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The use of opioids for the treatment of nonmalignant chronic pain remains controversial. The authors of this Viewpoint discuss the complexities of opioid therapy and present a balanced approach to prescribing these drugs.
The prescription of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is a matter for debate. In this Viewpoint, the authors argue that the use of these drugs is justified, provided that patients or their decision makers are given accurate information on their modest benefits.
Diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus, and there are currently no effective treatments for this condition. In this Review, Leinninger et al. discuss the proposed role of mitochondrial degeneration in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy, and highlight potential mitochondrial sites for therapeutic intervention.
Atherosclerosis, which is the underlying cause of a large proportion of strokes, has traditionally been assessed by measuring carotid intima–media thickness. As David Spence discusses in this Review, however, ultrasound measurement of carotid plaque area and volume is emerging as a powerful new tool for measuring atherosclerosis burden, and it is becoming evident that intima–media thickness and carotid plaque reflect biologically and genetically different aspects of the atherosclerotic process.
Levodopa is the mainstay of treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but it is unable to halt the progression of the disease, and it is also associated with undesirable side effects, including motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. This Review highlights new therapeutic strategies in Parkinson's disease, including neuroprotective therapies and non-dopaminergic drugs, as well as improvements to the existing dopaminergic drugs.