ANA meeting highlights: Encephalopathy and COVID-19, mindfulness for migraines, more

Healio Neurology featured some of the major stories from the American Neurological Association Annual Meeting.

Research on the link between isolated encephalopathy in patients with COVID-19, targeted therapies for preventing neurocognitive worsening in patients with HIV and mindfulness techniques for reducing migraine burden were among the presentation topics at the virtual meeting.

Isolated encephalopathy not linked to comorbidities seen in some COVID-19 cases

Some patients with COVID-19 may experience isolated encephalopathy that cannot be explained by concurrent medical problems typically observed among these patients. Read more.

Targeted therapies may prevent neurocognitive worsening in HIV

Anti-inflammatories and antidepressants may help prevent neurocognitive worsening among people with HIV. Read more.

VIDEO: ANA Presidential Symposium highlights pandemic's overall, neurological effects

In this video, Justin C. McArthur, MBBS, MPH, discussed the presidential symposium, “COVID-19 pandemic: Population impact and responses, and neurological complications.” Read more.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction has long-lasting benefits for migraine

Mindfulness-based stress reduction appeared to safely treat total migraine burden with long-lasting effects. Read more.

Availability of alternative pain treatment decreased opioid use

The likelihood that opioid treatment for common neurological conditions was initiated appeared to decrease with greater access to neurologists or other specialists who offered alternative pain treatment. Read more.