Autism Therapy Investigation; Repurposing Drugs for Alzheimer’s; Wearable SMA Robot

The New York Times investigated the rapid expansion in autism therapy clinics in the U.S. with little regulatory oversight. Here are five takeaways from the report.

Atomoxetine, metformin, isosorbide mononitrate, and levetiracetam were identified for testing in a U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Research platform trial of repurposing drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. (Alzheimer’s & Dementia)

A 4-week course of electroacupuncture reduced pain severity and improved pain-related functional outcomes in a trial of people with postherpetic neuralgia, a common complication of shingles. (JAMA Neurology)

An exploratory study curated genetic heat sensitivity data to identify rare neurologic diseases that may emerge due to climate change. (Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry)

Metabolomic age delta — the difference between plasma metabolite-predicted age and chronological age — was associated with higher dementia risk, data from the U.K. Biobank cohort showed. (Alzheimer’s & Dementia)

In a 25-year prospective cohort study, quitting smoking was associated with lower dementia risk and slower cognitive decline, which was largely limited to people with no or modest 2-year post-cessation weight gain. (Neurology)

Noise exposure is recognized as a modifiable environmental risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease and dementias but is rarely incorporated into epidemiologic studies, researchers said. (Alzheimer’s & Dementia)

A wearable robot improved knee function in a study of six children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type II. (Nature)

A case report described a musical trick that alleviated a benign essential blepharospasm in a professional oboist. (JAMA Neurology)

Acute stress may impair the ability to integrate memories, imaging and psychological testing data suggested. (Science Advances)

Memory decline after menopause was tied to a loss of estrogen production in brain tissue in a mouse study. (Aging Cell)