Volume 12 Issue 10, October 2016

Recently published American Headache Society evidence-based guidelines for cluster headache management provide updated guidance on which therapies are superior to placebo in randomized controlled trials. These valuable recommendations do not always translate to real-world settings, however, and other criteria should be taken into account when attempting to treat cluster headache.

According to a recent study, a high percentage of children with epilepsy show comorbid somatic, neurological, and developmental or psychiatric disorders. To provide comprehensive care for paediatric patients with epilepsy, all their needs must be evaluated and managed, including careful consideration of comorbid disorders.

A recent study proposed a modified version of the current diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis, but the value of the modifications is unclear and the study design limits conclusions about the validity of the new criteria. Instead, the suggested changes might contribute to future revision of the existing diagnostic criteria.

According to new research, oestrogen therapy in postmenopausal women is associated with ventricular enlargement and increased white matter hyperintensities in the brain, but not with cognitive decline. This disconnect between structural and functional effects suggests that brain-derived lipids can be harnessed to meet the bioenergetic demand imposed by normal cognition.

Owing to a lack of objective diagnostic tools, the diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and related conditions, such as postconcussive syndrome and chronic traumatic encephalopathy must be made on clinical grounds. Here, Zetterberg and Blennow review the most recent developments in search for biomarkers for mild TBI and related conditions.

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a common disorder, but it remains under-recognized, and although several risk factors have been identified, the pathophysiology of the disorder is not completely understood. Here, Hans-Christoph Diener and colleagues review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of MOH, and suggest strategies for prevention and treatment.

Angelman syndrome is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, the characteristics of which include severe learning disability, epilepsy, ataxia, and a happy, sociable disposition. The authors review past and recent developments in Angelman syndrome research, highlighting the role of multicentre and international collaboration in addressing this rare condition.

Proinflammatory conditions have been associated with an increased risk of stroke. In this Review, Esenwa and Elkind look at the association between infection, inflammation and ischaemic stroke, and discuss recommended approaches to reducing the risk of stroke associated with inflammation.

Drawing on data from social network studies, Dhand and colleagues suggest that focusing on a patient's personal network can help identify individuals at risk of poor health outcomes. The authors provide an overview of the terminology used in social network studies, discuss social network structures that put patients at risk, and suggest how social network research might be applied in the neurology clinic.