In The News

Children’s Hospital Colorado patient finds resilience after 10 years of dealing with polio-like illness

Personalized drug cocktails may reverse Alzheimer’s

Autoimmune Encephalitis Is Rare, Hard to Diagnose, and No Joke

Vyalev Pump Eases ‘Off’ Periods for Advanced Parkinson’s Patients

Women’s Cardiovascular Disease Risk Calculations Barely Budge When Sex-Specific Variables Are Included
MedPage Today, Dec. 6, 2024

‘A Place to Dream’: CU Anschutz Continues on its Record-Breaking Course
Chancellor’s State of the Campus Address, Oct 29, 2024

How rheumatoid arthritis and Down syndrome are helping researchers find treatments for Alzheimer’s
Colorado Public Radio, Sept 7, 2024

Clinical trials hope to curb and reverse Alzheimer's
Colorado Public Radio, Sept 5, 2024

Colorado hopes to raise awareness of dementia, start conversations, with new campaign
CPR News, Aug 25, 2024

What you need to know about Valley fever after 19 infected at California music festival
ABC7 Los Angels, Sept. 6, 2024

Eastern Equine Encephalitis Has Re-Emerged: What Neurologists Should Know
Neurology Today, Sept. 4, 2024

Where is deadly mosquito virus EEE spreading in US? 5 states reporting cases
TODAY, Aug. 26, 2024

West Nile symptoms: What to know about the virus that hospitalized Dr. Anthony Fauci
Today, Aug. 24, 2024

Claim of link between mpox and COVID-19 vaccines is nonsense | Fact check 
USA Today, Aug. 23, 2024

West Nile Virus season returns – A medical epidemiologist explains how it’s transmitted and how you can avoid it
The Conversation, Aug. 16, 2024

FDA Grants Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy Designation to Kyverna’s KYV-101 for Refractory Stiff-Person Syndrome
“As a physician dedicated to optimizing diagnosis and treatments for patients with autoimmune neurological disorders, I am grateful to be able to witness and contribute to the advancement of treatments and patient outcomes in stiff person syndrome via collaborative research efforts with leading players in the field and the support of the FDA oversight,” said Dr. Amanda Piquet, director of the Autoimmune Neurology Program

‘Game of Thrones’ Study Offers Insights Into a Little-Understood Brain Disorder
Face blindness can be a very difficult and isolating disorder, says Dr. Christopher Filley , who was not involved in the study. “People with face blindness can be considered rude or awkward or even autistic or mentally ill because they aren’t able to recognize people that they know,” he says.

Scientists Identify Key Protein Behind Spread of Shingles Virus

For the first time, researchers identify the mechanism that allows the varicella zoster virus to spread far from the infection site. Dr. Christy Niemeyer is first author of the team’s paper, featured as the “Editor’s Pick” in the Journal of Virology.

Plague and Other Deadly Animal-Related Diseases Remain a Threat

The public health system has reduced cases dramatically, but prevention is still paramount, noted Daniel Pastula, MD, MHS .

First UCHealth Patient Receives New Treatment for Alzheimer’s

Leqembi is not a cure for Alzheimer’s but is the first FDA-approved drug that has shown evidence of slowing cognitive declines. Drs. Tara Carlisle, Samantha Holden, Victoria Pelak and team have now set up a safe system to screen patients and give infusions of Leqembi to those who qualify.

UCHealth Today, June 27, 2024

CU Anschutz gets $2 million gift from Céline Dion Foundation for autoimmune disease research

The money from Dion’s foundation will fund research in stiff persons syndrome and other similar diseases, and support Dr. Amanda Piquet, Dion’s doctor and an associate professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Colorado doctors warning of West Nile virus, after state saw biggest outbreak in the country last year

“It’s named after the West Nile region in Uganda where it was first identified. In 1999, we noticed around the New York City area a lot of birds and a lot of people were becoming sick,” said Daniel Pastula, MD, MHS. “There’s actually a setup along the great plains, front range and down into Texas, south through Arizona. In the last many years, last decade, that’s where we see most of our West Nile virus cases.”

Colorado doctor has treated Celine Dion’s stiff person syndrome for 2 years

Dr. Amanda Piquet has treated Dion's stiff person syndrome, or SPS, for two years at CU Anschutz. Piquet is the director of the autoimmune neurology program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Safety and Pharmacokinetic Profile of Ocrelizumab in Pediatric MS Mirrors Adult Population

Led by Dr. Teri Schreiner , Associate Professor of Pediatric Neurology, the observed PK/PD profile of ocrelizumab in this pediatric population was similar to that seen in adults. In addition, no new T1-gadolinium-enhancing lesions were reported at week 12.

Ofatumumab Positively Impacts Neurofilament Light, NEDA Status Regardless of Race or Ethnic Background

Led by Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD, data were analyzed for up to 5 years in those randomly assigned to ofatumumab who continued on treatment throughout the OLE (OMB-OMB group) as well as those who switched from teriflunomide (Aubagio; Sanofi), the comparator drug, to ofatumumab in ALITHIOS (TER-OMB).

Neurology Live, May 29, 2024

A 15-Year-Old Hockey Player with MS May Never Experience a Symptom, Thanks to Colorado Research

It was a school day afternoon when Blaise learned his diagnosis. He came to find out that his parents had received a call from the doctor that day. Soon after, the family had a telehealth appointment with Dr. Teri Schreiner , a pediatric neurologist who specializes in neuroimmunology and the study’s lead pediatric researcher.

Colorado Sun, May 9, 2024

But How Does the Worm Get in Your Brain?

The damage varies depending on the type of parasite and where it ends up in the brain. “Some of them actively invade the tissues and destroy tissues,” said Dr. Daniel Pastula, Chief of Neuro-Infectious Diseases and Global Neurology. Others cause problems because of the inflammatory reaction that they trigger.

The New York Times, May 8, 2024

IV Ketamine Promising for Severe Refractory Headache in Children

In a retrospective chart review, IV ketamine led to in a 50% reduction in pain at discharge, with “nearly two-thirds” of patients having no recurrence within 30 days, lead investigator Scott Rosenthal, MD, noted. Rosenthal reported the findings (Abstract S20.010) on April 15 at the American Academy of Neurology 2024 annual meeting.

Cenobamate’s Efficacy in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

These results were presented at the 2024 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, held April 13-18, in Denver, Colorado, by lead author Jacob Pellinen, MD [Assistant Professor of Neurology at CU School of Medicine] and colleagues.

Nontraditional Risk Factors Play an Outsized Role in Young Adult Stroke Risk

“The younger they are at the time of stroke, the more likely their stroke is due to a nontraditional risk factor,” according to lead author Michelle Leppert, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Lab Probes Aphasia, a Language Disorder That Struck Bruce Willis, Wendy Williams

2 to 4 million people in the U.S. suffer from aphasia, most commonly caused by a traumatic brain injury, tumor or stroke, according to the National Aphasia Association. Dr. Peter Pressman’s lab is studying ways to improve diagnostic techniques and deepen the understanding of communication and behavioral disorders.

Migraine Devices: TikTok Trends or Effective Tools?

Migraine fixes touted by TikTok and other social media channels aren’t always the miracles they claim them to be. From tight-fitting headbands to eye-massaging headsets, many of the “miracle cures” have little to no scientific research backing them up, said Danielle Wilhour, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology.

‘No Surprises’ as Ozanimod Holds up in RMS Extension Trial

Commenting on the findings for Medscape Medical News, John Corboy, MD, Professor of Neurology, said many formularies limit access to ozanimod “as it has no obvious benefit in comparison to generic fingolimod, which is significantly cheaper.”

Redefining Relapse in Efficacy Measures for Multiple Sclerosis Treatments: Stephen Krieger, MD; Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD

Presented at the February 29 – March 2, 2024 Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum by senior author Stephen Krieger and lead author Enrique Alvarez, new findings from an analysis suggested that pseudoexacerbations are expected to contribute equally to both arms in clinical trials, which can influence the primary outcome.

Want to Keep Your Brain Healthy and Your Memory Sharp? There’s One Blood Test You Should Get ASAP

“Vascular health is critical to the brain,” says Victoria S. Pelak, Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology. “The primary care doctor can order age-appropriate blood work that targets vascular health, such as blood work for diabetes and cholesterol.”

Acting Out Dreams Can Signal a Serious Disorder

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) should be taken seriously, according to Jeanne Feuerstein, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, because it could also be a precursor of other neurological conditions, such as dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy (MSA) or Parkinson’s disease.

A Look Inside Brain-Computer Interfaces and the Potential of Neuralink  

Daniel Kramer, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, is a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist that interprets impulses from the brain to better understand disease processes. He is developing a brain-computer interface program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine focused on sensorimotor restoration. 

Drug-Resistant Epilepsy in Adults: A Treatment Update

Two new reports demonstrate that a modified Atkins diet, along with anticonvulsant medication, is the most practical approach to seizure reduction. “As promising as it sounds to slash seizure frequency in half or more, the regimen is not easy,” said Naveed Chaudhry, MD.

Illinois Woman Sheds Light on Experience with Stiff Person Syndrome as Celine Dion's Battle Raises Awareness

“We need to, as a field, define the disease better, diagnose this disease better. And with the recognition now that this disease is getting, that will help and that will move the field forward with clinical trials,” Dr. Amanda Piquet, Associate Professor of Neurology, said.

Gene Therapy Advances Are a Game Changer for Some Neuromuscular Disorders: The Future Has Arrived

“Transthyretin amyloidosis (hATTR) has gone from a disease with very limited treatment options, that was often lethal, to being a treatable disease, if identified early, allowing patients to have a much better life expectancy and quality of life,” noted Diana Quan, MD, Professor of Neurology.

Recognizing When Someone Is Having a Seizure – And How You Can Help During Those First Critical Moments

Epileptologist Dr. Jacob Pellinen walks us through how to recognize a seizure in a bystander or loved one, and what to do in those crucial moments after a seizure begins.

The Evolving Landscape of Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis in 2024: Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD

Enrique Alvarez, Associate Professor of Neurology, sat down in an interview with NeurologyLive® to talk about how the surprising findings from evobrutinib trials might shape the landscape of MS treatment criteria.

UCHealth Launches a New Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit That Will Operate Full Time in Colorado Springs

"Each and every day, the stroke specialists, nurses and mobile stroke unit teams are focusing on providing the fastest and highest quality care possible for patients, and mobile stroke treatment units are key to expediting such treatment. Mobile stroke units are saving lives and improving outcomes,” said Dr. William Jones, medical director of telestroke and the MSTUs at UCHealth and Associate Professor of Neurology.

Alzheimer’s Study Finds Potential Immune System Link, Mostly in Women

It can help when the caregiver has support from someone outside of the immediate family, says Victoria Pelak, MD, Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora.

Alzheimer’s Study Finds Potential Immune System Link, Mostly in Women

“We were surprised at how strong the effect was,” said Brianne Bettcher, PhD , clinical researcher at the University of Colorado Alzheimer's and Cognition Center  (CUACC), who looked with colleagues at the biomarker GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein), an important protein believed to be released with CNS injuries, such as stroke or brain injuries.

‘Low Tech’ Innovation Device for Dynamic CT Myelography Improves Care for CSF Leak Patients

Neuroradiologist Dr. Andrew Callen’s scanning-bed add-on enables safer, more consistent localization of CSF leaks causing intracranial hypotension.

The 5 Most Common Migraine-Triggering Foods And Drinks

“A migraine trigger refers to any external or internal factor that contributes to the onset of migraine symptoms,” said Danielle Wilhour, Assistant Professor of Neurology and migraine specialist at UCHealth Neurosciences Center. “Combining multiple factors is probably a more potent influence.”

Neurology Drugs Are Getting Better—and More Expensive—With More Prior Authorization Hassles

For decades, doctors have complained about the onerous practice of prior authorization, which insurers contend is necessary to control costs and encourage evidence-based choices. But seeking prior authorization has become an increasing burden recently for neurologists because of an explosion of new, effective drugs with stratospheric price tags. Dr. Kavita Nair and leaders share their suggestions for revamping the process.

Can a Vision Test Detect a Brain Disease?

Delays in diagnosing posterior cortical atrophy syndrome are common, but a new set of recommendations developed by CU Neuro-Ophthalmologist Victoria Pelak, MD, could signal doctors that a patient’s vision problems are actually occurring in the brain.

Brain Cancer Patient Recruits the CU Cancer Center for the Fight of His Life

After Ironman competitor, Alex Cooper, completed his 10^th Ironman in September 2022, he was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in January 2023. Thanks to the care of our Oncology team, including Douglas Ney, MD, (Professor of Neurology and Oncology), Alex walked 3 miles on his first day home and was skiing after six weeks.

Musical Bedicine for Parkinson’s Disease

“When you’re sleeping, your frequencies of your brain are actually slowing down so that you can get peaceful. You can get rested,” said Isabelle Buard, PhD, Assistant Research Professor of Neurology. “When you do something more intense — you write, you think, you hear, you move — those are actually generic bursts of high frequency oscillations."

Should MS Patients Stop Treatment as They Age?

In this exclusive video, Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD offered perspective on data from the DISCOMS study that was recently published in Lancet Neurology, and addressed some of the challenges when deciding whether patients with MS should discontinue disease-modifying therapy (DMT) as they get older.

6 Ways to Reduce Brain Fog and Improve Mental Clarity

“Brain fog isn’t a medical diagnosis,” Danielle Wilhour, an assistant professor in neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, told Everyday Health. “Rather, it’s a casual, or lay, term used to describe an umbrella of cognitive symptoms.”

Medicare's Drug Price Negotiation Program Is Underway:  What Does It Mean for Neurologists?

Kavita Nair, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Pharmacy, said that Medicare price negotiation—a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 signed into law on Aug. 16, 2022—is as important as the 2006 legislation adding Part D coverage to Medicare and passage of the Affordable Care Act to expand insurance coverage in 2010. “Neurologists need to know that this is historic legislation,” she said.

Parkinson’s Disease and Sleep: A Complicated Pairing

Trying to get a full night’s rest while living with Parkinson’s disease is often easier said than done. Amy Amara, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology and Movement Disorders Section Head at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, helps patients navigate the challenges. Dr. Amara became interested in sleep medicine after seeing how her patients with Parkinson’s struggle with sleep. 

How Air Pollution May Influence Brain Health

“The full gamut of neurodegenerative diseases — Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS —all have risk factors associated with environmental exposures. We know that exposure to pesticides and herbicides seems to be one of the clearest risks,” says Samantha Holden, MD, Vice Chair of Outpatient Neurology Services and Director of the Memory Disorders Clinic.

Deadly, Treatment-Resistant Fungus Sees Notable Rise

The fungus Candida auris is showing up more frequently in high-risk areas such as intensive care units at hospitals, posing a serious risk especially for immunocompromised patients. This fungul blood infection spreads quickly in the immunocompromised and can kill one in three patients. Dr. Daniel Pastula describes steps to prevent and limit risk.

CU Anschutz Today, October 2, 2023

Five Questions for Maureen Stabio

Vice Director of the Modern Human Anatomy Program, Maureen Stabio, PhD (Associate Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology and Neurology), outreaches to put high school students in touch with anatomy – and future possibilities in higher education.

What Is Stiff Person Syndrome and Can You Still Have Sex?

However, the exact incidence of SPS is unknown, according to Dr. Amanda Piquet, Director of autoimmune neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “We don’t have large-scale epidemiology studies needed to know the true prevalence of the disease,” she said. “It’s a very rare disease that often goes unrecognized and misdiagnosed.”

'A Fitness Tracker for Brain Health': Headband Seeks Early Signs of Alzheimer’s During Sleep

Led by the study’s senior author, Dr. Brice McConnell, CU Anschutz researchers have conducted a large-scale study assessing how effective a simple wearable device is at gauging brain health. The device is a lightweight headband worn during sleep that monitors brainwaves, capable of identifying disruptions that are possible biomarkers of early signs of Alzheimer's and dementia.

How well does Leqembi work to fight Alzheimer’s?

Drs. Victoria Pelak, Samantha Holden and Peter Pressman, of the University of Colorado Memory Disorders Clinic , explain that while the first FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drug revives hope for battling the devastating Alzheimer's, it is not a cure and represents one small step in unraveling the mysteries of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

UCHealth Today , August 11, 2023

Groundbreaking Stroke Study Seeks Ways to Keep Brain Cells Alive

In partnership with the UCHealth Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit, researchers Drs. William Jones, Michael Graner, Robert Kowalski, and team are measuring blood samples of patients within minutes of stroke onset and discovering data that could change the way many stroke patients are treated.

CU Anschutz Today , August 16, 2023

West Nile Infections Rising in the US

Dr. Daniel Pastula, chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado School of Public Health, says the state is watching troubling signs as well. “The concern this year,” Pastula said, “particularly along the Front Range in Colorado, is we’ve found many more mosquitoes [that are] positive for West Nile earlier in the season compared with other years.”

Medscape, Aug. 11, 2023

TBI Increases Mental Health Diagnoses, Time to Suicide

“We had had pieces of these findings for a long time but to be able to lay out this longitudinal story over time is the part that’s new and important to really switch the focus to people’s whole lives and things that happen over time, both psychological and physical,” lead author Dr. Lisa Brenner, director of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, Aurora, Colorado, who also is a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry, and Neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, told Medscape Medical News.

Do Tick Bites Cause a Red Meat Allergy? What to Know About The Rise of Alpha Gal Syndrome

“This is probably not a new syndrome, but a newly-recognized syndrome. We’re still learning a lot about it,” Daniel Pastula, the chief of neuroinfectious diseases and global neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Colorado School of Public Health, told Health.

Health, Aug. 9, 2023

What Is Prosopagnosia? An Odd Condition That Can Steal Your Face

A potentially isolating condition affecting at least one in 50 people impairs their ability to recognize a face. Two CU Anschutz Neurology experts –Drs. Christopher Filley and Victoria Pelak –share what providers know and don’t know about this complex loss of function.

CU Anschutz Today, August 7, 2023

Stem Cell Medical Tourism Leads to Meningitis in MS Patient

 In October 2022, the woman in her 30s traveled to Baja California, Mexico, and received two lumbar punctures of the stem cell product as a “treatment” for MS after researching the clinic online, Dr. Daniel Pastula, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Colorado School of Public Health, and colleagues (Drs. Wolf, Money, Piquet, Tyler, et al.) reported in Emerging Infectious Diseases .

WHO report on deadly virus among babies in 3 countries has U.S. doctors on edge

 That’s why it’s critical for pediatricians to be on the lookout for the potential for severe illness in newborns, rather than “be behind the eight ball when things pick up and get out of control,” said Dr. Kevin Messacar, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at CU School of Medicine.

IV ketamine reduced pain by 50% in pediatric patients with refractory headache

 “Patients with severe and refractory headaches often have few options for treatment despite ongoing pain and significant disability,” Dr. Scott Rosenthal, Neurology Headache Medicine Fellow at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and colleagues wrote. “Ketamine has emerged as a potential therapeutic option and had demonstrated benefit in other chronic pain syndromes.”

Stopping DMTs a ‘Reasonable Option’ for Some Older MS Patients

 “This study will aid decision-making when health care providers and people with multiple sclerosis discuss potential disease-modifying therapy discontinuation as patients age,” Dr. John Corboy, Professor of Neurology and the trial’s lead researcher, said in a press release .

Why Do Women Suffer Migraines More Frequently and Severely Than Men?

 Women’s overall quality of life can be significantly impacted by migraines. During National Migraine Awareness Month, Danielle Wilhour, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology, describes how women and men experience migraines differently, and proper treatment for them.

Seizures While Driving Highlight Importance of Diagnosis of Epilepsy

“Seizures while driving pose substantial risks for those experiencing them and for others on the road,” said study author Jacob Pellinen, MD of the University of Colorado and American Academy of Neurology member.

COVID-19 Severity in Pediatric Patients With MS on B-Cell-Depleting Therapies

In a recently published study conducted by lead author Teri Schreiner, MD, MPH and colleagues, B-cell-depleting treatment was associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 infection, higher rates of hospitalization, and ICU admission in pediatric patients with MS (POMS) and related disorders. These findings suggest that these therapies, commonly used in the MS field, come with a higher risk of severe infection.

NeurologyLive®, May 18, 2023

Adverse Life Stressors Have a Disproportionate Effect on Many Pregnant Women With Epilepsy

“We are overall doing a good job medically managing women with epilepsy during pregnancy, and they are doing well,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. Naveed Chaudhry, assistant professor of neurology at University of Colorado School of Medicine. “But this research suggests that women with epilepsy are having more stress in pregnancy, some of which may be recognized and at least some of it going unnoticed.”

Maine Resident Dies of Rare Tick-Borne Virus as Cases Spread Across U.S.

“Most people who are infected have no symptoms and fully recover,” Dr. Daniel Pastula, associate professor of neurology, infectious diseases and epidemiology, previously told Newsweek. “A subset, within one to four weeks develop a pretty bad flu-like illness. And a subset of those people develop Powassan neuroinvasive disease. That’s where we are seeing the severity.”

Michael J. Fox Legacy: ‘Time Travel’ or Parkinson’s Cure?

Exactly one month before the public release of a documentary on Michael J. Fox and his life with Parkinson’s disease (PD), the actor’s research foundation announced a landmark discovery – a novel test that can biologically diagnose the disease in live patients, even before symptoms emerge. “They’ve had a profound impact,” said Amy Amara, MD, of The Michael J. Fox Foundation ’s influence on PD research worldwide, including at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. “It has led to an explosion of findings in the literature,” said Amara, a Parkinson’s researcher and professor of Neurology at the CU School of Medicine .

UCHealth offers new more effective medication treatment for stroke patients

Tenecteplase is easier to administer – a single, immediate IV push that takes just five seconds, according to Dr. Sharon Poisson, Neurohospitalist and Medical Co-director of the Comprehensive Stroke Program at UCHealth and Associate Professor of Neurology at CU School of Medicine.

Understanding Headache Pain and Its Treatment

If one searched for an experience shared by nearly everyone, headaches would be an unpleasant standout candidate. Indeed, the government declares headaches “the most common form of pain” in the country and a major reason for missed work and clinic appointments. Dr. Danielle Wilhour (Assistant Professor of Neurology-Headache/Pain Medicine) describes them and discusses treatments.

What you need to know about Multiple Sclerosis

Dr. Anna Shah, Assistant Professor of Neurology who specializes in patients with MS and other related disorders of the nervous system, joined 9News to talk about the disease.

Expert perspectives: The future of Huntington’s disease management and treatment

“The three main pillars of management include lifestyle changes, pharmacologic management, and rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy,” said Dr. Emily Forbes, director of the Huntington’s Disease Society of American (HDSA) Center of Excellence at the University of Colorado.

Ocrelizumab and Rituximab Demonstrate Similar Safety, Efficacy in Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Senior investigator Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology, and colleagues randomly selected patients treated with ocrelizumab (n = 245) and rituximab (n = 182), and observed outcomes such as lab data, relapse history, adverse events (AEs), MRI outcomes, disease history, and patient characteristics.

7 Tips to Beat Brain Fog, Foster Focus, and Improve Mental Clarity

Brain fog isn’t a medical diagnosis. Rather, it’s a casual, or lay, term used to describe an umbrella of cognitive symptoms, says Dr. Danielle Wilhour , Assistant Professor of Neurology

Study Suggests Fructose Could Drive Alzheimer's Disease

An evolutionary foraging instinct that relied on the sugar fructose may now be fueling the formation of Alzheimer’s disease, according to Dr. Maria Nagel and colleague, Dr. Richard Johnson.

CU Anschutz Today, Feb 13, 2023

Implicit Bias, Late Diagnosis Create Critical ALS Healthcare Gap

Zach Cox, DO, finds diagnostic delays in Black ALS patients prevents life-altering therapies.

CU Anschutz Today, Feb 13, 2023

UCHealth offers new more effective medication treatment for stroke patients

Tenecteplase is easier to administer – a single, immediate IV push that takes just five seconds, according to Dr. Sharon Poisson, Neurohospitalist and Medical Co-director of the Comprehensive Stroke Program at UCHealth and Associate Professor of Neurology at CU School of Medicine.

Understanding Headache Pain and Its Treatment

If one searched for an experience shared by nearly everyone, headaches would be an unpleasant standout candidate. Indeed, the government declares headaches “the most common form of pain” in the country and a major reason for missed work and clinic appointments. Dr. Danielle Wilhour (Assistant Professor of Neurology-Headache/Pain Medicine) describes them and discusses treatments.

What you need to know about Multiple Sclerosis

Dr. Anna Shah, Assistant Professor of Neurology who specializes in patients with MS and other related disorders of the nervous system, joined 9News to talk about the disease.

Expert perspectives: The future of Huntington’s disease management and treatment

“The three main pillars of management include lifestyle changes, pharmacologic management, and rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy,” said Dr. Emily Forbes, director of the Huntington’s Disease Society of American (HDSA) Center of Excellence at the University of Colorado.

Ocrelizumab and Rituximab Demonstrate Similar Safety, Efficacy in Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Senior investigator Enrique Alvarez, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology, and colleagues randomly selected patients treated with ocrelizumab (n = 245) and rituximab (n = 182), and observed outcomes such as lab data, relapse history, adverse events (AEs), MRI outcomes, disease history, and patient characteristics.

7 Tips to Beat Brain Fog, Foster Focus, and Improve Mental Clarity

Brain fog isn’t a medical diagnosis. Rather, it’s a casual, or lay, term used to describe an umbrella of cognitive symptoms, says Dr. Danielle Wilhour , Assistant Professor of Neurology

Study Suggests Fructose Could Drive Alzheimer's Disease

An evolutionary foraging instinct that relied on the sugar fructose may now be fueling the formation of Alzheimer’s disease, according to Dr. Maria Nagel and colleague, Dr. Richard Johnson.

CU Anschutz Today, Feb 13, 2023

Implicit Bias, Late Diagnosis Create Critical ALS Healthcare Gap

Zach Cox, DO, finds diagnostic delays in Black ALS patients prevents life-altering therapies.

CU Anschutz Today, Feb 13, 2023

Colorado’s RSV Hospitalizations Already Above Last Year’s Peak as Children’s Hospitals Brace for Worse

Once that started to die down, RSV infections took off, said Dr. Kevin Messacar, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado [and associate professor of pediatrics and neurology at CU School of Medicine]. If a difficult flu season follows that, pediatric hospitals and units will be stretched in the way that adult hospitals were during COVID-19 surges, he said.

Denver Post, Nov. 2, 2022

In a Year It Was Supposed to Flare, Polio-like Syndrome in Kids Doesn’t, Adding to Mystery

Physicians who treat children who develop a strange polio-like syndrome known as acute flaccid myelitis had been steeling themselves this Fall for an onslaught of cases of the irreversible condition, which appears to be triggered by infection with an enterovirus known as EV-D68.

STAT, Oct. 31, 2022

Study Finds Link Between Shingles and Elevated Risk of Strokes

Pharmacy Times, Nov. 1, 2022

Researchers Reveal Why Shingles Can Cause Strokes

CU Anschutz Today, Oct. 27, 2022

“Most people know about the painful rash associated with shingles, but they may not know that the risk of stroke is elevated for a year after infection,” said the study’s lead author Dr. Andrew Bubak, Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Surge of Viruses Leaves Children’s Hospitals Scrambling to Free Up Beds and Find Room for Patients

Dr. Kevin Messacar, infectious disease specialist and neurologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, said his hospital is accepting patients from five nearby states. . . “If we get influenza on top of RSV, that is going to put another significant strain on the system. If we can get as many people vaccinated as possible and protect as many kids as possible to try to help with the burden as we’re getting through RSV season, that would be welcome news for all of us in pediatric medicine.”

NBC News, Oct. 25, 2022

Pandemic ‘Immunity Gap’ Is Probably Behind Surge in RSV Cases

CNN, Oct 26, 2022

CU Researcher Describes First Cases of Encephalomyelitis Resulting From Monkeypox Virus
CU Anschutz Today, Sept. 21, 2022

Brain Inflammation, Spinal Cord Lesions Emerge in U.S. Monkeypox Cases
MedsPage Today, Sept. 14, 2022

CDC Reports Two Cases of Monkeypox-Related Encephalomyelitis
Medscape, Sept. 14, 2022

How Does Monkeypox Affect the Brain?
Self, Sept. 12, 2022

Polio Declared a Disaster in New York as Virus Spreads
WSKG, Sept. 11, 2022

CDC Warns About Enterovirus in Kids – and the Risk of Rare Paralysis That Can Follow
CBS News, Sept. 12, 2022

With Increased Virus Activity, Providers Urged to Be Alert for Signs of Rare Polio-like Syndrome in Kids

STAT, Sept. 12, 2022

Is Monkeypox Neuroinvasive?

Monkeypox virus has the potential to be neuroinvasive based on animal models, case series from previous outbreaks, and preliminary reports currently under investigation, reported Drs. Kenneth Tyler and Daniel Pastula, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, in an overview published in Annals of Neurology.

MedPage Today, August 19, 2022

Should Coloradans Worry about Polio? Depends on Whether They’re Vaccinated
Denver Post, August 19, 2022

Could Polio Come Back? What to Know about the Virus
Fox31, August 15, 2022

2 Common Psychiatric Drugs May Slow Progression of Alzheimer’s
Medical News Today, July 7, 2022

CU Anschutz Researchers Identify Drugs That Curb Alzheimer’s Symptoms
CBS4, June 29, 2022

New research at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus finds two FDA-approved drugs improve cognition in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The surprising findings came after scientists screened hundreds of drugs to see which blocked formation of the amyloid plaques in the brain that lead to Alzheimer’s. Drs. Noah Johnson and Huntington Potter are trying to get to the root of what causes Alzheimer’s disease.

Neurologic Effects of Monkeypox Virus Remain Mild: What to Look for and How to Treat
Neurology Today, July 7, 2022

What is Monkeypox? What to Know About Symptoms, the Smallpox Vaccine and More
CNET, May 24, 2022

Rare Spread of Monkeypox Puts Health Experts on Alert 
UCHealth Today, May 23, 2022

Daniel Pastula, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Neurology and Infectious Disease, explains how serious the disease is, how it spreads and why vigilance is necessary to keep the outbreak in check.

Exploring the Mystery of Non-epileptic Seizures

Symptoms are similar to epilepsy but do not trigger abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Causes lie in a borderland between neurology and psychology, according to Dr. Laura Strom, Associate Professor of Neurology.

UCHealth Today, August 20, 2021

Variant Cases Now Make Up More Than Half of New Colorado Covid-19 Cases

Cognition Help for Alzheimer’s Patients
Drug Used in Cancer Patients Might Help Treat Alzheimer's

A new study from the CU Alzheimer's and Cognition Center presents evidence that Sargramostim (GM-CSF) is the first drug to show improvement in Alzheimer's patients in a phase II clinical trial. Sargramostim (GM-CSF) is a safe and well-tolerated medication and has 30 years of FDA-approved safe use for other disorders. “These results suggest that short-term Sargramostim treatment leads to innate immune system activation, cognition and memory improvement, and partial normalization of blood measures of amyloid and tau pathology and neuronal damage in participants with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Huntington Potter.

CU Anschutz Today, Mar. 25, 2021
U.S.News & World Report, Mar. 25, 2021

How Long After a COVID Diagnosis Should I Get Vaccinated? Neurovirologists Address This and Other Uncharted Scenarios on the COVID Vaccine

“At a minimum, infected individuals should wait until they are asymptomatic and have completed their quarantine/isolation period for approximately 14 days,” advised Dr. Kenneth L. Tyler, the Louise Baum Endowed Chair of Neurology.

Neurology Today, Jan. 16, 2021

How Long After a COVID Diagnosis Should I Get Vaccinated? Neurovirologists Address This and Other Uncharted Scenarios on the COVID Vaccine

“At a minimum, infected individuals should wait until they are asymptomatic and have completed their quarantine/isolation period for approximately 14 days,” advised Dr. Kenneth L. Tyler, the Louise Baum Endowed Chair of Neurology.

Neurology Today, Jan. 16, 2021

CU Joins Trial Network Taking Aim at Rare Disease

The University of Colorado is one of four sites recently named to join a research consortium dedicated to finding treatments for a rare, debilitating neuromuscular disease called facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, or FSHD. Dr. Matthew Wicklund, director of the Neuromuscular Section of the UCHealth Neurosciences Center, says FSHD patients in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region will benefit from CU joining the Clinical Trial Research Network.

UCHealth Today, Nov. 12, 2020

U.S. Resorts Adapt to New Normal of Skiing Amid Pandemic

Promising Alzheimer’s Trials, Treatments in Process, and Potential Therapy Link to COVID-19

“We proposed in a paper published in F1000 that GM-CSF Leukine would be a treatment for COVID-19. The idea was based on some preliminary work with Dr. Ken Tyler's lab showing that GM-CSF prevented the death of mice infected with West Nile Virus,” reported Dr. Huntington Potter. “We made a leap to suggest…that this natural protein might be a treatment for COVID-19. And there are now at least two clinical trials being carried out with GM-CSF treatment for COVID-19, one in Belgium and one in Singapore. One would never necessarily have thought that all of our work on Alzheimer's disease would give us an insight into how to treat COVID-19, but it did. That's one of the reasons it's so great to be in a university setting where ideas can be tested by essentially moving to the fifth floor from the fourth floor of our research building.”

CU Anschutz Today, Sept. 30, 2020

The COVID-19 Life: On Juggling Young Children and Telemedicine

Amanda L. Piquet, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, said it was after the first day that the five weeks of “stay-at-home” restrictions had been lifted that she realized she really needed a vacation. Dr. Piquet, who has a 4-year-old and an 8-month-old child, is a neurohospitalist and works part-time in the hospital where she has inpatient duties.

Samantha K. Holden, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, encountered her first work-family challenge during her first week of full-time telemedicine at home. Dr. Holden had asked an older patient to walk around his room so she could examine his gait—when all of a sudden, a little 4-year-old face appeared behind her on the screen.

Neurology Today, May 5, 2020

Coronavirus in Context: Neurological Effects of COVID-19

Coronavirus in Context Video Series, with WebMD’s Chief Medical Officer, John Whyte, MD, MPH, who discusses neurological effects of COVID-19 with Kenneth Tyler, department chair of neurology at University of Colorado School of Medicine.

WebMD, May 5, 2020

The Great Invader: How COVID-19 Attacks Every Organ

The brain and nerves may also fall prey to direct attack. Dr. Kenmeth Tyler, Chair of the Department of Neurology, cautions that direct central nervous system (CNS) attack is still being worked out at this time. There are many routes a virus could take to invade the CNS.

Medscape, April 23, 2020

Do coronavirus symptoms include a ‘fizzing,’ tingling or burning sensation?

Other coronaviruses that affect humans can invade the central nervous system, so it makes sense COVID-19 may have neurologic manifestations, Dr. Kenneth Tyler, chair of Neurology at University of Colorado School of Medicine, told  Neurology Today, a publication of the American Academy of Neurology.

Neurology Today, April 13, 2020

An unintended, yet still dangerous, COVID-19 impact: Those with life-threatening illness avoiding ER

“Time is really of the essence,” said Dr. Michelle Leppert, Assistant Professor of Neurology, who treated a stroke patient. “This was true before COVID. And the faster we can get a patient seen and get care to them, the better the outcome is.”

Channel 7, April 14, 2020

Why Do Some People Get Sicker?

Infectious disease expert Dr. Daniel Pastula says viral dose could matter — a lot. “The lower the viral dose that you may get, we do think that there’s a better chance for your immune system to recognize what’s going on and fight it off before it causes problems,” he told CBS4’s Alan Gionet.

CBS4, April 7, 2020

The Spread of COVID-19: Questions Raised, Some Answered by Neuroinfectious Disease Experts

Kenneth L. Tyler, Louis Baum Endowed Professor and Chair of Neurology at University of Colorado School of Medicine, noted that earlier this year a report from three COVID-19-designated hospitals in Wuhan, China, indicated that more than one-third of coronavirus patients had some type of neurologic symptom, including altered consciousness, evidence of skeletal muscle damage, and acute cerebrovascular disease.

Neurology Today, April 2, 2020

Why soap and water work better than hand sanitizer to remove the coronavirus.

Good, old-fashioned soap, even if it’s the cheap, generic kind, works better than hand sanitizer to remove the coronavirus. It’s all about chemistry, says Dr. Daniel Pastula.

UCHealth Today, March 30, 2020

What Neurologists Can Expect from COVID-19

Medscape recently spoke with central nervous system infection specialist and chair of University of Colorado's neurology department, Dr. Kenneth Tyler, about what implications the new coronavirus could have on patients and practice.

Medscape, March 26, 2020

Coronavirus: Why has COVID-19 caused so many deaths worldwide? Your risk revealed

Dr. Daniel Pastula, UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and CU School of Medicine, explained how the virus could easily infect the human body, as we have no pre-existing defences against it, adding: “Our bodies don’t immediately recognise it as a dangerous intruder.”

Express (London), March 20, 2020

Dementia has no cure, but researchers and caregivers have found ways to improve quality of life

“I get about 90-95 percent of my diagnosis from talking to them, getting to know them,” Dr. Samantha Holden, a behavioral neurologist with University of Colorado Health and Assistant Professor of neurology at CU School of Medicine, said. “Even though we can’t cure these things, we can definitely manage them and make sure we’re improving people’s quality of life.”

Channel 7, March 20, 2020

Colorado governor closes bars, restaurants, theaters and gyms in fight against coronavirus

Hospitals in mountain communities, where the virus is spreading more widely, already are running short of protective gear and other resources to care for a higher volume of patients, said Dr. Daniel Pastula, a University of Colorado School of Medicine infectious disease specialist who visited some of the harder-hit communities.

Denver Post, March 16, 2020

8 Early Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis Women in Their 20s and 30s Should Know

Typically, MS follows a classic relapse/remission pattern. “You get this burst of inflammation in a spot in the brain, and the inflammation runs its course,” Dr. Timothy Vollmer, a neurologist at the University of Colorado who specializes in multiple sclerosis, tells SELF. After this “attack,” you then “recover,” and the symptoms retreat for a time period until the next attack.

Self, March 1, 2020

Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy Diagnostic Criteria Don’t Predict Treatment Response. Does the Disorder Actually Exist?

The study “raises the question of whether there is such a thing as HE,” commented Kenneth L. Tyler, Louise Baum Endowed Professor and Chair of Neurology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “There aren't any validated diagnostic criteria, and the breadth of clinical presentations and lab criteria across patients labeled with it is pretty broad.”

Neurology Today, Feb 20, 2020

Outpatient Palliative Care Improves Parkinson Outcomes

As reported in the February 10, 2020 issue of JAMA Neurology, Dr. Benzi Kluger and School of Medicine colleagues evaluated whether outpatient palliative care is associated with improvements in patient-centered outcomes compared with standard care among 210 patients with Parkinson disease and related disorders and 175 caregivers.

Physician’s Weekly, Feb 10, 2020

From epilepsy nightmare to 'Neuro Ninja'

Kyle Parker convulsed so violently he broke his back in four places. Then he opted for an innovative brain surgery and he’s 100% seizure free. Cornelia Drees, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, describes the laser ablation surgery that ended Kyle's unpredictable seizures.

UCHealth Today, Jan. 22, 2020

Healthy babies exposed to Zika in the womb may suffer developmental delays

Because there was variability between individuals, “looking at a population enables one to see overall trends,” says neurologist Ken Tyler, MD, Professor and Chair of Neurology of the CU School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research. “We need to aggressively follow all children whose mothers were exposed to Zika during pregnancy to understand the nature of their neurological delays.”

Science News, Jan. 6, 2020