October’s top neurology topics: Post-COVID-19 cognition, vaccines, Alzheimer’s therapies

Healio’s most-viewed neurology stories in October highlight cognitive impairment after COVID-19 infection, vaccine risks and advances in Alzheimer’s therapies, including the FDA granting breakthrough therapy designation for gantenerumab.

Cognitive impairment somewhat common after COVID-19 infection

Cognitive impairment occurred relatively often within several months of patients having had COVID-19, according to results of a cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

Gantenerumab receives breakthrough therapy designation as Alzheimer’s treatment

The FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation to gantenerumab, an anti-amyloid beta antibody developed for subcutaneous administration, as an Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Read more.

COVID-19 infection imparts greater neurological risks than vaccine

Researchers found rare neurological adverse events related to two COVID-19 vaccines, as well as to infection with the virus itself, but concluded the risks are greater among those who were infected, according to a study in Nature Medicine. Read more.

Antiseizure drug may improve spatial memory, executive function in AD

Levetiracetam was well tolerated and appeared to improve performance on spatial memory and executive function tasks among patients with Alzheimer’s disease, according to results of a randomized clinical trial in JAMA Neurology. Read more.

Half of those with rare COVID-19 vaccine-induced thrombotic syndrome have CVST

More than 50% of individuals with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome linked to COVID-19 vector-based vaccine administration presented with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, according to a study. Read more.