Neurology Alert – November 1, 2014

November 1, 2014

• To Sleep, Perchance to Clear Our Beta-Amyloid

  SYNOPSIS: Both animal studies and human data suggest that A-beta 42 amyloid is cleared from the brain during sleep, and that sleep deprivation may be a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

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• Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathy in Pediatrics

  Synopsis: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is common in children treated for a variety of cancers, but the long-term prognosis for recovery is excellent.

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• Neuropsychological Assessment Reduces False Positives in Mild Cognitive Impairment

  Synopsis: Traditional comprehensive neuropsychological testing has greater reliability, sensitivity, and specificity than bedside screening tests in the accurate diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment.

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• New Diagnostic Methods for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

  Synopsis: Novel noninvasive diagnostic tests for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD; nasal brushings) and variant CJD (urinary prion proteins) are reported to be highly sensitive and specific in two recent studies.

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• Role of Neurologists and Diagnostic Tests in the Management of DSP

  Synopsis: Using the clinical history and simple, inexpensive laboratory tests, community-based outpatient neurologists were able to determine the cause of distal symmetric polyneuropathy in three-fourths of patients presenting with typical symptoms.

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