A drug used to treat children with epilepsy prevents brain tumor formation and growth in two mouse models of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. NF1 is a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body, including the […]
Category: Research
High BMI lowers odds for nerve stimulation treatment response in OSA (Links to an external site)
Hypoglossal nerve stimulation reduced obstructive sleep apnea severity; however, this outcome was less likely among those with higher BMIs and those who slept in supine position, according to study results. “Physicians can take both this new information about BMI and sleeping on your back vs. your side into consideration when counseling patients with OSA,” Eric C. Landsness, […]
CPAP replacement works well for the overweight, not obese, study finds (Links to an external site)
An implant for obstructive sleep apnea — a serious sleep malady in which breathing stops for 10 seconds to two minutes many times an hour each night — works best in people who are overweight but not severely obese, a new study found. To qualify for the device, called a hypoglossal nerve stimulator, a person over 18 diagnosed with […]
Nerve stimulation for sleep apnea is less effective for people with higher BMIs (Links to an external site)
A nerve-stimulation treatment for obstructive sleep apnea that originally was approved only for people with body mass indexes (BMIs) in the healthy range recently was extended to patients with BMIs up to 40, a weight range generally described as severely obese. A healthy BMI ranges from 18.5 to 24.9.
Immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease shows promise in mouse study (Links to an external site)
Alzheimer’s disease starts with a sticky protein called amyloid beta that builds up into plaques in the brain, setting off a chain of events that results in brain atrophy and cognitive decline. The new generation of Alzheimer’s drugs — the first proven to change the course of the disease — work by tagging amyloid for […]
Two Studies, Two Different Conclusions on Biomarkers for Lewy Body Dementia (Links to an external site)
Two studies of commercially available biomarkers of synucleinopathies have reached sharply different conclusions on their reliability, according to the findings from two abstracts presented at the AAN Annual Meeting, held in Denver in April.
Steady as she goes! Daily fluctuations in cognitive ability are associated with risk of Alzheimer’s disease (Links to an external site)
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in progressive loss of cognitive function. It is critical to identify individuals who are at the highest risk of developing AD as early as possible so that appropriate treatment plans can be developed. Neuropsychological tests of psychomotor speed, attention, and memory are frequently used to assess […]
Geisler, McPherson awarded grants as part of ICTS’s Clinical and Translational Research Funding Program
Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) and The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital have awarded Stefanie Geisler, MD, and Laura McPherson, PT, DPT, PhD, grants as part of the 17th annual Clinical and Translational Research Funding Program (CTRFP). This program is the largest internal grant funding program in the ICTS, requiring applicants to […]
WashU Medicine rises to No. 2 in nation in NIH research funding (Links to an external site)
In the realm of biomedical research, securing funding is a testament to an institution’s record of scientific accomplishments and potential for further advances to improve human health. In 2023, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis received the second-highest amount of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of all medical schools nationwide. […]
Washington University Neurofibromatosis Center Celebrates 30 Years of NF
One of the largest and most comprehensive centers in the world specializing in the care of people with Neurofibromatosis (NF) and related disorders — the Washington University NF Center — is celebrating 30 years of NF. Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a set of four rare genetic medical conditions with which children and adults are prone to […]