In a study published in Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, Frei et al employed an expert Delphi panel to address longstanding confusion over the terms “tardive dyskinesia” and “tardive syndrome.” The panel of neurologists and psychiatrists agreed that “tardive syndrome” should serve as the umbrella term for all persistent involuntary movements induced by dopamine receptor blocking agents (DRBAs), reserving “tardive dyskinesia” specifically for classic manifestations involving orobuccolingual stereotypy and chorea of the extremities. The study emphasized the importance of consistent terminology.

Related Links:

— “Tardive dyskinesia versus tardive syndrome. What is in a name?,” Karen Frei, et. al., Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, April, 2025

Psychiatric News (5/8) reports a study found that “individuals with serious mental illness who received assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) experienced improvements across a broad range of clinical outcomes, including adherence to treatment, symptoms, and self-reported quality of life.” Researchers saw patients who completed court-mandated AOT had their “appointment adherence increased by more than 24%, while medication adherence increased by 20%. Additionally, violent behavior was reduced by more than 19% and suicidal ideation by more than 24%. Illicit drug use and risk of homelessness also decreased following AOT completion.” Researchers noted that “the length of mandated treatment was also found to be important.” The study was published in Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice.

Related Links:

— “Patients Receiving Court-Mandated Outpatient Treatment Show Broad Improvements,” Psychiatric News, May 8, 2025

HealthDay (5/7, Gotkine ) reported a study found that the “prevalence of depressive symptoms increased among U.S. adults during the pandemic.” Researchers “examined changes in depressive symptoms among U.S. adults overall and across sociodemographic characteristics using 2013 to 2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.” They found “the observed prevalence of depressive symptoms increased from 8.2 to 12.3 percent from 2013-2020 to 2021-2023.” In addition, “depressive symptom prevalence increased by 3.5 percentage points during the pandemic after adjustment and accounting for secular trends.” There was also “a significantly larger increase seen in the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adults aged 20 to 44 years versus those aged 65 years or older” between 2013-2020 and 2021-2023. The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Related Links:

— “Depressive Symptoms Increased for U.S. Adults During Pandemic,” Elana Gotkine, HealthDay, May 7, 2025

The AP (5/7, Seitz ) reports Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “announced a plan Wednesday to use medical data and records from people on Medicaid and Medicare to help study autism although experts say it’s unlikely to help reveal the condition’s root causes.” The program will consist of a data sharing agreement between the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. HHS explained researchers will use the data to “focus on autism diagnosis trends, health outcomes from medical or behavioral treatment, access to care based on demographics and geography as well [as] the economic burden of autism on families and health care systems.” An HHS statement said the agreement will be “consistent with applicable privacy laws to protect Americans’ sensitive health information.”

CNN (5/7, Owermohle ) reports that “early signals from health officials that they would build a database to track autism were met with swift rebuke from advocacy organizations and doctors.”

Also reporting is The Hill (5/7, Choi ).

Related Links:

— “US Health department will analyze data from autistic Medicare, Medicaid enrollees, RFK Jr. says,” Amanda Seitz, Associated Press, May 7, 2025

HealthDay (5/2, Thompson ) reported a study found that “people who increased their physical activity to meet recommended guidelines between ages 45 and 65 had less accumulation of amyloid beta, a toxic protein that forms plaques in the brains of” patients with Alzheimer’s. Researchers observed the link was dose-dependent, meaning that the “more people increased their activity, the greater the reduction in amyloid beta in their brains. Active people also showed less age-related shrinkage in brain regions associated with memory and Alzheimer’s.” Researchers concluded, “These findings reinforce the importance of promoting physical activity in middle age as a public health strategy for Alzheimer’s prevention.” The study was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.

Related Links:

— “Middle-Age Exercise Protects Brain Against Alzheimer’s,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, May 2, 2025