Top neurology stories of 2020

Healio Neurology has complied a list of the posts neurologists and other health care professionals read most in 2020.

Some of this year’s most popular stories addressed areas where medicine overlaps with social exigencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic and overcoming gender barriers, as well as innovations in ALS treatment and care for patients with MS.

Follow @HealioNeurology on Twitter to stay updated on neurology research and innovations in the new year.

Encephalopathy, other neurologic manifestations occur frequently in COVID- 19

Neurologic manifestations occurred often in a large cohort of patients with COVID-19, regardless of respiratory disease severity, according to a retrospective analysis conducted in the Chicago area during the early months of the pandemic. Read more.

Q&A: Small neuroimaging study shows ‘markedly distinct’ findings in patients with COVID- 19

Research into the neurological manifestations of COVID-19 continues as investigators also examine the impact of COVID-19 on comorbid neurological diseases, including MS and epilepsy. Read more.

Spike proteins provide ‘plausible explanation’ for neurological complications of COVID- 19

SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins triggered a proinflammatory response in brain endothelial cells that may influence a change in the function of the blood-brain barrier, according to findings published in Neurobiology of Disease. Read more.

Oral, fixed-dose formulation of two compounds reduces rate of functional decline in ALS

Coformulated, fixed-dose sodium phenylbutyrate–taurursodiol reduced the rate of functional decline compared with placebo in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, according to findings from the CENTAUR study. Read more.

With limited treatment options, physicians often misclassify SPMS as RRMS

Patients with secondary progressive MS on disease-modifying treatments often are clinically misclassified as having relapsing-remitting MS, most likely because they are not reassigned categorically until after conversion has occurred. Read more.

National organizations provide women with tools for overcoming barriers in medicine

Numerous barriers have resulted in unequal compensation, limited earning potential and fewer opportunities for career advancement for women in medicine, according to a speaker at the virtual Women in Medicine Summit. Read more.

Did your favorite article make the top six? Let us know on Twitter @HealioNeurology.