TL;DR: Ambroxol, an old cough medicine, can boost a key brain enzyme in lab studies, but a review of 20 clinical reports found no proven benefit in Gaucher disease or GBA1-linked Parkinson’s. In a randomized trial of people with GBA1-linked Parkinson’s, ambroxol did not improve thinking-test scores over 1 year; scores slightly favored placebo. Key …
TL;DR: In regions where the pork tapeworm is common, about 1 in 4 people with seizures had signs of tapeworm cysts in the brain, based on 35 well-defined studies. That share roughly halved in studies from after 2008, though it is unclear how much of the drop is real. Key Findings 77 studies reviewed, 35 …
TL;DR: Across 55 trials of brain stimulation for arm recovery after stroke, about 95% of people finished treatment, the same share as those given fake stimulation or usual care. Side effects were mostly mild headaches and skin tingling. Key Findings 55 trials, 2,640 people with arm weakness after stroke. Finished treatment: 94.9% with brain stimulation …
TL;DR: In a review of 25 trials on arm recovery after stroke, robot-assisted training had the most consistent evidence of beating standard physical therapy. Virtual reality helped a little, and brain-computer interfaces had too little data to judge. Key Findings 25 trials, 1,145 stroke survivors: Every tech option was tested only against standard physical therapy. …
TL;DR: Across 12 small trials, people with Parkinson’s who trained on walking robots scored a bit better on balance and a timed walking test than people who got other therapy. The evidence is low quality, so the true benefit may be smaller. Key Findings 12 randomized trials: Mostly from China and Italy, mostly mild to …
TL;DR: Pooling 20 small trials in Parkinson’s disease, structured exercise improved movement-exam scores, freezing while walking and one balance test compared with usual care. The strongest evidence was for the movement exam, and no one type of exercise stood out. Key Findings 20 trials, 714 people: Tai chi, dance, treadmill, yoga, strength, water exercise and …
TL;DR: In sleeping mice, blood volume in the brain rose sharply during REM sleep, yet the energy molecule ATP inside neurons dropped. It bounced back as soon as the mice woke, suggesting REM sleep spends energy faster than blood supply alone can explain. Key Findings Imaged through the intact skull: Blood volume, support-cell fuel and …
TL;DR: Across 27 trials in older adults with mild memory and thinking problems, tai chi and qigong classes lifted overall thinking scores by a moderate amount compared with no exercise. More weekly minutes were not always better, and the dosing patterns still need testing. Key Findings 27 randomized trials, 2,034 people: All aged 60+ with …
TL;DR: In a 4-week trial of 100 stroke rehab inpatients, walking practice on a robot showed no clear advantage over regular physiotherapy for walking independence or daily activities. Both groups improved, and the robot group rated their own health higher. Key Findings 100 inpatients, 4 weeks: Half in the first 6 months after stroke, half …
TL;DR: Across 10 studies and 13,110 stroke patients, ambulances carrying their own CT scanner got clot-busting treatment started about 26 minutes sooner than regular ambulances. The review found no clear difference in recovery or safety, though it may have been too small to see one. Key Findings 10 studies, 13,110 patients: 4 randomized, 6 not, …
