Latest news from American Academy of Neurology (AAN) on News en-us Copyright 2025 News 115 31 / /images/newswise-logo-rss.gif /articles/metabolic-syndrome-linked-to-increased-risk-of-young-onset-dementia/?sc=rsin /articles/metabolic-syndrome-linked-to-increased-risk-of-young-onset-dementia/?sc=rsin Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:00:00 EST Having a larger waistline, high blood pressure and other risk factors that make up metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of young-onset dementia, according to a study published on April 23, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/how-do-age-sex-hormones-and-genetics-affect-dementia-biomarkers-in-the-blood/?sc=rsin /articles/how-do-age-sex-hormones-and-genetics-affect-dementia-biomarkers-in-the-blood/?sc=rsin Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:00:00 EST A new study has found important clues about the roles age, sex, hormonal changes and genetics play in how certain biomarkers for dementia are expressed in the blood, according to a study published on April 16, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/boston-stroke-neurologist-elected-new-american-academy-of-neurology-president/?sc=rsin /articles/boston-stroke-neurologist-elected-new-american-academy-of-neurology-president/?sc=rsin Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:20:55 EST The American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, has elected Natalia S. Rost, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAHA, as its 39th president. Rost is professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, and the C. Miller Fisher Endowed Chair in Stroke Research and former chief of the stroke division at Massachusetts General Hospital. Rost succeeds Carlayne E. Jackson, MD, FAAN, who completed her two-year term as president during the recent AAN Annual Meeting. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/father-with-alzheimer-s-you-may-be-more-at-risk-of-brain-changes/?sc=rsin /articles/father-with-alzheimer-s-you-may-be-more-at-risk-of-brain-changes/?sc=rsin Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:00:00 EST While some studies have suggested that having a mother with Alzheimer's disease may put you more at risk of developing the disease, a new study finds that having a father with the disease may be tied to a greater spread of the tau protein in the brain that is a sign of the disease, according to a study published on April 9, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/how-does-heavy-drinking-affect-the-brain/?sc=rsin /articles/how-does-heavy-drinking-affect-the-brain/?sc=rsin Wed, 09 Apr 2025 16:00:00 EST Heavy drinkers who have eight or more alcoholic drinks per week have an increased risk of brain lesions called hyaline arteriolosclerosis, signs of brain injury that are associated with memory and thinking problems, according to a study published on April 9, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/study-finds-nearly-five-fold-increase-in-hospitalizations-for-common-cause-of-stroke/?sc=rsin /articles/study-finds-nearly-five-fold-increase-in-hospitalizations-for-common-cause-of-stroke/?sc=rsin Wed, 02 Apr 2025 16:00:00 EST Cervical artery dissection is a tear in an artery in the neck that provides blood flow to the brain. Such a tear can result in blood clots that cause stroke. A new study has found almost a five-fold increase in the number of U.S. hospitalizations for cervical artery dissection over a 15-year period. The study is published on April 2, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/early-signs-of-heart-problems-linked-to-smaller-brain-volumes/?sc=rsin /articles/early-signs-of-heart-problems-linked-to-smaller-brain-volumes/?sc=rsin Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST MINNEAPOLIS -- People who have early signs of heart problems may also have changes in brain health that can be early signs of dementia, such as loss of brain volume, according to a meta-analysis published on March 26, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The meta-analysis does not prove that early heart problems cause loss of brain cells; it only shows an association. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/your-neighborhood-may-affect-your-risk-of-dementia/?sc=rsin /articles/your-neighborhood-may-affect-your-risk-of-dementia/?sc=rsin Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST People living in more disadvantaged neighborhoods may be more likely to develop dementia than people living in neighborhoods with fewer disadvantages, according to a study published on March 26, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/sleepier-during-the-day-for-some-older-people-it-s-linked-to-twice-the-dementia-risk/?sc=rsin /articles/sleepier-during-the-day-for-some-older-people-it-s-linked-to-twice-the-dementia-risk/?sc=rsin Wed, 19 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST For women in their 80s, experiencing increasing sleepiness during the day over a five-year period is associated with double the risk of developing dementia during that time, according to a study published on March 19, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study does not prove that daytime sleepiness causes dementia; it only shows an association. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/do-brain-changes-remain-after-recovery-from-concussion/?sc=rsin /articles/do-brain-changes-remain-after-recovery-from-concussion/?sc=rsin Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST For college athletes with concussion, brain changes may remain visible in brain scans up to a year after they are cleared to return to play, according to a study published on March 12, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/aan-aes-and-efa-issue-position-statement-on-seizures-and-driving-safety/?sc=rsin /articles/aan-aes-and-efa-issue-position-statement-on-seizures-and-driving-safety/?sc=rsin Wed, 12 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST The American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the American Epilepsy Society (AES) and the Epilepsy Foundation of America (EFA) have issued a consensus position statement on seizures, driver licensure and medical reporting. The position statement is published on March 12, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). It was developed with the Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee, a joint committee of the AAN, the American Neurological Association and the Child Neurology Society. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/stressed-out-it-may-increase-the-risk-of-stroke/?sc=rsin /articles/stressed-out-it-may-increase-the-risk-of-stroke/?sc=rsin Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST Some people living with chronic stress have a higher risk of stroke, according to a study published on March 5, 2025, online in Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study looked at younger adults and found an association between stress and stroke, with no known cause, in female participants, but not male participants. This study does not prove that stress causes stroke; it only shows an association. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/over-the-counter-pain-relievers-linked-to-improved-recovery-from-concussion/?sc=rsin /articles/over-the-counter-pain-relievers-linked-to-improved-recovery-from-concussion/?sc=rsin Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST People who take over-the-counter pain relievers after a concussion may recover faster than those who do not take pain relievers, according to a preliminary study released today, March 5, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/are-higher-doses-of-folic-acid-in-pregnancy-safe/?sc=rsin /articles/are-higher-doses-of-folic-acid-in-pregnancy-safe/?sc=rsin Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST Taking a higher dose of folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy was safe and associated with improved verbal abilities in children at age six as well as improved behavior skills, according to a preliminary study released today, March 4, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/simple-algorithm-helps-improve-treatment-reduce-disparities-in-ms/?sc=rsin /articles/simple-algorithm-helps-improve-treatment-reduce-disparities-in-ms/?sc=rsin Mon, 03 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST A simple treatment algorithm may help reduce treatment disparities for Hispanic and Black people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a preliminary study released today, March 3, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/sleep-apnea-linked-to-increased-risk-of-parkinson-s-but-cpap-may-reduce-risk/?sc=rsin /articles/sleep-apnea-linked-to-increased-risk-of-parkinson-s-but-cpap-may-reduce-risk/?sc=rsin Sun, 02 Mar 2025 16:00:00 EST People with obstructive sleep apnea have an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, but if started early enough, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce that risk, according to a preliminary study released today, March 2, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. The study found using CPAP within two years of a sleep apnea diagnosis reduced the risk of Parkinson's. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/physical-activity-linked-to-lower-risk-of-dementia-sleep-disorders-other-diseases/?sc=rsin /articles/physical-activity-linked-to-lower-risk-of-dementia-sleep-disorders-other-diseases/?sc=rsin Thu, 27 Feb 2025 16:00:00 EST People who get moderate to vigorous physical activity may be less likely to develop dementia, stroke, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, according to a preliminary study released today, February 27, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/drug-may-prevent-some-migraine-attacks-in-children-and-teens/?sc=rsin /articles/drug-may-prevent-some-migraine-attacks-in-children-and-teens/?sc=rsin Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:00:00 EST For children and teens living with migraine, there may be a new preventive treatment, according to a preliminary study released today, February 26, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. Researchers found the drug zonisamide, which has been used to treat seizures, may reduce migraine days in this age group. This study does not prove that zonisamide reduces migraine days; it only shows an association. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/blood-test-could-lead-to-better-diagnosis-and-management-of-als/?sc=rsin /articles/blood-test-could-lead-to-better-diagnosis-and-management-of-als/?sc=rsin Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:00:00 EST ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, can sometimes be difficult to diagnose or to predict how quickly the disease is likely to progress. A new study helps determine which blood tests are best at identifying and monitoring ALS. The study is published in the February 26, 2025, online issue of Neurology(r), the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. American Academy of Neurology (AAN) /articles/microplastics-in-ocean-linked-to-disabilities-for-coastal-residents/?sc=rsin /articles/microplastics-in-ocean-linked-to-disabilities-for-coastal-residents/?sc=rsin Tue, 25 Feb 2025 16:00:00 EST Tiny bits of plastic found in the ocean may be tied to a higher risk of disability for people who live in coastal areas with high levels, according to a preliminary study released today, February 25, 2025, that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 77th Annual Meeting taking place April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. The study looked at disabilities affecting memory and thinking, mobility and a person's ability to take care of oneself. American Academy of Neurology (AAN)