Letter from the Editor

Dear Reader,

Another successful AAN meeting took place this year in Los Angeles, 21-27 April 2018. A number of studies had  been announced in a broad spectrum of neurological  disorders. Many studies provided updates with regard to risk-factor identification, innovative approaches in treatment, real-world data, and new clinical trials with known or new innovative compounds. Early intervention with BACE1 inhibitors, retinal changes in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease and immunotherapy against amyloid-β were among the dementia-related updates. In epilepsy, transdermal cannabinoid gel usage, some updates in paediatric epilepsy and the effect of different diets in the disease are worth mentioning. The increasing interest in the use of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of migraine was evident among the various studies presented. Some progress in movement disorders were presented, namely in new therapeutic interventions either for Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease. Importantly enough, some innovative therapeutic approaches in disorders previously considered incurable and therefore lethal, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, SMA and ALS, indicate the potential of further development in the future. A brilliant example of the progress in this category of diseases are the FIREFISH, ENDEAR and SHINE studies in SMA. Moreover, studies indicating the extended-time window in stroke were of great importance. Last but not least, in the field of Multiple Sclerosis, the new AAN guidelines on the use of diseasemodifying therapies (DMTs) were presented. In addition, interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials in SPMS or PPMS, the extended-interval dosing of Natalizumab and stem-cell transplantation in rapidly evolving severe multiple sclerosis were among the thoroughly discussed topics in the meeting.

Best Regards,

Nikolaos Grigoriadis

Biography

Dr Nikolaos Grigoriadis graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He did his PhD thesis and residency in Neurology at the same institution. He is specialised in clinical and experimental Neuroimmunology and CNS immunopathology in a number of research centres and institutions abroad. He is now professor and Head of the 2nd Department of Neurology, AHEPA University Hospital, the MS Centre, and the Laboratory of Experimental Neurology and Neuroimmunology. Prof. Grigoriadis is member of various international scientific committees, such as the European School of Neuroimmunology, ParadigMS, the subcommittee of ENS for Multiple Sclerosis, the ECTRIMS committee (until 2010), the Hellenic Academy of Neuroimmunology, and president of the Hellenic Neurological Society. He is ad-hoc reviewer of international scientific journals, co-ordinator in more than 40 multicentre clinical trials for MS and principal investigator in collaborative research projects for cell therapies in CNS autoimmune demyelination.



Posted on 4 June, 20184 March, 2021