The Handoff: Your Week in Neurology News – 8/31/17

The Handoff is a weekly roundup of neurology news covering various developments in subspecialties, the pharmaceutical industry, and the overall state of health care as it affects neurologists.

— The FDA has denied the NDA from Acorda for its new inhaled levodopa Parkinson’s drug based on manufacturing concerns. 

— More than 50% of “scientific” news on autism shared on social media is fraudulent, making claims about the disorder that aren’t backed by sound evidence. What’s worse: parents and families in the autism community are disproportionately targeted by peddlers of poor information, making them extremely vulnerable to dangerous, unproven “treatments.”

— Brain-gene expression associated with depression is markedly different in men and women, suggesting that sex-specific treatments may be necessary. 

— A new animal study suggests that injecting stem cells into the brains of patients with Parkinson’s disease may help resolve symptoms. 

— Pro football players aren’t the only ones walking away from the game due to concerns over brain injury; a well-known ESPN TV analyst has left his post after expressing his frustration and disappointment with the way players and injuries are dealt with on the field. 

— AstraZeneca has teamed up with a company specializing in artificial intelligence to aid in the development of new therapies for Parkinson’s disease and other neurologic disorders. 

— Severe headaches in one young woman turned into a never-before-seen case for neurosurgeons at New York Presbyterian. Learn more about the interesting case in the video below: