by Agne Straukiene and Isabella Colonna
Each month the eanNews editorial team reviews the scientific press for recently published papers of outstanding interest to neurologists. Below we present our selection for December 2025.
For our Paper of the Month, go here: Research Paper of the Month: Physical activity as a modifiable risk factor in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease – eanNews
Full-spectrum Cannabis Extract for Chronic Low Back Pain | Nat Med
This large, multicentre phase 3 randomised placebo-controlled trial tested VER-01, a chemically defined full-spectrum Cannabis sativa extract, in 820 adults with chronic low-back pain across Germany and Austria. Participants received VER-01 or placebo for 12 weeks, followed by a 6-month open-label extension.
VER-01 reduced pain intensity by 1.9 points on the numeric rating scale versus 1.4 with placebo (mean difference –0.6; p < 0.001) and improved neuropathic symptoms (NPSI –14.4 vs –7.2; p = 0.017). Benefits extended to sleep quality, physical function, and quality of life, with fewer rescue analgesics used. Improvements persisted through long-term follow-up.
Adverse events- mainly dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and somnolence were mostly mild and transient. No signals of abuse, dependence, or withdrawal emerged.
VER-01 offers a potential non-addictive alternative for managing chronic low-back pain, particularly in patients with neuropathic features, though confirmation against standard analgesics and longer-term safety monitoring remain warranted.
Read the full paper: Full-spectrum extract from Cannabis sativa DKJ127 for chronic low back pain: a phase 3 randomized placebo-controlled trial | Nature Medicine
Incidence and Risk Factors of Epilepsy Among Older Adults in the US Medicare Population | JAMA Neurol
There is growing evidence that geographical and contextual factors contribute to an increased risk of epilepsy. In this retrospective cohort study, a random sample of 4,999,999 Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries aged 65 years and older, enrolled between 2016 and 2019 and residing in the contiguous United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), was analysed. A total of 20,263 incident epilepsy cases were identified. Marked regional heterogeneity was observed: epilepsy incidence was higher in the South (particularly in Louisiana, eastern Texas, and central Oklahoma) while lower incidence rates were found in parts of the Great Plains, Midwest, and Northeast. These findings suggest the presence of place-based factors influencing epilepsy risk.
Higher epilepsy incidence was strongly associated with insufficient sleep (<7 hours per night). Additional risk factors included exposure to extreme heat (measured as the number of days with a maximum heat index above 95°F), physical inactivity, and obesity. Lack of household vehicle access, potentially reflecting transportation barriers to healthcare, was also associated with increased epilepsy incidence. Furthermore, higher epilepsy incidence was observed in countries with a greater proportion of non-Hispanic Black residents and uninsured individuals. Overall, this study suggests that targeted prevention strategies aimed at modifying social and environmental conditions at the local level may help reduce epilepsy incidence among older adults.
Click here to read the paper: Incidence and Risk Factors of Epilepsy Among Older Adults in the US Medicare Population | Neurology | JAMA Neurology | JAMA Network
