sensitive-international.html Social Sciences Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:20:03 EDT news633108001 Findings from a recent study in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases demonstrate the effectiveness of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) in infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The study's results add further support for gene therapy as a treatment modality that can deliver durable transformative effects for these vulnerable patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04-real-world-knowledge-gap-treatment.html Parkinson's & Movement disorders Mon, 15 Apr 2024 17:03:03 EDT news632419381 An opinion paper published by University of Montana professor Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas MD, Ph.D. and co-authors, Dr. Alberto Ayala and Dr. Partha Mukherjee discussed ow US citizens are not fully aware of the harmful brain impact of exposures to ubiquitous anthropogenic combustion emissions and friction-derived nanoparticles, industrial nanoplastics, wildfires and smoke plumes of soot. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-04-opinion-air-pollution-neurodegeneration-neuropsychiatric.html Health Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:27:39 EDT news631546056 Ten years ago, the United States passed into federal law the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), broadening the mandate of state vocational rehabilitation agencies to facilitate successful school-to-work transitions for student populations. Among its many provisions, the measure provided an unparalleled opportunity to expand the scope of available experiences and training to help students with disabilities prepare for competitive integrated employment. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-experts-document-workforce-opportunity-benefiting.html Education Mon, 18 Mar 2024 13:37:03 EDT news629987821 Emerging trends and new developments in the care and management of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) are increasingly focused on a multidisciplinary approach that integrates evidence-based assessment, treatment, and ethical aspects. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03-disorders-consciousness-awareness-advances-brain.html Neuroscience Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:55:04 EST news629049302 A narrative review article in a themed issue on disorders of consciousness (DoC) guest edited by Dr. Caroline Schnakers and Dr. Nathan Zasler in the journal NeuroRehabilitation addresses the topic of the medicolegal challenges of litigating cases involving patients with DoC. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-medicolegal-issues-disorders-consciousness.html Neuroscience Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:04:01 EST news627145438 Successful employer-driven disability initiatives share certain characteristics, even when the companies and programs differ in other ways. https://phys.org/news/2024-02-successful-employer-driven-disability-benefit.html Economics & Business Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:38:03 EST news627057481 The drug vamorolone (Agamree) has been hailed as a promising new drug to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It has recently been approved for clinical use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in the European Union by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-experts-vamorolone-duchenne-muscular-dystrophy.html Medications Thu, 25 Jan 2024 14:42:04 EST news625416121 A new study published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation evaluates the impact of Vermont's Linking Learning to Careers (LLC) program on service usage patterns and outcomes of participating high school students with disabilities, compared to a control group. https://phys.org/news/2024-01-careers-engagement-vocational.html Social Sciences Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:10:06 EST news624129001 A fascinating link between regular exercise and better brain health has been revealed, according to an international study that included a team of clinical researchers from Pacific Neuroscience Institute's Brain Health Center, located at Providence Saint John's Health Center. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-boost-brain-health.html Health Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:34:36 EST news621779673 While the European Union has just renewed the approval of the use of herbicide glyphosate for another 10 years, scientists issue a call to action to reduce or replace the use of agrochemicals. Pesticides have a long-recognized link to Parkinson's disease (PD) based on epidemiological and experimental evidence from animal models. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-pesticide-exposure-linked-parkinson-disease.html Parkinson's & Movement disorders Thu, 07 Dec 2023 13:53:04 EST news621179581 In a detailed study, "Diet's Role in Modifying Risk of Alzheimers Disease: History and Present Understanding" published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, we can finally see which diets are helpful in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The role of diet in modifying the risk of Alzheimer's disease is discussed in detail. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-diet-role-alzheimer-disease.html Health Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:15:03 EST news620932501 A new study published in the Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation evaluates the employment outcomes and ongoing support needs among graduates of Project SEARCH in Michigan, a one-year school-to-work transitional program. Replicated at more than 500 sites across the United States and worldwide, the program prepares students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to attain and maintain competitive employment upon graduation. https://phys.org/news/2023-11-michigan-school-to-work-transitional-high-success.html Economics & Business Thu, 30 Nov 2023 16:58:04 EST news620585882 A large case series aimed at understanding the factors underlying motorist disorientation syndrome (MDS) has found that patients experience severe, consistent symptoms comparable to vestibular migraine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-motorist-disorientation-syndrome-vestibular-dysfunction.html Medical research Thu, 16 Nov 2023 16:18:04 EST news619373882 The disease 5q-spinal muscular atrophy (5q-SMA) is one of the more common types of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) affecting around 1 in 10,000 individuals worldwide. Currently, tests are unable to detect all pathogenic genetic variants leading to 5q-SMA. However, researchers were able to reliably identify patients with 5q-SMA within a diagnostic whole exome analysis by using a modified analysis workflow, including several who did not exhibit typical symptoms. They report their results in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-workflow-gap-5q-spinal-muscular-atrophy.html Genetics Wed, 15 Nov 2023 16:08:04 EST news619286881 Depression, suicidal ideation, burnout, and moral injury are on the rise among physicians working in the US health care system. A collection of articles in the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (JPRM), addresses the stressors leading to physicians' moral injury among practitioners of pediatric rehabilitation medicine and more broadly among all health care professionals, and provides insightful recommendations for improving health care professionals' mental wellness, emphasizing that "lives may depend on it." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-11-physicians-advocate-combat-moral-injury.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:49:50 EDT news618162586 A new article by environmental lawyer Prof. Nicholas A. Robinson sees the recognition of the Human Right to the Environment (HRE) as a first step in a long process of restoring a healthy environment for people and the planet. https://phys.org/news/2023-10-article-human-environment-planet.html Environment Thu, 26 Oct 2023 16:11:22 EDT news617555477 A special supplement to the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease presents insights and new directions in both basic and clinical research into neurodegenerative diseases. Because by 2050, the number of people suffering from brain disorders is estimated to reach 155 million, now is the time to think innovatively to discover new pathways for future brain studies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-09-experts-vision-brain-disorders.html Neuroscience Thu, 28 Sep 2023 17:12:03 EDT news615139921