I grew up alongside my intellectually and physically disabled brother, Michael. In some ways, he was like any other family member. We traveled as a family to Hawaii on vacations, went to restaurants for special occasions, and wandered around nearby shopping malls over weekends. People would often gawk at Michael when he made sounds or stumbled with his walking. My reflexive response as his protective

My husband, Rahul Desikan, MD, PhD, was diagnosed at age 38 years with bulbar amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative illness that affects speech and swallowing abilities first, followed by limb function and breathing. Rahul was a neuroscientist-physician and, ironically, had been studying neurodegenerative diseases like ALS before he was diagnosed. Rahul’s disease

Adib Abla Erin L. Abner Gary Abrams

I bought my first new car a year ago. As with many purchasers, safety features were a big consideration for me. One feature of this car is that the front passenger seat has a weight sensor, and if it detects that a person weighing less than 60 lb is seated, it shuts off the airbag to avoid injuring a child. Shortly after purchase, the light indicating the front airbag was off lit up and the check engine

In conditions of prognostic uncertainty, neurointensivists and families often struggle to make decisions for unresponsive patients with brain injuries. However, a new study demonstrates that after brain injury electrophysiological assessment (electroencephalography [EEG]) has potential prognostic value.1 This could have profound implications for clinically and ethically consequential decisions, such

Mission Statement: The mission of JAMA Neurology is to publish scientific information primarily important for those physicians caring for people with neurologic disorders but also for those interested in the structure and function of the normal and diseased nervous system. These specific aims are (1) to make timely publication of original research of the nervous system, (2) to record observations of

In the Original Investigation “Association of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease With Brain β-Amyloid Deposition: Secondary Analysis of the ARIC Study,”1 there was a data error in the first paragraph of the Results section. Instead of “Two hundred forty-three participants (81%),” it should read “Eighty-five participants (81%).” This article was corrected online.

The Original Investigation “Rate and Prognosis of Brain Ischemia in Patients With Lower-Risk Transient or Persistent Minor Neurologic Events,”1 published online September 23, 2019, contained an error in the Results section. The sentence “The final diagnosis (ischemic vs nonischemic cause) was unchanged after all investigations in 720 individuals (70.0%), revised from ischemic to nonischemic in 79 (7

In Reply The Letter to the Editor by Montero-Odasso and colleagues addresses noncognitive manifestations of Alzheimer disease (AD). Their letter discusses a recent article from the Mayo Clinic.1 Using positron emission tomography biomarkers of amyloidosis (A) and tauopathy (T), the Mayo study1 examined the age- and sex-specific prevalence of 3 biologically defined entities: amyloidosis (A+) regardless

To the Editor We read with interest the article from Jack et al,1 and its Editorial that shows that the prevalence of 2 neuropathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD), β-amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles is much higher than the prevalence of 3 associated clinical manifestations: mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and probable AD.1 Notably, this asymptomatic prevalence of brain load

Complete and rapid revascularization can dramatically reduce disability after large-vessel occlusion (LVO) acute ischemic stroke (AIS).1 With modern mechanical thrombectomy (MT), we now have a safe and effective method to recanalize occluded cerebral vessels, and in this issue of JAMA Neurology, Kaesmacher et al2 move the field 1 step closer to achieving the goal of complete revascularization. Cohort

Nilotinib hydrochloride, an Abelson tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, has been in the neurology news since the results of the open-label, phase 1 study in a small group of patients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies was reported at the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago in October 2015. The extensive media coverage that followed

Studies published in JAMA Neurology in 2019 featured a breadth of diverse and highly influential investigations. Here, we highlight a few of many exciting studies from the past year that illustrate major strides in neurology across fields from a lens of varied experimental approaches. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) play a vital role in health care decision-making, so we have been particularly pleased

A juvenile Peruvian bear, of the species Tremarctos ornatus,1 presented to the emergency department after being found unconscious at 32 Windsor Gardens, London, England.2 The bear had been struck in the left posterior head region by a returning boomerang. On assessment, he demonstrated retrograde amnesia and language-related symptoms. When offered a bun, one of the patient’s favourite things to eat

Immunotherapy directed to reduce amyloid levels in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and provide clinical benefit has not definitely been successful using either passive immunizations with preformed antiamyloid (anti-Aβ42 as the toxic processed form of amyloid β protein), monoclonal antibodies (moabs), or active immunization with amyloid peptides. A recent press release by Biogen1

In Reply We thank Estol for his interest in our Viewpoint1 discussing the call for neurologists to accept the challenge of diagnosing and managing hypertension to prevent neurologic disease. We applaud their efforts to study hypertension within their health system, in particular the effort made to change the culture of young neurologists by educating them on the importance of measuring blood pressure

To the Editor The authors of this Viewpoint1 should be commended for calling attention to the overdue and under-recognized importance of hypertension, which accounts for 13% of total deaths, as a major treatable cause of cognitive decline and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. For the last 20 years, we have studied hypertension at our neurology clinic in Argentina where we teach young neurologists

In 1962, Rachel Carson, MS, published Silent Spring,1 a book detailing the negative impact of widespread persistent pesticide use on the environment. The book led to public awareness of the damaging effects of pesticides, and it ignited the movement that would ultimately lead to the creation of the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1970. The book’s title is a reference to pesticide-induced thinning

In the Original Investigation “Assessment of the Validity of the 2HELPS2B Score for Inpatient Seizure Risk Prediction,”1 the second author’s name was incorrectly listed as Mohammad Tabaeizadeh Fesharaki. It should be Mohammad Tabaeizadeh. This article was corrected online.

When dementia ensnares an older person, it is devastatingly unfair, but ultimately a course that onlookers—for all caregivers eventually become bystanders—must accept. But in the event that dementia claims a teenager, acceptance is almost unnatural. He was 16 years old when he began having seizures. A sophomore in high school, a star student, he dreamt of studying law. Six years later, he laid in a

In the article titled “Association of Neighborhood-Level Disadvantage With Cerebral and Hippocampal Volume,”1 published online January 6, 2020, there was an error in the second footnote to Table 2. The second to last sentence of that footnote should read “All models included 951 cognitively unimpaired participants,” not “951 cognitively impaired participants.” This article has been corrected online

In the Original Investigation by Meyer et al, titled “Characterization of Alzheimer Disease Biomarker Discrepancies Using Cerebrospinal Fluid Phosphorylated Tau and AV1451 Positron Emission Tomography,” published online January 21, 2020,1 there were errors in the Abstract, the text of the article, Figures 1 and 2, and in the author affiliations list. In the “Main Outcomes and Measures” section of the

In Reply We thank Singh et al for their comments on our article1 demonstrating the benefits of specialist neurology and comprehensive epilepsy care on mortality in patients with epilepsy. We agree that evidence-based care should be driven by data. In a global environment of accelerating health care costs,2 the same methods should be used to demonstrate value for money. However, it may be unsurprising

To the Editor Gaps in epilepsy are far more pervasive than the frequently mentioned treatment gap. The data gap is the most pervasive. We just do not know enough. The less we know, the more unconcerned we remain, and the less our efforts, including allocating resources, the more we inadvertently extend the status quo. Data from regions with the least substantial epilepsy care and the highest premature

The challenges facing people with Parkinson disease (PD) become increasingly complex as the disease advances. Despite optimal medical treatment, many individuals experience mounting unmet needs, including problems with mobility and cognition.1,2 This situation occurs perhaps because most management approaches revolve around disease-based models, which tend to disregard the person and family living

Patients often come to see the physician with hope, and we do our best to help. When our best efforts may not feel like much to us, they may make an immeasurable difference to the lives of patients and their families. Their gratitude is similarly difficult to quantify, even when embodied in a box of chocolates. As per the initial visit, he came pushing his wife of many decades in her wheelchair, only