Sahel Asgari, Alia Saberi, Hossein Daliri, Sepideh Atefrad, Mohaya Farzin
{"title":"Survey of the frequency of polypharmacy in multiple sclerosis patients: a study from the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI)-Guilan.","authors":"Sahel Asgari, Alia Saberi, Hossein Daliri, Sepideh Atefrad, Mohaya Farzin","doi":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2717246","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2717246","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objuective: </strong>This study aimed to determine the prevalence of polypharmacy among patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) registered in the MS registry system of Gilan Province, Iran, and to analyze the relationships between polypharmacy and various demographic, clinical, and disease-related factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted on 1,282 MS patients registered in Gilan's MS registry system. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire that included questions on age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, smoking habits, comorbidities, family history of MS, and medication use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The study found that 92.4% of patients used MS-related medications, and 65.5% used at least one non-MS medication. Polypharmacy was significantly associated with age, occupation, history of preexisting illnesses, comorbidities, number of coexisting diseases, and symptoms such as balance and urinary control disorders. Younger patients and those with multiple comorbidities were more likely to engage in polypharmacy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results emphasize the high prevalence of polypharmacy in MS patients, underscoring the need for personalized treatment strategies. Educating patients about managing the risks of drug interactions and improving treatment adherence is crucial. The findings can inform healthcare policies to optimize the management of MS in similar regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19114,"journal":{"name":"Neurodegenerative disease management","volume":" ","pages":"565-572"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13596921/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148795960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephano Tomaz Silva, Letícia Maria de Queiroz Aquino, Diogo Neres Aires, Aline Alves de Souza, João Victor Barbosa de Macedo, Sabrina da Silva Teixeira, Luciana Protásio de Melo, Lorenna Raquel Dantas de Macedo Borges, Ana Raquel Rodrigues Lindquist, Ricardo Alexsandro de Medeiros Valentim, Tatiana Ribeiro
{"title":"Pain and fatigue in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a multiple methods study.","authors":"Stephano Tomaz Silva, Letícia Maria de Queiroz Aquino, Diogo Neres Aires, Aline Alves de Souza, João Victor Barbosa de Macedo, Sabrina da Silva Teixeira, Luciana Protásio de Melo, Lorenna Raquel Dantas de Macedo Borges, Ana Raquel Rodrigues Lindquist, Ricardo Alexsandro de Medeiros Valentim, Tatiana Ribeiro","doi":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2617856","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2617856","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Pain and fatigue are frequent symptoms in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the literature is controversial regarding the effectiveness of physiotherapy practices for managing these symptoms.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To analyze the profile of pain and fatigue symptoms in a Brazilian sample with ALS and identify physiotherapy practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multimethods study composed of prospective cross-sectional design and systematic retrospective design. Data on pain and fatigue were collected and literature searches were conducted and risk of bias (PEDRro scale) and evidence quality (SIGN system) were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The sample (72 individuals) had a mean score of 4.31 (pain) and 37.2 (fatigue), indicating moderate levels of symptoms. The systematic review identified various physiotherapy practices for treating pain and fatigue.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Prospective analysis of pain and fatigue profiles in individuals with ALS in Brazil revealed moderate levels of both symptoms. The systematic retrospective analysis indicated uncertainty regarding the effect of physiotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":19114,"journal":{"name":"Neurodegenerative disease management","volume":" ","pages":"555-564"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13596891/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146041397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Selahaddin Batuhan Akben, Ayşenur Bilirim, Cantürk Akben, Şule Aydın Türkoğlu
{"title":"Analyzing multiple-sclerosis progression: stage-specific biomarker insights via explainable machine learning.","authors":"Selahaddin Batuhan Akben, Ayşenur Bilirim, Cantürk Akben, Şule Aydın Türkoğlu","doi":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2654373","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2654373","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease where early diagnosis from Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) remains challenging.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study investigates stage-specific biomarkers for CIS-to-MS conversion using explainable machine learning on a 10-year prospective dataset of 273 CIS patients, stratified by EDSS scores (1, 2, 3).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Following data preprocessing and 10-fold cross-validation, Shapley analysis identified clinical, MRI, demographic, and environmental variables. Models achieved high accuracy (EDSS = 1: 89.5% via KNN; EDSS = 2/3: 100% via SVM/Ensemble). Periventricular MRI lesions and oligoclonal bands were primary predictors across all stages. Spinal cord lesions became decisive at EDSS = 3, while motor symptoms were critical for early diagnosis. Lower education and lack of breastfeeding increased MS risk; varicella history showed positive correlation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These AI models effectively identify stage-specific biomarkers, revealing the dynamic importance of MRI findings. The influence of psychosocial and environmental factors underscores a multidisciplinary approach for MS management and early diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19114,"journal":{"name":"Neurodegenerative disease management","volume":" ","pages":"523-534"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13596885/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Murilo Marmori Cruccioli, Pedro Henrique Teixeira Carneiro, Jorge Ferreira Jasmineiro Pitanga, Yohanna Idsabella Rossi, Leticia Torres da Silva, Aishwarya Koppanatham, Pedro Fraiman, Filipe P Sarmento
{"title":"Amantadine for multiple sclerosis-related fatigue: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.","authors":"Murilo Marmori Cruccioli, Pedro Henrique Teixeira Carneiro, Jorge Ferreira Jasmineiro Pitanga, Yohanna Idsabella Rossi, Leticia Torres da Silva, Aishwarya Koppanatham, Pedro Fraiman, Filipe P Sarmento","doi":"10.1080/17582024.2025.2607678","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17582024.2025.2607678","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fatigue affects up to 95% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), significantly impairing daily functioning. Management is multidisciplinary, and although amantadine lacks U.S. FDA approval for this indication, it remains the most commonly prescribed pharmacologic option despite inconsistent supporting evidence. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of amantadine for MS-related fatigue.</p><p><strong>Design/methods: </strong>We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing amantadine to placebo in the treatment of MS-related fatigue. Statistical analyses were conducted using R. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess fatigue severity and adverse effects incidence, respectively. A random-effects model was applied to all analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of nine RCTs were included, involving 601 patients, 66% of whom received amantadine. Amantadine use was not associated with a significant reduction in fatigue severity compared to placebo (SMD -0.22; [95% CI -0.72; 0.27]; <i>p</i> = 0.37). However, it was associated with higher odds of insomnia (OR = 2.33; [95% CI 1.27; 4.29]; <i>p</i> = 0.006).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This meta-analysis suggests that amantadine is not effective for treating MS-related fatigue and is associated with an increased risk of adverse effects, particularly insomnia. These results cast doubt on its continued first-line use.</p>","PeriodicalId":19114,"journal":{"name":"Neurodegenerative disease management","volume":" ","pages":"643-649"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13596907/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145828263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zehra Yavuz, Merve Uzun, Turay Mutlu, Gürkan Değirmencioğlu, Mehmet Hanifi Çanakçı, Dilek İşcan, Halil Önder, İsmet Murat Melek, Selim Selçuk Çomoğlu
{"title":"Functional bowel disorders in idiopathic Parkinson's disease: a Rome IV-based controlled study.","authors":"Zehra Yavuz, Merve Uzun, Turay Mutlu, Gürkan Değirmencioğlu, Mehmet Hanifi Çanakçı, Dilek İşcan, Halil Önder, İsmet Murat Melek, Selim Selçuk Çomoğlu","doi":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2676835","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2676835","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are part of the non-motor spectrum of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD). The prevalence and relevance of Rome IV-defined functional bowel disorders (FBDs) remain unclear. This study evaluated FBD prevalence and correlates in iPD using a gastroenterology-based control group.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 64 iPD patients and 64 controls without neurological disease with Rome IV-defined FGIDs. FGIDs were assessed using the Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire. Non-motor symptoms, mood, and quality of life were evaluated using NMSS, Hamilton scales, PDQ-39, and GIQLI. Multivariable analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>FBD prevalence did not differ between iPD and the FGID-enriched control group (20.3% vs. 21.9%, <i>p</i> = 0.828; adjusted OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.23-2.95, <i>p</i> = 0.774). Within iPD, FBD positivity was associated with worse PDQ-39 scores and higher non-motor burden, particularly in attention/memory and sexual domains. Anxiety severity was negatively associated with GIQLI.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this FGID-enriched comparison, FBD prevalence was not higher in iPD. However, FBDs were associated with greater non-motor burden and poorer quality of life. These findings suggest FGIDs may be associated with variation in the non-motor phenotype rather than disease risk. Interpretation should be cautious due to control selection and demographic imbalance.</p>","PeriodicalId":19114,"journal":{"name":"Neurodegenerative disease management","volume":" ","pages":"595-602"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13596883/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148015673","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhihan Zhang, Rui Fan, Sisi Jing, Shiyi Liu, Linqi Liu, Wenjun Que, Dan Lu, Yaoqi Gan, Fei Xiao
{"title":"Plasma proteomic trajectories before the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.","authors":"Zhihan Zhang, Rui Fan, Sisi Jing, Shiyi Liu, Linqi Liu, Wenjun Que, Dan Lu, Yaoqi Gan, Fei Xiao","doi":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2646760","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2646760","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The study aimed to identify indicative proteins associated with the occurrence and mortality of three neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) and track the changes of proteins before the onset of NDDs.</p><p><strong>Research design and methods: </strong>We analyzed plasma proteomic data from UK Biobank. Cox regression analyses were utilized to detect the relationship between plasma proteins and the risk of development and all-cause mortality of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Predictive models were established based on related proteins using Lasso regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 14 disease-associated proteins for AD, 35 for PD, and one for ALS. The trajectory of plasma proteins before the onset of NDDs was portrayed. Neuroinflammation and the remodeling of the extracellular matrix might be common pathways for NDDs.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results highlighted that the landscape of plasma protein changes before the onset of NDDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":19114,"journal":{"name":"Neurodegenerative disease management","volume":" ","pages":"573-584"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13596915/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147487015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah J Conklin, Leah Vaikutis, Travis Loux, Jason Longhurst
{"title":"The impact of non-motor symptoms on physical activity in Parkinson's disease.","authors":"Sarah J Conklin, Leah Vaikutis, Travis Loux, Jason Longhurst","doi":"10.1080/17582024.2025.2607694","DOIUrl":"10.1080/17582024.2025.2607694","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To examine how specific non-motor symptoms (NMS) are associated with physical activity engagement in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Data from 24,813 individuals with PD were obtained from the Fox Insight dataset (Michael J. Fox Foundation). Variables included sex, age, disease duration, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQ). Ridge regression and linear modeling were used to assess associations between NMS and PASE scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Delusions, falls, apathy, leg swelling, hallucinations, bowel incontinence, depressive mood, dysphagia, difficulty concentrating, and constipation were significantly associated with lower PASE scores. Female sex, older age, and longer disease duration were also linked to reduced physical activity. The model explained 10.51% of the variance in PASE scores.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Specific NMS are linked to reduced physical activity in PD. Targeting these symptoms may help increase activity levels and improve quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":19114,"journal":{"name":"Neurodegenerative disease management","volume":" ","pages":"585-593"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13596871/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145834326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sana Shahbaz, Muhammad Hassan Shahbaz, Rauha Fatima, Muhammad Hussain Mansoor, Maryam Kharal, Maryam Bashir, Zain Ul Abideen, Muhammad Salman Nadeem
{"title":"Trends in mortality of Alzheimer's disease with comorbid hypertension in patients in the US from 1999-2020.","authors":"Sana Shahbaz, Muhammad Hassan Shahbaz, Rauha Fatima, Muhammad Hussain Mansoor, Maryam Kharal, Maryam Bashir, Zain Ul Abideen, Muhammad Salman Nadeem","doi":"10.1080/17582024.2026.2739337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/17582024.2026.2739337","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To examine temporal trends and demographic disparities in Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related mortality among adults aged ≥ 65 years with comorbid hypertension in the United States from 1999 to 2020.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>We conducted a population-based retrospective analysis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) Multiple Cause of Death database. Deaths involving AD (ICD-10 G30) and hypertension (ICD-10 I10-I15) were identified. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) were assessed by sex, race/ethnicity, geographic region, urbanization level, and state. Temporal trends were evaluated using Joinpoint regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 1999 and 2020, 409,112 deaths involving AD and hypertension were recorded. The overall AAMR increased from 14.51 per 100,000 in 1999 to 69.06 in 2020, with a decline from 2007 to 2014 followed by an increase through 2020. Females had higher AAMRs than males, and non-Hispanic Black individuals had the highest AAMR among the racial and ethnic groups examined.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>AD-related mortality among older adults with comorbid hypertension increased substantially during the study period, with notable demographic and geographic disparities.</p>","PeriodicalId":19114,"journal":{"name":"Neurodegenerative disease management","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149112498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}