FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON April 27, 2004
Late Breaking Science at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting
San Francisco -
The following are late-breaking scientific abstracts that will be presented at the AAN annual meeting. For abstract copies and contact information, please contact AAN Media Relations.
Pramipexole provides speedy relief for restless legs syndrome
Getting to sleep can be a nightmare experience for people suffering from restless legs syndrome (RLS), a neurological disorder characterized by an overwhelming urge to move one’s legs. The syndrome is particularly acute at times of inactivity, such as bedtime. Appropriate treatment with the drug pramipexole can provide significant relief to RLS patients within three weeks of starting therapy, according to a new study from Finland.
Drug helps restore genetic functions in spinal muscular atrophy patients
From Stanford Medical School comes a promising new approach for treating spinal muscular atrophy. Researchers found that treatment with hydroxurea, a drug primarily used for treating tumors, helped activate functions in a gene that is functionally dormant in more than 95 percent of patients.
Essential tremor disorder responds to anti-convulsant drug therapy
Researchers report a breakthrough in treating essential tremor, a common movement disorder characterized by uncontrollable movements of the hand and head. Topiramate, a widely used anti-convulsant, proved itself effective in tests involving patients suffering from moderate to severe forms of essential tremor. More research is warranted to determine the appropriate dosage levels for treating the disorder, according to this study from the Department of Neurology at the University of Baylor School of Medicine.
Alzheimer’s drug also effective in treating vascular dementia
Galantamine, a drug commonly prescribed to treat Alzheimer’s disease, is also effective and safe in treating people with vascular dementia, according to a new study involving 788 participants. Patients on a twice-daily regimen of 8 to 12 milligrams of galantamine showed statistically significant improvement in cognitive functions compared to a placebo group. Cerebral vascular disease is the most common cause of dementia after Alzeheimer’s disease.
Pathology of muscular dystrophy under attack
Mutations in the myotolin protein can cause more than one form of muscular dystrophy, according to new research from the Mayo Clinic. Researchers identified three new genetic mutations in the myotolin protein that contribute to muscle fiber deterioration characteristic of myofibrillar myopathy (MFM), a dystrophy that affects muscles of the hands and feet. A mutation that was previously identified as causing limb-girdle muscular dystrophy is also implicated as causing MFM. Researchers conclude that peripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy and muscle weakness that is greatest in the extremities are also previously unrecognized features of muscle fiber diseases, and that not all such are in the limb-girdle mode.
Genetic mutations in mitochondria may be root cause of Parkinson’s disease
Mutations in a range of proteins vital to the regulation of cellular behavior are linked to the development of Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study that analyzed samples from people with a family history of Parkinson’s disease. Preliminary data indicates that the mutation of specific genetic material in mitochondria proteins contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. Mitochondria are sites in the body where vital cellular functions take place. Understanding how these sites are affected by genetic mutations could lead to new therapies for combating Parkinson’s disease.
Patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease also benefit from memantine
Memantine is therapeutically effective and safe for use with patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Patients treated with memantine performed significantly better than placebo-treated patients on cognitive tests. The study involved 403 patients with symptoms correlated to mild to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Memantine was already in use in the U.S. as an approved therapy for treating patients with severe Alzheimer’s disease.
Research yields increased understanding of childhood spinal muscular atrophy
New research into the natural history of distal motor neuron innveration in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) highlights the dramatically different ways that the disorder unfolds in patients with the three most prevalent types of childhood SMA. The data supports the value of using certain scientific techniques to help neuroscientists better understand the development of the disease process in SMA patients.
Mitochondrial mutations tracked as cause of Charcot Marie-Tooth disease
Charcot Marie-Tooth disease is a hereditary disorder that causes the muscles and nerves of the lower legs to atrophy, resulting in disabilities such as clubfoot and a lack of muscular coordination. Scientists studying the causes of Charcot Marie-Tooth disease uncovered information that could lead to a better understanding of peripheral neuropathies. Genetic mutations in Mitofusin 2, a mitochondrial assembly protein, are responsible for approximately 20 percent of an inherited axonal Charcot Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease according to a study involving seven families with histories of CMT. The research may point to the development of a new pathomechanism for treating peripheral neuropathies.