Brain Health

Surprising turn of events is a strong message to the pharmaceutical industry about the acceptable developmental pathway for this drug class.

New data show that after 4 years of treatment, 78.8% of patients who continuously received ofatumumab achieved no evidence of disease activity-3 (NEDA-3) compared to 51.8% of those who switched from teriflunomide to ofatumumab.

But investigators find that individuals who had shingles that spread to the central nervous system had nearly twice the risk of developing mental deterioration, though it is rare.

Natalizumab (Tysarbi) is an integrin receptor antagonist indicated for treatment of: multiple sclerosis and Crohn disease.

The symptoms of serotonin syndrome often include autonomic dysfunction, neuromuscular excitation, and altered mental status.

Studies have estimated that 16% of people with dementia experience depression, but this may be as high as 40%, demonstrating a great need for effective treatments.

Serotonin syndrome generally occurs within 6 hours of a change in dose or addition of medication.

Analysis also indicates that individuals with the highest-level beta-cryptoxanthin in their blood were less likely to develop cognitive issues decades later.

Analysis shows that half of individuals with both these sensory losses are cognitively impaired, investigators say.

Statistics indicate possible benefit of home-based palliative care interventions, according to study results from the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute.

The FDA approved daridorexant in January 2022 to treat insomnia after it showed improvements in changes in latency to persistent sleep and wake after sleep onset.

FT218 is an investigational formulation of sodium oxybate that is designed to be taken once at bedtime for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness for individuals with narcolepsy.

New analysis demonstrates that physical activity improves cognitive health, thus staving off dementia.

Fosdenopterin (Nulibry) is indicated to reduce the risk of mortality in patients with molybdenum cofactor deficiency Type A.

Dhivy is a levodopa/carbidopa combination formulation approved by the FDA in November 2021 for the treatment of Parkinson disease or manifestations due to viral or environmental exposures.

Phase 3 REST-ON Trial data show that the medication demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in assessments of disrupted nighttime sleep compared with the placebo.

OTC sleep aids may help treat an occasional sleepless night.

Namzaric is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe dementia related to Alzheimer disease.

Phase 3 trial results also indicate that Alzheimer disease clinical decline was reduced in participants who had plasma p-tau181 reduction at 78 weeks.

All patients present opportunities, but patients who might be considered more challenging due to their condition are often the cases where pharmacists might make the greatest difference

Patients may not admit or recognize when they have a brain injury, but pharmacists can be a valuable resource.

Corium’s Adlarity system lowers the likelihood of adverse gastrointestinal (GI) events that are normally associated with the oral medication.

Help patients get regular checkups and show them how to use BP machines and improve adherence.

Suvorexant (Belsomra) is indicated for the treatment of insomnia, characterized by difficulties with sleep onset and/or sleep maintenance.

Although pharmacotherapy is considered for the treatment of insomnia, medication should not be the sole treatment for individuals diagnosed with insomnia.

Using a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, scientists demonstrate a definitive connection with oxidative brain damage.

Prior studies indicate that CPAP treatment can significantly decrease sleepiness and depression while also protecting against high blood pressure.

Tiago Reis Marques, MD, PhD, CEO of Pasithea Therapeutics, discusses the future of ketamine and psychedelic medicines in the treatment of mental health and brain disorders.

Tiago Reis Marques, MD, PhD, CEO of Pasithea Therapeutics, addresses how pharmacists can respond to questions patients may ask them about ketamine and other psychedelic treatments.

Although the researchers were able to find an association between a heart attack and faster cognitive decline, the findings did not establish that a heart attack directly causes cognitive decline.