Journal of the Neurological Sciences issue 485 now available

Stroke preventative strategies and long-term cognitive function: A population-based study

Published online: February 26, 2026

This population-based study from the South London Stroke Register explores how secondary prevention strategies influence long-term cognitive outcomes after Stroke. The findings show that treatments such as antihypertensives, statins, and anticoagulants—particularly when used in combination—were associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment up to five years post-stroke, although these protective effects diminished over time. These results highlight the importance of sustained, optimised medication management in preserving cognitive function after stroke.

Modeling inter-slice dependencies with temporal graph learning for Alzheimer's disease

Published online: March 5, 2026

A new study introduces an AI-driven framework that improves the early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease by better analysing 3D MRI brain scans. Traditional models often struggle to capture the full spatial and temporal complexity of brain imaging, particularly when distinguishing between Alzheimer’s, mild cognitive impairment, and normal ageing.

This research proposes a hybrid approach combining Vision Transformers with temporal graph learning, allowing models to understand relationships between MRI slices more effectively. The method demonstrated very high accuracy across datasets, outperforming existing approaches and showing strong potential for more reliable, real-world clinical application.

Evidence for compromised function of the glymphatic system in pediatric acquired demyelinating disorders

Published online: March 11, 2026

A new study explores dysfunction in the brain’s glymphatic system in children with pediatric acquired demyelinating syndromes (PADS), highlighting a potential but underexplored mechanism in neurological disease. The glymphatic system, responsible for clearing waste from the brain, has been linked to neurological dysfunction in adults, but its role in paediatric populations has remained unclear. Using advanced diffusion imaging (DTI-ALPS), researchers found significantly reduced glymphatic function in children with PADS compared to healthy controls. While some improvement was observed over time, these changes were not strongly linked to cognitive performance or conventional imaging markers, suggesting this measure may capture a distinct aspect of disease activity.

The effect of end-tidal carbon dioxide levels on dynamic cerebral autoregulation and clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke: An INFOMATAS study

Published online: March 12, 2026

A new study investigates the role of carbon dioxide levels in patients with acute ischaemic stroke, highlighting how early physiological changes may influence recovery. Hypocapnia—low carbon dioxide levels—was found to be common shortly after stroke, particularly within the first 24 hours, and more prevalent in non-lacunar stroke types.

Interestingly, early hypocapnia was associated with improved cerebral autoregulation, suggesting a short-term adaptive response. However, this relationship did not persist, and lower carbon dioxide levels beyond the first day were linked to poorer clinical outcomes, including greater disability.