Neurosciences - May 2014 Archives

PHOENIX —  David Dodick, M.D., a neurologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and an expert in concussion care and research, joined other medical experts and President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., at the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit today. The summit is a White House initiative to raise awareness of the increasing rate of concussions among young athletes, and to develop an action plan to protect the safety and health of youth athletes who participate in sport. Medical experts, coaches, parents and players joined President Obama to talk about safe sports.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, claiming 150,000 lives and leaving 250,000 people handicapped each year. Since May is American Stroke Month, we've invited neurologist and stroke expert Robert Brown, Jr., M.D., and David Miller, M.D., to join us Saturday, May 17. What causes a stroke and what are the warning signs? If you think you're having a stroke, what should you do? What are the 10 things you can do to prevent a stroke? We hope you'll join us. Myth or Matter of Fact: Stroke is unpreventable. Also this week, Stephen Russell, M.D., Ph.D., will talk about this week's incredible announcement about using the measles virus to put a woman with an incurable cancer into remission.  To hear the program LIVE on Saturday, click here. Follow #MayoClinicRadio and tweet your questions. Mayo Clinic Radio is available on iHeart Radio. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment May 17, 2014 (right click MP3)  

JACKSONVILLE, Flórida — Neurocientistas da Clínica Mayo de Jacksonville, Flórida, definiram um subtipo de doença de Alzheimer (DA) que não é bem identificada, nem tratada apropriadamente.   http://youtu.be/w4xQeNQVFoc A forma variante de Doença de Alzeimer que não afeta o hipocampo, representa 11% de um total de 1.821 casos de cérebros com Doenca de Alzeimer confirmados e examinados pelos pesquisadores da Clínica Mayo, o que sugere que esse subtipo é relativamente comum na população em geral. A Associação da Alzheimer estima que 5,2 milhões de americanos convivem com a doença de Alzheimer. E como quase a metade dos casos de DA que não afeta o  hipocampo não é diagnosticada corretamente, é possível significar que bem mais de 600.000 americanos têm essa variante da doença de Alzheimer, afirmam os pesquisadores.

Eye movement test detects concussions and possible 'silent' concussions PHOENIX — A rapid, easy-to-administer eye movement test is showing great promise as a sideline concussion test for youth sports, a Mayo Clinic study finds. In the study, Mayo Clinic researchers assessed high school hockey players using the King-Devick test. The test requires an athlete to read single-digit numbers displayed on cards. After suspected head trauma, the athlete is given the test, which takes about two minutes, and the results are compared to a baseline test administered previously. If the time needed to complete the test takes longer than the baseline test time, the athlete should be removed from play until evaluated by a medical professional. About 150 high school hockey players received preseason testing to establish a baseline time in the study. During the subsequent season, 20 athletes had a suspected concussion. All 20 had a prolonged King-Devick test, and all were later clinically diagnosed with a concussion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_CKo6l9Hss&feature=youtu.be   “Youth athletes are at a higher risk for concussion and a longer recovery time than adults,” says Amaal Starling, M.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist and a co-author of the study. “While the test has already been clinically validated for detecting concussion in collegiate and professional athletes, we wanted to ensure it was also validated in adolescents.”

ROCHESTER, Minn. — A recent Mayo Clinic Proceedings article links some nerve damage after hip surgery to inflammatory neuropathy. Historically, nerve damage from hip surgery has been attributed to mechanical factors caused by anesthesiologists or surgeons, such as positioning of the patient during surgery or direct surgical injury of the nerves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyNOqN7N76c&hd=1 In this study, researchers examined patients who developed inflammatory neuropathies, where the immune system attacks the nerves, leading to weakness and pain. Inflammatory neuropathies may be treated with immunotherapy. “Neuropathy after surgery can significantly affect postsurgical outcomes,” says Nathan Staff, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic neurologist. “The good news is that if we’re able to identify patients experiencing postsurgical inflammatory neuropathy, rather than damage caused by a mechanical process, we may be able to provide treatment immediately to mitigate pain and improve overall outcomes.”