American Academy of Neurology Announces 2013 Research Award Winners

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Newswise SAN DIEGO Nearly two dozen scientific research awards are being bestowed upon researchers around the world this year by the American Academy of Neurology, the worlds largest association of neurologists. The awards will be presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 65th Annual Meeting in San Diego March 16-23, 2013, at the San Diego Convention Center.

This years recipients include: Founders Award Sponsored by the American Brain Foundation and endowed by the Alliance Founders and S. Weir Mitchell Permanent Endowment. Korak Sarkar, MD / Los Angeles

S. Weir Mitchell Award Sponsored by the American Brain Foundation and endowed by the Alliance Founders and S. Weir Mitchell Permanent Endowment. Christopher Janson, MC / Saint Paul, Minn.

A.B. Baker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Neurologic Education Funded by an endowment created by matching funds from the A.B. Baker Family Trust and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Douglas J. Gelb, MD, PhD, FAAN / Ann Arbor, Mich.

Dreifuss-Penry Epilepsy Award Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by members of the AAN Epilepsy Section; Abbott Laboratories, Inc.; Cephalon, Inc.; Cyberonics, Inc.; Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline; Novartis Pharmaceuticals; Ortho-McNeil Neurologics; Pfizer Inc; Shire US, Inc; and UCB Pharma. W. Curt LaFrance, Jr., MD, MPH, FAAN / Providence, R.I.

John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research Presented by the American Academy of Neurology and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and made possible through a special contribution from the John Dystel Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. George C. Ebers, MD / Oxford, United Kingdom

Sheila Essey Award: An Award for ALS Research Presented by the American Academy of Neurology and The ALS Association and supported through the philanthropy of the Essey Family Fund and The ALS Association. Rosa Rademakers, PhD / Jacksonville, Fla. Bryan Traynor, MD / Bethesda, Md.

Norman Geschwind Prize in Behavioral Neurology Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the AAN Behavioral Neurology Section and endowed through Dr. Geschwind's family, friends and colleagues; Pfizer Inc; and the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology. Bradford Dickerson, MD / Charlestown, Mass.

Mitchell B. Max Award for Neuropathic Pain Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by the United States Cancer Pain Relief Committee, the Mayday Fund and friends of Dr. Mitchell Max. Justin C. McArthur, MBBS, MPH, FAAN / Baltimore

Jon Stolk Award in Movement Disorders for Young Investigators Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by Kyowa Pharmaceutical, Inc., Lineberry Research, Quintiles, and Dr. Dennis Gillings. Rodolfo Savica, MD / Rochester, Minn.

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American Academy of Neurology Announces 2013 Research Award Winners

Actor Kevin Sorbo Receives Public Leadership in Neurology Award

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Newswise SAN DIEGO Actor Kevin Sorbo is the recipient of the 2013 Public Leadership in Neurology Award from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Brain Foundation. Sorbo is being recognized for his herculean efforts in educating the public about stroke.

The Public Leadership in Neurology Award honors an individual or group outside of the medical profession. Honorees are known for advancing public understanding and awareness of neurologic disease, being effective advocates for neuroscience research, and making significant contributions to improve patient care. Sorbo will receive the award during the AAN and American Brain Foundation Awards Luncheon held on Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at the San Diego Convention Center as part of the AANs Annual Meeting, the worlds largest gathering of neurologists with more than 10,000 attendees.

Sorbo is perhaps most famous as televisions mighty Hercules in the popular television show Hercules, the Legendary Journeys from 1993 to 2000, and Gene Roddenberrys Andromeda from 2000 to 2005. However, Sorbo suffered a series of three strokes in 1997 at the end of Hercules fifth season.

In his recent inspiring memoir, True Strength: My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal and How Nearly Dying Saved My Life, Sorbo tells of his near-death experience and examines the dynamics of celebrity, personal tragedy, and the power of letting go.

I am honored to be receiving this award. As with anything in life, Sorbo acknowledges, it takes a life-changing event to an individual, family member, or friend to make us sit up and take notice of something that we all know about, we all read about, but we just hang out on the fringe not really doing anything to help or support the cause. That was the case with me. Suffering my own strokes put me on a path I never dreamed would happen, but here I am: A stroke survivor. I wanted to bring stroke to the forefront of peoples minds that if a guy in his thirties, in great shape, can suffer a stroke, then it can happen to anyone. I wanted to inspire people.

Sorbos career has continued to flourish with appearances on such television fare as Just Shoot Me, Two and a Half Men, According to Jim, Gary Unmarried, Dont Talk to the B#@*& in Apartment 23, Hawaii 5-0, Hope & Faith, and Psych, with recurring characters appearing on Dharma & Greg and The OC.

His recent film appearances include Meet the Spartans (2008), Prairie Fever (2008), What If (2010), Soul Surfer (2011), Julia X (2013), Avenging Angel (2008), Christmas Angel (2012), The Santa Suit (2010), and Abels Field (2013). Sorbo also leads A World Fit for Kids, a successful mentoring program that trains inner-city teens to become positive school, fitness, and sports role models, and uses these teens to mentor younger children. In 1997, the program received the Governors Gold Star for Californias most successful after-school program. In 2003, Sorbo succeeded Arnold Schwarzenegger as national spokesperson for the Afterschool Alliance, a non-profit organization working to ensure that all children have access to safe, enriching afterschool programs.

Sorbo hails from the Twin Cities area in Minnesota, where the American Academy of Neurology is headquartered.

Learn more about stroke at http://www.aan.com/patients.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimers disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinsons disease and epilepsy.

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Actor Kevin Sorbo Receives Public Leadership in Neurology Award

The Brain of a Murderer – Are You Good Or Evil? (BBC video)

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Professor James Fallon from University of California, Irvine explains the beginnings of his work studying the brains of criminals and murders. Would his work prove the existence of a signature brain profile of a serial killer or are there other factors to consider?

Jim Fallon recently made a disquieting discovery: A member of his family has some of the biological traits of a psychopathic killer. "These results will cause some problems at the next family party," he said, reviewing the data on his laptop in his backyard. Fallon had already been studying the brains of psychopathic killers for years when his mother told him that he comes from a long line of murderers. Is he one of them?

After a PET scan, Professor Jim Fallon made a shocking discovery about his own brain - that he had the neurological and genetic correlates of psychopathy. However, he is not concerned by the findings and believes that his positive experiences in childhood negated the genetic susceptibility to violence and emotional issues.

References:

What's on Jim Fallon's Mind? A Family Secret That Has Been Murder to Figure Out - WSJ.com http://on.wsj.com/9CUbjG
A Neuroscientist Uncovers A Dark Secret - NPR http://n.pr/V2LMNl
Jim Fallon: Exploring the mind of a killer | Video on TED.com http://bit.ly/V2LNAI
Three Ingredients for Murder: Neuroscientist James Fallon on psychopaths - YouTube http://bit.ly/V2M2M9

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Effective Drug-free Treatment for Migraine (Cefaly®) Published in NEUROLOGY

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LIEGE, Belgium, February 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

NEUROLOGY (official journal of the American Academy of Neurology, the number one among the most-cited journals worldwide in the field of neurology) is publishing the results of the multi-centre PREMICE clinical study (PREvention of MIgraine with CEfaly). http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2013/02/06/WNL.0b013e3182825055.abstract

The results show the effectiveness of Cefaly in the reduction of migraines. By the third month of treatment, a statistically significant difference is observed in the percentage of responders in the Cefaly group compared to the placebo group. The percentage of patients who states they were satisfied or very satisfied by the treatment with Cefaly was almost 70%. The reduction in consumption of medications is particularly impressive, since it fell by 37% in the group treated with Cefaly, whereas it remained virtually unchanged in the placebo group. In the group of responders to Cefaly, the reduction in the consumption of medication was almost 75%. Moreover, the lack of side effects and contraindications means that Cefaly is an extremely safe therapeutic method, unlike classic drug-based methods. Offering comparable effectiveness but with complete safety, Cefaly therefore boasts and excellent safety and effectiveness profile.

Previously, the sedative effect of Cefaly was demonstrated by another recent study, the results of which were published in the journal BMC Neurology: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22035386

Cefaly is an innovative medical device protected by a number of patents. It is the first device to offer external cranial neurostimulation. Cranial neurostimulation is a technique that has been used for a number of years in neurology, but this has been carried out using implantable neurostimulators (similar to a pacemaker). The technological advances made by Cefaly means that there is now a simple, lightweight, economical and comfortable device available that offers migraine patients a means of treatment that is neither drug-based nor invasive.

Cefaly device has the medical CE-marked. It is available on the European market for 295 and in Canada as well.

http://www.cefaly.com.

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Effective Drug-free Treatment for Migraine (Cefaly®) Published in NEUROLOGY

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)

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What is Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)?

Mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is commonly known as concussion. A universally accepted definition is lacking.

Mild traumatic brain injury and concussion are classified by:

- transient loss of consciousness
- amnesia
- altered mental status
- a Glasgow Coma Score of 13 to 15
- focal neurological deficits following an acute closed head injury

"Red flag' symptoms include: progression of physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms, seizure, progressive vomiting, and altered mental status.

What is the prognosis of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)?

Most patients recover quickly, within 1-2 weeks.

However, persistent symptoms may be noted in 5-20% of persons who have mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI):

- Physical symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and nausea, and changes in coordination, balance, appetite, sleep, vision, and hearing.

- Cognitive and behavioral symptoms include fatigue, anxiety, depression, and irritability, and problems with memory, concentration and decision making.

Who is at greatest risk after a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)?

Women, older adults, less educated persons, and those with a previous mental health diagnosis are more likely to have persistent symptoms.

Protecting the brain from concussion: $20-helmet is a good way to protect $100,000 education

Neuropsychologist Kim Gorgens makes the case for better protecting our brains against the risk of concussion -- with a compelling pitch for putting helmets on kids: A $20-helmet is a good way to protect $100,000 education. "Mind your (brain) matter."

References:
Subacute to chronic mild traumatic brain injury. Mott TF, McConnon ML, Rieger BP. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Dec 1;86(11):1045-51.
Image source: Hippocampus, from Wikipedia, public domain.

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Neurology Professor Michael Trimble Explains Why Humans Cry

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Crying is a phenomenon unique to humans. Other animals shed tears, but their tears are not linked specifically to emotions like human tears are.

Scientists now claim that we developed the ability to cry as a means to communicate our feelings before we were able to communicate with language.

Michael Trimble, professor of neurology, said biologically tears function to keep our eyes moist and fight infections.

All animals, aside from us, produce tears solely for that reason.

But the human ability to cry over intense emotions, like sadness, anger, or happiness, intrigued researchers to discover why we developed it.

"Humans cry for many reasons," Trimble said, "But crying for emotional reasons and crying in response to aesthetic experiences are unique to us. The former is most associated with loss and bereavement, and the art forms that are most associated with tears are music, literature and poetry."

"There are very few people who cry looking at paintings, sculptures, or lovely buildings. But we also have tears of joy, the associated feelings of which last a shorter time than crying in the other circumstances."

Since tears are a natural reaction to intense emotions for humans, Trimble said he hopes that people, especially men, stop feeling reluctant to express their feelings.

"We should not be afraid of our emotions, especially those related to compassion, since our ability to feel empathy and with that to cry tears, is the foundation of a morality and culture which is exclusively human."

Trimble said crying emerged in humans at a specific evolutionary turning point. He believes crying is connected with the time when our self-consciousness was developing and when we were first realizing that our fellow human beings were also self-conscious beings.

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Neurology Professor Michael Trimble Explains Why Humans Cry

Research and Markets: Neurology and Neurosurgery: Clinical & Review Criteria Guidelines for Managing Care, 3rd Edition …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/3gvr69/neurology_and) has announced the addition of the "Neurology and Neurosurgery: Clinical & Review Criteria Guidelines for Managing Care, 3rd Edition 2013" report to their offering.

Evidence-based clinical and review criteria guidelines for outpatient and inpatient tests and procedures with indications, medical necessity coverage criteria, authoritative references and resources ++ Alzheimer disease & ADHD page clinical guidelines - both with extensive references and resource materials. 3rd edition, update 2013, 276 pages.

The events related to medical and surgical procedures lend themselves well to the application of guidelines, protocols or pathways to assist in understanding the medical/surgical care issues that either require an acute hospital level of care or that will lead to an increased length of stay (LOS) at an acute level of care. Many procedures that until recent years were routinely performed following inpatient admission are now performed in ambulatory surgery suites or in day surgery' programs. An openness to consider whether a procedure needs inpatient care at all is really the first step in the resource utilization management evaluation process.

It is recommended that, for any common surgical procedure where the LOS is greater than expected, a day by day or shift by shift evaluation of the care delivered with an analysis of its medical necessity and adequacy be developed.

Some of the Key Topics Covered: please click here for a full list

Aneurysm, intracranial

Antibody testing for neurologic disease

Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders - clinical guideline

CNS/Brain Tumors

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Research and Markets: Neurology and Neurosurgery: Clinical & Review Criteria Guidelines for Managing Care, 3rd Edition ...