Neurology updates

• Telemedicine consultations can aid effective epilepsy care, even for first visits.

Caution is warranted with the use of antiseizure medications in the context of COVID-19 illness.

This neurology update focuses on mental well-being of people with epilepsy and their caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is an interesting work elucidating for the first time a role for ataxin-1 (ATXN1) mutation, traditionally linked to spinocerebellar ataxia-type 1 (SCA1), in the pathogenesis of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE), the rodent model for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group task force found sufficient evidence to formulate diagnostic criteria for pediatric clinical entity designated “restless sleep disorder”.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by fluctuating cognition, recurrent visual hallucinations, impairment of sleep (REM sleep behaviour disorder) and parkinsonism.

Factors influencing long term outcomes after elective surgical intervention remain poorly studied. One recent study (Lamberink et al., 2020) addressed this issue analysing the association between histopathology and seizure outcome and drug freedom up to 5 years after epilepsy surgery.

Panel Autonomic Nervous System Disorders has published a neurology update

Evaluating blood pressure and heart rate changes upon standing helps screening for nOH at bedside.

A paper has just been published – Collaboration between palliative care and neurology: a survey of clinicians in Europe.

Guidelines for the Acute Treatment of Cerebral Edema in Neurocritical Care Patients

New-onset seizures in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Epilepsy care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Disability through COVID-19 pandemic: Neurorehabilitation cannot wait