The April issue of the Journal of the Neurological Sciences Vol 483
Issue highlights
Review Article
The immune awakening: Transformative strategies against brain tumorsAbdullah et al.Published online: February 4, 2026
Glioblastoma remains the most lethal primary brain tumour and is highly resistant to conventional therapies due to its ability to evade the central nervous system's immune defences. This review explores advances in Neuroimmunology, highlighting how glioblastoma creates an immunosuppressive tumour environment through mechanisms such as reduced MHC expression, immunosuppressive cytokines, metabolic changes, and the recruitment of regulatory immune cells, alongside structural barriers like the blood–tumour barrier and hypoxia. Emerging immunotherapies — including cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and oncolytic viruses — show promise but still face challenges such as tumour heterogeneity, immune suppression, and limited penetration of the blood–brain barrier. Read the full article to learn more about current research and future directions in overcoming immunotherapy resistance in glioblastoma. |
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Research Article
Profiling mitochondrial DNA indices across whole blood, plasma, and CSF in amyotrophic lateral sclerosisBai et al.Published online: February 6, 2026
This study investigates the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis by examining mtDNA markers across whole blood, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Researchers analysed samples from ALS patients and controls, finding that higher mtDNA ratios in whole blood were associated with better functional status and longer survival, while elevated cell-free mtDNA levels in CSF were more common in ALS and tended to correlate with greater disease severity and faster functional decline. These findings suggest mtDNA changes may play a role in neurodegeneration and could have potential clinical relevance in ALS. Read the full article to explore the study's methods, findings, and implications in greater detail. |
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Research Article | Open Access
Opisthotonus: Revisiting a classic movement disorderNakase et al.Published online: February 16, 2026
This study examines the mechanisms behind cognitive symptoms such as "brain fog" in patients with Long COVID using brain imaging and blood biomarkers. Researchers assessed 33 patients with neuropsychological symptoms using MRI, cerebral blood flow imaging, cognitive testing, and biomarker analysis. The findings showed links between cognitive performance and changes in regional cerebral blood flow in the occipital and parietal lobes, as well as associations between cognitive test scores and blood biomarkers including neurofilament light chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein. These results suggest measurable neurological and biological correlates of cognitive symptoms following COVID-19 infection. Read the full article to learn more about the imaging findings, biomarkers, and implications for understanding neuropsychological long COVID.
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Research Article
Workshop report: Findings from the 2025 Italian SMAkers Educational Initiative on SMA management in Italythe participants in the 2025 SMAkers workshopPublished online: February 23, 2026
Recent advances in newborn screening have transformed the diagnosis and management of Spinal Muscular Atrophy, enabling earlier detection and treatment but also raising new clinical and communication challenges. A 2025 workshop held in Florence by the Italian SMA Network brought clinicians together to discuss key issues including communicating diagnoses to families, managing presymptomatic infants identified through screening, and providing long-term care for adults living longer with the disease. Discussions highlighted a multidisciplinary, family-centred approach that integrates genetic findings, neurophysiology, and clinical assessments — including measures such as SMN2 copy number, CMAP, neurofilament light chain, and evaluations of motor, respiratory, and psychological health. Read the full article to learn more about the workshop discussions and the evolving care model for spinal muscular atrophy. |
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