The Neurology Minute® podcast delivers a brief daily summary of what you need to know in the field of neurology, the latest science focused on the brain, and timely topics explored by leading neurologists and neuroscientists. From the American Academy of Neurology and hosted by Stacey Clardy, MD, PhD, FAAN, with contributions by experts from the Neurology® journals, Neurology Today®, Continuum®, and more.

A positive depression or anxiety screen in epilepsy starts a clinical conversation rather than completing the assessment. Direct symptom review, anti-seizure medication review, safe antidepressant selection, immediate escalation of active suicidality and psychiatry referral after two unsuccessful selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin–noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor trials define the management pathway.

Neurology and critical-appraisal teams get a focused update on fenebrutinib in early relapsing multiple sclerosis. The FENhance trials link substantial reductions in relapse rate and MRI lesion activity with less definitive individual disability outcomes, while mortality imbalance, infection-related serious events and liver enzyme elevation remain important safety considerations.

Neurology and psychiatry clinicians get a brief screening framework for anxiety and depression in epilepsy. GAD-2, PHQ-2 and the epilepsy-specific NDDIE can support assessment at diagnosis, during treatment changes and throughout follow-up, particularly when mood effects are not volunteered.

Neurology and critical-appraisal readers get a trial update on oral fenebrutinib for primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Non-inferiority to ocrelizumab, possible benefit in non-relapsing progression and the convenience of oral treatment are balanced against liver-enzyme abnormalities, biochemical Hy’s law signals and a mortality imbalance.

Neurology clinicians and educators get a concise reminder that functional neurological disorder is clinically diverse. Assessment, explanation, treatment priorities and follow-up should be tailored to the individual rather than imposed through a single pathway, while growing research activity offers cautious grounds for optimism.

Neurology and psychiatry teams get a trauma-informed migraine update. Military sexual trauma may affect symptom burden, engagement and healthcare use, supporting sensitive enquiry and integrated psychological or psychiatric input alongside standard migraine treatment.

Neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and medical-education teams get a concise update on functional neurological disorder as a common, legitimate neurological condition. Positive rule-in clinical features, a coherent brain-based explanation, non-stigmatising language and shared multidisciplinary teaching support earlier diagnosis and clearer patient communication.

Neurology, ophthalmology and rheumatology teams get a mechanism-first review of overlapping brain, retinal, auditory and mucosal syndromes. Susac syndrome is framed as a brain-retina-inner-ear microangiopathy, while atypical Behçet presentations require review for viral lesions, monogenic inflammatory disorders and other biological mimics before targeted immunotherapy.

Neurology, psychiatry and emergency clinicians get a trauma-informed perspective on migraine among post-9/11 veterans. Military sexual trauma is associated with greater migraine burden, emergency headache attendance and opioid exposure, making permission-based enquiry, pain-comorbidity review and interdisciplinary psychological support relevant to refractory presentations.

Neurology clinicians assessing rapidly progressive dementia get a concise diagnostic update. Human prion disease should be classified as sporadic, genetic or acquired, with CSF RT-QUIC, correct polypropylene sample tubes, MRI and EEG interpretation, family history and active exclusion of treatable mimics kept within the same pathway.