(by Nicola Simonetti) One billion people in the world live together today with a significant neurological disorder that affects their psycho-physical and relational balance and deteriorates their quality of life.
In Italy: 5 million suffer from migraines, including chronic migraine (constant pain over 15 days a month) in particular women; 120.000 of multiple sclerosis, a disease that induces progressive disability and requires continuous health and care services; 150.000 cases of stroke with about 800.000 people who have survived the stroke but who carry the signs of disability caused by the disease; 300.000 patients with Parkinson's disease; 1 million people with mental decay;
Dementia affects 46,8 millions of people worldwide and it is expected that, within the 2050, its number will reach 131,5 millions: every year, 9,9 million new cases will be: 1 every 3 seconds.
“And it is expected, in Italy, one of the oldest countries in Europe / 17% over 65), - says prof. Gianluigi Mancardi, university, Genoa, president of the Italian Society of Neurology which is celebrating its 49th National Congress in Rome - an exponential growth in age-related chronic diseases. In the face of these numbers, The challenge of Italian neurology for the future will be challenging and a common effort will be needed to maintain scientific levels (we are in 7th place in the world for the number of scientific publications in neurology) while the quality of medical assistance, albeit of a good standard, must make up for the modest investments in health care ”.
Neurological research has made great strides both from a pharmacological and pathophysiological point of view on the role of the cerebral motor cortex. We can also benefit from digital innovation to monitor, even remotely, the evolution of the disease (Prof. Alfredo Berardelli - La Sapienza University, Rome) - President of the Congress) ”.
“In particular - says Mancardi - new research in the field of multiple sclerosis: from therapies with monoclonal antibodies to anti B lymphocyte therapies, which are very effective in relapse and remission forms. Good news, too, for the secondary progressive forms on which some drugs that act on sphingosine 1 phosphate receptors appear to be active. In particularly aggressive cases of the disease, the therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is particularly effective ".
“Digital innovation is the future on which the treatment of Parkinson's disease is based. Telemonitoring systems - says Berardelli - allow you to control the variability, during the day, of voice, digital mobility, walking, balance and reaction time. Clinical evaluation and therapy have been improved with a continuity of care that also makes use of remote rehabilitation platforms.
In the near future, drug therapy will offer new perspectives thanks to monoclonal antibodies ".
Regarding mental decay - says prof. Carlo Ferrarese (Milan Bicocca University) - the current trials are aimed at the prevention of the disease. Mild cognitive decline can be slowed by medication.
For the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, PET makes it possible to establish a risk of developing the disease before the onset of severe cognitive deficits, making it possible to launch preventative therapeutic strategies. These are based on molecules that block the enzymes (Beta secretase) that produce beta-amyloid (whose accumulation causes the disease). Alternatively, available antibodies capable, even, to determine the progressive disappearance of the same protein (beta amyloid) already present in the brain tissue. These antibodies, produced in the laboratory and administered subcutaneously or intravenously, penetrate the brain and are able to remove beta-amyloid even before its dangerous accumulation ".
The Congress will also talk about headaches, strokes and chronicity in neurology. We'll talk about it tomorrow.