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The discovery of mutations that contribute to movement disorders has facilitated the identification of converging pathways and novel therapeutic targets. Successful translation of these research findings into clinical practice will require identification of early markers of disease progression, and recent research indicates that progress is being made in this area.
In 2010, progress in the headache field was marked by four very different key advances: clarification of the mechanisms of extracephalic allodynia, approval of onabotulinumtoxinA for chronic migraine prophylaxis, validation of combined pharmacological and behavioral treatments for migraine, and establishment of oxygen as an effective acute treatment for cluster headache.
Many articles were published in 2010 that had or will conceivably have a major impact on the field of stroke. With regard to practical patient care, however, several pivotal studies investigating avenues for optimal management of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease were especially important.
The most appropriate treatment for absence seizures and the teratogenic effects of valproate were clarified in 2010. Advances were also made in the use of both functional MRI to predict the adverse effects of neurosurgical resection and electrical stimulation to control epilepsy in patients who are not suitable for resection.
2010 represented a milestone in the history of multiple sclerosis monitoring and treatment. MRI and immunological biomarkers were identified to track disease evolution and, ultimately, to guide treatment decisions. Moreover, oral disease-modifying therapies emerged that should increase treatment regimen adherence and improve patient outcomes.
Advances in Alzheimer disease (AD) research during 2010 have identified promising novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets for this condition, and suggest that amyloid-β immunotherapy reduces plaque load in patients with AD. A new lexicon for AD has also been proposed.
Research conducted in 2010 has shown that surgical and dopaminergic treatments for Parkinson disease (PD) can promote the development of nonmotor symptoms, such as impulse control disorders and apathy. Lesions in cholinergic pathways have also been shown to partly underlie deficits in gait and posture in patients with advanced PD.
