All articles tagged with #neuropsychiatric symptoms
A Hyderabad neurologist highlights that persistent forgetfulness and mood swings in a young vegetarian IT professional were caused by a severe Vitamin B12 deficiency, which was successfully treated with supplements, emphasizing the importance of awareness and early diagnosis especially among vegetarians.
A common childhood infection, strep throat, can in rare cases trigger Pandas, a disorder causing sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms due to autoimmune reactions affecting the brain, leading to severe behavioral and physical changes, with treatment options like IVIG and plasma exchange often underutilized despite evidence of effectiveness.
A study finds that persistent apathy in Alzheimer's patients predicts a faster decline in daily functioning, highlighting the importance of monitoring this symptom for better prognosis and intervention strategies.
A phase 2 clinical trial suggests that ambroxol, an ingredient in cough medicines, may help stabilize neuropsychiatric symptoms and protect brain function in Parkinson's disease dementia, especially in genetically high-risk individuals, with further research needed to confirm its efficacy.
A new website offers free training in the DICE approach to help caregivers manage neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia patients, aiming to reduce reliance on psychoactive medications and improve care through non-pharmaceutical strategies.
A study published in The Lancet Discovery Science's eClinicalMedicine highlights that neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as nightmares and hallucinations, are more prevalent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) than previously recognized. These symptoms can act as early indicators of disease flares, suggesting the need for clinicians to monitor and document them more rigorously. The study also emphasizes the importance of considering systemic autoimmune diseases when patients present with both physical and mental health symptoms, to avoid misdiagnosis and improve patient care.
A new website offers free training in the DICE approach to help caregivers manage the neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia. The method, which stands for Describe, Investigate, Create, and Evaluate, aims to address underlying causes of distressing behaviors and reduce reliance on psychoactive medications. The site provides video modules and simulations to guide caregivers in creating effective, personalized care strategies.
A recent study suggests that nightmares and "daymares" may serve as early warning signs of flare-ups in autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The research, which focused on patient experiences, found that these neuropsychiatric symptoms often precede other disease symptoms, potentially allowing for earlier treatment. However, the variability of symptoms among patients and the subjective nature of neuropsychiatric symptoms pose challenges in establishing a standard list of indicators. The study highlights the importance of patient-clinician communication in detecting these early warning signs.
Researchers have found that vivid nightmares and dreamlike hallucinations, or "daymares," could be early indicators of autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. These symptoms may signal the onset or worsening of these conditions, allowing for earlier medical intervention to prevent further organ damage.
An international study reveals that nightmares and hallucinations can be early indicators of autoimmune diseases like lupus, helping in early detection and management of disease flares. Researchers emphasize the importance of clinicians discussing these neuropsychiatric symptoms with patients, as they are often overlooked and can lead to misdiagnosis.
Neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease, such as irritability and agitation, are primarily caused by brain inflammation rather than amyloid and tau proteins, according to a study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The study, which involved 109 elderly individuals, found a strong correlation between neuroinflammation and these challenging symptoms. The findings suggest new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's, focusing on neuroinflammation to alleviate both cognitive and psychological burdens. This research aligns with the growing understanding of neuroinflammation's role in the early stages of Alzheimer's and other dementias, offering new pathways for treatment development.
Patients who experience cognitive deficits or "brain fog" within the first 4 weeks of COVID-19 infection are more likely to develop long COVID, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. The study followed 766 COVID-19 patients and found that those who reported cognitive deficits were twice as likely to have long COVID symptoms at 60 and 90 days compared to those without cognitive deficits. Common neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with long COVID include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, trouble focusing, and PTSD. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms of long COVID.
People with long COVID have abnormal brain activity during memory tests, months after their initial COVID-19 infection, with less activity in the regions normally used for memory tasks, but more activity in other areas of the brain. Although people who had COVID-19 had cognitive test scores similar to those who never had a history of coronavirus, those who had long COVID had greater brain activation on a working memory task compared to people without prior COVID-19 infections. The study does not prove that COVID-19 caused the brain changes, and a limitation of the study was that it was conducted mainly during the delta variant phase of the pandemic in the United States, so the results do not necessarily show whether newer coronavirus variants may affect the brain similarly.