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John Booss, MD, a former Director of Neurology for the Department of Veterans Affairs and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), has been invited by the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs to testify Wednesday, May 23, 2007, on behalf of the AAN in support of S.1233, a bill to improve rehabilitation, training and assisted-living services for veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

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A guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology finds conventionally recommended courses of antibiotics are highly effective for treating nervous system Lyme disease. However, there is no compelling evidence that prolonged treatment with antibiotics has any benefit in treating symptoms that persist following standard therapy.

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Cancerous brain tumors appear to respond favorably to the drug temozolomide when used as primary chemotherapy after surgery, and the treatment appears to work best in people missing a certain gene, according to a study published in the May 22, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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In people with mild cognitive impairment, up to one drink of alcohol a day may slow their progression to dementia, according to a study published in the May 22, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Mild cognitive impairment is a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia that is used to classify people with mild memory or cognitive problems and no significant disability.

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Middle-aged men and women with a history of migraine and other headaches are more likely to have retinopathy, damage to the retina of the eye which can lead to severe vision problems or blindness, than those without a history of headaches, according to a study published in the May 15, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Subtle signs can help doctors predict that a person will develop Huntington's disease in the next few years, according to a study published in the May 15, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Huntington's disease is a genetic disorder that affects movement, thinking, and some aspects of personality. There is no treatment or cure for the disease.

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Brain scans of people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) show signs of early Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the May 8, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were able to walk on their own for a longer period of time and reduce their risk of scoliosis as a result of receiving daily steroid treatments for several years, according to a study published in the May 8, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Children of women who took the epilepsy drug valproate during pregnancy appear to be at a greater risk for lower IQ, according to research presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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An oral vaccine can prevent mice from developing a brain disease similar to mad cow disease, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007. Prion diseases, which include scrapie, mad cow disease, and chronic wasting disease, are fatal and there is no treatment or cure.

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Soldiers returning from combat in Iraq who have migraine headaches are more than twice as likely to also have symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression or anxiety than soldiers who do not have migraines, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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People with a brother or sister who have had a stroke are almost twice as likely as the average American to suffer a stroke themselves, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007. That risk can be even higher depending on the race and gender of the person who had the stroke.

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Drinking heavy amounts of alcohol over a long period of time may decrease brain volume, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Women who use hormone therapy before the age of 65 could cut their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia. This possibility is raised by research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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People whose cholesterol improved after one month on cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins reduced their risk of stroke and heart attack, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Blows to the head in amateur boxing appear to cause brain damage, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Children from low income families have more sleep problems than children from middle class families, potentially impacting their health and performance at school, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Stephen Sergay, MB BCh, was elected the 30th president of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) at its 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007. Sergay succeeds Thomas R. Swift, MD, who has completed his two-year term as president.

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Migraines during pregnancy are strongly linked to vascular diseases, such as stroke and heart disease, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke increases the risk of developing dementia, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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A new drug under investigation shows a reduction in disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to two studies that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007. The drug reduced disease activity as indicated by MRI scans.

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Contrary to previous studies, autistic children are no more likely than other children to have celiac disease, according to new research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Veterans of the first Gulf War who returned with multiple health symptom complaints show significant differences in brain structures from their fellow returnees without high numbers of health symptoms, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Teens who have chronic daily headache, especially those with migraine headaches, are at greater risk for suicide than teens who don't have migraines, according to a study published in the May 1, 2007, issue of Neurology. Teens with migraine are also more likely to have other psychiatric disorders such as depression and panic disorder.

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Over time, more women are developing multiple sclerosis (MS) than men, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Drugs that adjust dopamine levels in the brain greatly affect how people react to success and failure, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Researchers have developed an animal model of infantile spasms, improving the likelihood of finding new treatments for the thousands of young children who suffer from these catastrophic epilepsy seizures, according to research to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Over-the-counter pain medication naproxen and prescription pain reliever celecoxib do not prevent Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published April 25, 2007, in the online edition of Neurology. These findings appear to contradict earlier observational studies, which found sustained use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may have a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease.

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Sleep not only protects memories from outside interferences, but also helps strengthen them, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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Stroke patients in rural hospitals can get safe, effective treatment with the use of a clot-busting drug when a doctor from a larger hospital is on the telephone guiding the treatment. These new findings have important implications for overcoming barriers to optimal stroke care in rural settings, according to research to be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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The risk of developing Parkinson's disease may be reduced with moderate to vigorous exercise or other recreational activities, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 - May 5, 2007.

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People with inflammatory bowel disease may also be at risk for developing nerve damage and other neurological problems, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 - May 5, 2007.

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Women with a lifetime history of migraine showed less of a performance decline over time on cognitive tests than women who didn't have migraines. Researchers say medications for migraine, diet and behavior changes may play a role in helping women with migraine protect their memory. The findings are published in the April 24, 2007, issue of Neurology.

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Researchers have localized two new genes that are associated with fever-related seizures that occur in infancy and childhood, according to a study published in the April 24, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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People who develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease experience brain structure changes years before any signs of memory loss begin, according to a study published in the April 17, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers say these findings may help identify people at risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which leads to Alzheimer's disease.

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A drug that slows disability and reduces relapse rates in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been found to also reduce vision loss in patients with relapsing MS. Vision loss is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of MS. The findings are published in the April 17, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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A drug for epilepsy with a new mechanism of action is safe and effective, according to a study published in the April 10, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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People with restless legs syndrome (RLS), especially the elderly, may be at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in the April 10, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Depression may be an early symptom of Parkinson's disease, according to research that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 "“ May 5, 2007.

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A mild head injury can increase your chance of developing a sleep disorder, according to a study published in the April 3, 2007, issue of Neurology. Researchers say these findings highlight the need for improved diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in mild traumatic brain injury patients who complain of insomnia.

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Parkinson disease patients taking the drug, ropinirole 24-hour prolonged release significantly reduced their daily "off" time in which Parkinson's symptoms like tremor, slowness, stiffness, and walking difficulty return as drugs wear off, according to a study published in the April 3, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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One of the most common genetic defects passed on through families significantly increases a person's chance of having a stroke, according to a study published in the March 27, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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A drug used to strengthen bone has been found to help reduce the high incidence of hip fractures among people with Parkinson disease, according to a study published in the March 20, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Family caregivers of people with ALS, most often spouses, are likely to become depressed and feel burdened, but that's not the case for the people they are caring for, according to a study published in the March 20, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery, can lead to a vitamin deficiency that can cause memory loss and confusion, inability to coordinate movement, and other problems, according to a study published in the March 13, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Men are more likely than women to benefit from the use of a clot-busting drug after stroke, according to a study published in the March 13, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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A guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology finds epidural steroid injections play a limited role in providing short-term pain relief for lower back pain that radiates down a leg, and do not provide long-term pain relief. The guideline is published in the March 6, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Tooth-brushing may trigger seizures in certain people with epilepsy, and researchers say lesions in a specific part of the brain may be a cause in some people, according to an article published in the March 6, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Older pilots performed better over time than younger pilots on flight simulator tests. Researchers say the findings, published in the February 27, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology, show expert knowledge may offset the impact of old age in some occupations.

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Many stroke patients have cholesterol higher than national guidelines recommend that, if managed, may have prevented the stroke from happening, according to a study published in the February 27, 2007, issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.