Perri Klass, MD, writes in the New York Times’ (4/22, Klass) “The Checkup” blog that “researchers looking to find a biomarker that may help with the early diagnosis of autism have seized on the question of how young children react to hearing their names called.” Geraldine Dawson, the director of the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development, “was the corresponding author on a study in April in the journal Autism which used computer vision analysis to look at the reactions of toddlers from 16 to 31 months old, in response to hearing their names called.” Toddlers “with autism spectrum disorder took significantly longer to look away from a video and orient toward the person who had called.” Klass adds that “‘the signs and symptoms [of autism] for most children are there between 12 and 24 months,’ said Dr. Paul S. Carbone…a co-author of ‘Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Every Parent Needs to Know,’ published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.”

Related Links:

— “The Search for a Biomarker for Early Autism Diagnosis, “Perri Klass, M.D., The New York Times, April 22, 2019

MedPage Today (4/22, George) reports, “Neurofilament light (NfL) levels in blood corresponded with hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease progression, an analysis of” 1,583 “older adults in North America” indicated. The study revealed that “longitudinal NfL levels were linked to baseline cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, MRI measures, PET imaging, and poor cognitive performance among Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Study (ADNI) participants.” The findings were published online in JAMA Neurology

Related Links:

— “Blood Test Tracks Alzheimer’s Progression, “Judy George, MedPage Today, April 22, 2019

USA Today (4/20, Garrison) reported that on Friday, the FDA “announced…that it permitted marketing for the first medical device to treat” attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). Known as “the Monarch external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) System, the prescription-only device is for children ages 7 to 12 who are not taking…prescription medication” for the disorder. In a statement, Carlos Peña, director of the Division of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said, “This new device offers a safe, non-drug option for treatment of” AD/HD “in pediatric patients through the use of mild nerve stimulation, a first of its kind.”

CNN (4/20, Lamotte) reported that “the device should not be worn by children under the age of seven, or any child on an insulin pump, pacemaker or implanted neurostimulator.” The device “should also not be used near a cell phone, the FDA said, because the phone’s low levels of electromagnetic energy may interrupt the therapy.”

The Hill (4/20, Axelrod) reported that “eTNS, which is designed to fit inside one’s pocket, is connected by wire to a patch that is placed on the forehead while sleeping and delivers a “tingling” electrical impulse to branches of the trigeminal nerve.” The FDA said, “While the exact mechanism of eTNS is not yet known, neuroimaging studies have shown that eTNS increases activity in the brain regions that are known to be important in regulating attention, emotion and behavior.”

Related Links:

— “FDA signs off on first medical device for treating ADHD in children, “Joey Garrison, USA Today, April 20, 2019

Reuters (4/19, Ajmera) reported the FDA on Friday granted approval for generic drugmaker Teva Pharmaceutical Industries “to market its generic nasal spray for opioid overdose,” marking “the first approval of a generic naloxone nasal spray for use in a community setting by individuals without medical training.”

The AP (4/19, Johnson) wrote, “Naloxone has been sold as a nasal spray in the U.S. since 2016 under the brand name Narcan.” The AP highlighted that “pharmacists can dispense it without a prescription. It is also sold as a generic or brand-name drug in automatic injectors, prefilled syringes and vials.”

Related Links:

— “FDA approves Teva’s generic nasal spray to treat opioid overdose, “Ankit Ajmera, Reuters, April 19, 2019

MedPage Today (4/19, George) reported, “Incremental physical activity, even at a light intensity, was tied to larger brain volume,” researchers concluded after comparing “the number of steps walked per day” as well as dose measured as intensity x duration “with MRI total cerebral brain volume in 2,354 third-generation Framingham Heart Study participants who were a mean age of 53.” The study revealed that “each additional hour of light-intensity physical activity per day was associated with higher cerebral total brain volume, even among people not meeting national physical activity guidelines.” The findings were published online April 19 in JAMA Network Open. HealthDay (4/19, Reinberg) also covered the study.

Related Links:

— “Light Physical Activity Tied to Brain Volume, “Judy George, MedPage Today, April 19, 2019