Neurological System

Gluten Sensitivity May Not Involve the Gut

David Perlmutter, MD. Recently, Australian researchers published a report in the journal Gastroenterologythat purported to argue against the clinical entity known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity. In their research, the claim was made that because there were no biomarkers for gluten sensitivity correlated with introduction of gluten into the diet and no clear cut correlation of gluten exposure to […]

Interrater and intrarater reliability of common clinical standing balance tests for people with hip osteoarthritis

Phys Ther. 2014 May;94(5):696-704. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20130266. Epub 2014 Feb 20. Choi YM1, Dobson F, Martin J, Bennell KL, Hinman RS. Abstract BACKGROUND: Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a common musculoskeletal condition affecting older individuals. Clinical balance tests are frequently used to assess standing balance in these people. There is insufficient information regarding the reliability of these […]

Population-Based, Inception Cohort Study of the Incidence, Course, and Prognosis of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury After Motor Vehicle Collisions

J. David Cassidy, PhD, DrMedSc Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation March 2014 Volume 95, Issue 3, Supplement, Pages S278–S285 Abstract Objective To determine the incidence, course, and prognosis of adult mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) caused by motor vehicle collisions. Design Prospective, population-based, inception cohort study. Setting The province of Saskatchewan, Canada, with a […]

Investigating the Role of Backward Walking Therapy in Alleviating Plantar Pressure of Patients With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation May 2014 Volume 95, Issue 5, Pages 832–839 Xingguang Zhang, MD Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of combination therapy of backward walking training and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) treatment on the distribution of plantar pressure in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Design This study is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial. […]

Aerobic Exercise Preserves Cognition in Nondemented Elderly

Pauline Anderson May 01, 2014 PHILADELPHIA — Continuous long-term aerobic activity has a protective effect on cognitive status and psychomotor speed in nondemented elderly, a new study has found. “We recommend daily low-impact aerobic physical activity in older people who are able to do this type of exercise,” said lead researcher Manuel Seijo-Martinez, MD, Neurology […]

Function of the sympathetic supply in acute and chronic experimental joint inflammation

Schaible HG, et al. Auton Neurosci. 2014 May;182:55-64. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2013.12.004. Epub 2013 Dec 24. Abstract Joints are densely innervated by postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers. These fibers control the blood flow in the joint and vascular permeability, either directly or indirectly, in cooperation with leukocytes. Chemical sympathectomy or suppression of adrenergic signaling significantly reduces inflammatory processes […]

Spice up your memory: Just one gram of turmeric a day could boost memory

Date: November 18, 2014 Source: Monash University Summary: Adding just one gram of turmeric to breakfast could help improve the memory of people who are in the very early stages of diabetes and at risk of cognitive impairment. Adding just one gram of turmeric to breakfast could help improve the memory of people who are […]

Occipital Calcification and Celiac Disease

Rubens Gisbert Cury, M.D., and Camila Hobi Moreira, M.D. N Engl J Med 2014; 370:e26April 17, 2014DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm1311406 Journal Reference   A 24-year-old man presented with a 10-year history of recurrent episodes of throbbing, occipital headache associated with complex visual symptoms, lasting from a few minutes to an hour. He had been treated for migraine, […]

Green Tea’s Impact on Cognitive Function Now Visible

Medscape Medical News > Psychiatry Megan Brooks April 16, 2014 Green tea appears to boost memory by enhancing functional brain connectivity, a new imaging study suggests. A study led by Stefan Borgwardt, MD, PhD, from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Basel, Switzerland, shows that drinking a green tea extract enhances memory performance, a finding […]

Green Tea’s Impact on Cognitive Function Now Visible

Megan Brooks April 16, 2014 Green tea appears to boost memory by enhancing functional brain connectivity, a new imaging study suggests. A study led by Stefan Borgwardt, MD, PhD, from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Basel, Switzerland, shows that drinking a green tea extract enhances memory performance, a finding that researchers suggest may have important clinical […]

The effects of spinal mobilizations on the sympathetic nervous system: A systematic review

Kingston L, et al. Man Ther. 2014 Apr 13. pii: S1356-689X(14)00065-4. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2014.04.004. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract The activity of the sympathetic nervous system is of importance to manual therapists, since the experience of pain is associated with sympathetic activity. There has been little exploration into the effects of mobilizing vertebral segments below the […]

Aerobics May Build Bigger Brains in Older Women

Published: Apr 8, 2014 By Salynn Boyles, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Full Story Journal Reference Action Points Regular aerobic exercise appeared to enlarge a key area of the brain associated with memory in older women with mild cognitive impairment. Note that increased left hippocampal volume has been shown in other research to be associated with […]

Support for Autoimmune-Epilepsy Link

Megan Brooks April 07, 2014 A new study provides evidence at a population level for an autoimmune cause of epilepsy, prompting the research team to suggest that patients with either condition be screened for the other. “The potential role of autoimmunity must be given due consideration in refractory epilepsy so that we are not overlooking […]

Chiropractic care for foot drop due to peroneal nerve neuropathy

Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies April 2014 Volume 18, Issue 2, Pages 200–203 Vinicius T. Francio, DC, MS Summary Peroneal nerve palsy is the most common entrapment neuropathy in the lower extremity, and the presentation of foot drop is a frequent initial manifestation of this disorder. This condition can have a marked influence on […]

The Wahls Protocol: How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine by Terry Wahls, M.D.

Full Story An integrative approach to healing chronic auto-immune conditions by a doctor, researcher, and sufferer of progressive multiple sclerosis whose TEDx talk is already a web sensation. Like many physicians, Dr. Terry Wahls focused on treating her patients’ ailments with drugs or surgical procedures—until she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000. Within three […]

Summary of evidence-based guideline: Complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis

Report of the Guideline Development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology Vijayshree Yadav, MD, MCR ABSTRACT Objective: To develop evidence-based recommendations for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: We searched the literature (1970–March 2011; March 2011−September 2013 MEDLINE search), classified articles, and linked recommendations to evidence. Results and recommendations: Clinicians […]

MS Linked With Use of Hormonal Contraceptives

Sue Hughes March 06, 2014 Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) were more likely to have used oral contraceptives in the 3 years before their diagnosis than women who did not have MS or CIS, the results of a new case-control study show. “Independent of age, smoking status, parity and obesity, […]

Structural Brain Alterations in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Preliminary Study [Full Text Article]

PLoS One Published: March 3, 2014 http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0090816 Michael Luchtmann Abstract Chronic pain is one of the most common health complaints in industrial nations. For example, chronic low back pain (cLBP) disables millions of people across the world and generates a tremendous economic burden. While previous studies provided evidence of widespread functional as well as structural […]

Recognizing Subtle Signs of Early Stage Neurodegeneration

Holistic Primary Care Thursday, 27 February 2014 10:51 By Janet Gulland, Contributing Writer Full Story DALLAS–A sharp eye and a few simple physical tests can reveal a wealth of information about early-stage neurodegeneration, opening up a window for lifestyle-based interventions, said Datis Kharrazian, DC, at the Institute for Functional Medicine’s annual international conference. At their […]

High-Calorie Diet May Benefit ALS

Sue Hughes February 27, 2014 A high-calorie, carbohydrate-based diet was safe and appeared to be associated with improved survival in a small pilot study in patients with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, published online February 27 in The Lancet, was conducted by a group led by Anne-Marie Wills, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard […]