Donepezil found beneficial in treating congitive impairment in vascular dementia (VaD) patients:
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of two doses of donepezil, a cholinesterase inhibitor, the drug improved the cognitive function of VaD patients, with the greatest improvement shown among those taking the lower dose of the medication. Vascular dementia trails only behind Alzheimer's disease (AD) in prevalence. It differentiates from AD in that decline is generally rapid and may be associated with stroke, as opposed to the steady decline more typical with AD.
Brain volume change predicts AD pathology:
Researchers studying the MRI volume changes during the lives of 39 individuals found that the brain lost volume before there were any clinical symptoms or signs of Alzheimer's disease. The study reinforces the need for early diagnosis.
Clinical trial of topiramate in ALS shows no benefit:
Researchers conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial of topiramate in 296 patients with ALS found that at the maximum tolerated dose (up to 800 mg/day) topiramate did not have a beneficial effect and was associated with an increased risk for adverse events.
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Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School Campaign:
The AAN proudly supports the Covering Kids & Families Back-to-School campaign sponsored by The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation. Back-to-School is an annual public awareness campaign that promotes Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to uninsured families who may not know they qualify for these programs. Parents are encouraged to call (877) KIDS-NOW to find out if their children are eligible. For more information, visit http://www.coveringkidsandfamilies.org.
Sixty-two Days Until HIPAA TCS Deadline:
Physicians have two months to meet compliance of the HIPAA Transactions and Code Sets (TCS) regulations. Testing should be underway with health plans, clearinghouses, and vendors. The AAN is working with other specialty societies and CMS to allow the smoothest transition to HIPAA-compliant electronic claims. It is important that physicians and health plans accomplish this with the least possible disruption to payments. For more information, visit http://www.aan.com/professionals/patient/hipaa.cfm.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 18,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, autism and multiple sclerosis.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit its website at http://www.aan.com.
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Neurology