ACNN Selects Capture Management Solutions
Carl Lingen • December 27, 2020
ACNN's board of directors chose Capture Management Solutions as their association management company. Capture Management Solutions is located in Iowa and oversees around a dozen associations in the healthcare and business sector with a staff of ten employees. Capture Management Solutions specializes in "cause marketing" for associations. "We are very excited to represent ACNN and help them move forward with their strategic initiatives and help market the benefits to other neurology nurses in the nation," stated executive director, Carl Lingen, who is also a co-owner of Capture Management Solutions.
ADHD: Cognitive-Motor Exercise Outperforms Standard Exercise A multicenter randomized clinical trial involving 107 children with ADHD found that exercise programs combining movement with cognitive challenges (e.g., rule-switching, inhibitory control tasks, working memory demands) produced greater improvements in executive functioning than aerobic exercise alone. Children showed improvements in inhibitory control and working memory, while both exercise groups demonstrated reductions in ADHD symptoms. \ Why This Matters This study suggests that how children exercise may be as important as how much they exercise. Programs incorporating motor planning, attention, and cognitive flexibility may provide meaningful adjunctive treatment for ADHD. Academic Reference Zhu, F.-L., Dong, Z.-H., Lu, H.-Y., et al. (2026). Integrated cognitive-motor exercise for core symptoms and executive functions in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A randomized clinical trial. World Journal of Pediatrics. DOI: 10.1007/s12519-026-01019-4. Autism Genetics: Focus Shifts from Individual Genes to Shared Pathways A Yale-led study published in Nature Neuroscience found that numerous autism-associated genes appear to converge on common biological pathways during brain development. Using CRISPR-based models, investigators demonstrated that disrupting different autism-linked genes often resulted in similar downstream developmental effects. Why This Matters Researchers have identified hundreds of autism-associated genes, making individualized therapeutic targeting difficult. The discovery of convergent pathways may offer more practical therapeutic targets. Academic References Fernandez Garcia, M., Retallick-Townsley, K., Balafkan, N., et al. (2026). Convergent developmental pathways among autism-associated genes. Nature Neuroscience.
Autism & ADHD May Share Common Brain Biology New research from the Child Mind Institute suggests that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD may share overlapping biologic mechanisms that extend beyond traditional diagnostic categories. Investigators found that autism symptom severity—not diagnostic label alone—correlated with distinct patterns of brain connectivity and gene-expression activity in children with either ASD or ADHD. Why This Matters These findings support a growing “transdiagnostic” approach in pediatric neurodevelopment, where symptom dimensions and neural circuitry may be more informative than categorical diagnoses alone. References Molecular Psychiatry Di Martino, A., et al. (2026). Shared neural connectivity patterns across ASD and ADHD. Molecular Psychiatry. Infant Sleep Emerging as a Neurodevelopmental Biomarker A recent review in Pediatric Research highlights the close relationship between infant sleep architecture and early brain development. Researchers identified sleep spindle maturation and EEG organization as potential biomarkers for later neurodevelopmental outcomes. Why This Matters The first year of life represents a critical period of synaptic development and neural maturation. Sleep quality may directly influence: Memory consolidation Cognitive development Emotional regulation Neuroplasticity References O’Connor, C., Ventura, S., Proietti, J. et al. Sleep and infant development in the first year. Pediatr Res (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-026-04780-4 Nature Reviews Neuroscience Frank, M. G. (2011). Sleep and synaptic plasticity in the developing brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12, 477–488. Sleep Medicine Reviews Jan, J. E., et al. (2010). Sleep hygiene for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 14(6), 389–396. Practical Neurology Sheldon, S. H. (2019). Sleep & neurodevelopment. Practical Neurology. Adolescent Brain Development & Psychiatric Risk A longitudinal neuroimaging study found that children with elevated genetic risk for schizophrenia demonstrate reduced frontal cortical surface expansion during early adolescence compared with low-risk peers. Why This Matters The findings provide evidence that neurodevelopmental divergence may begin years before clinical psychiatric symptoms emerge. References Genetic Susceptibility to Schizophrenia and the Onset of Brain Developmental Change in Adolescence ” by Bing Xu, Annet Dijkzeul, Yingzhe Zhang, Isabel K. Schuurmans, Charlotte A.M. Cecil, Phil H. Lee, Ryan L. Muetzel, and Henning Tiemeier. Biological Psychiatry DOI:10.1016/j.biopsych.2026.03.989 Biological Psychiatry Shaw, P., et al. (2007). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by a delay in cortical maturation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 104(49), 19649–19654. Lancet Psychiatry Paus, T., et al. (2008). Why do many psychiatric disorders emerge during adolescence? Lancet Psychiatry. Early Screen Exposure & Long-Term Brain Outcomes Longitudinal studies continue to associate excessive screen exposure before age two with altered brain network maturation, increased anxiety symptoms, and reduced cognitive flexibility later in childhood and adolescence. Why This Matters Early sensory environments shape cortical development during periods of heightened neuroplasticity. References Neurobehavioural Links from Infant Screen Time to Anxiety ” by Huang Pei et al. EBioMedicine Pediatrics Madigan, S., et al. (2019). Association between screen time and children’s performance on developmental screening tests. Pediatrics, 143(4). JAMA Pediatrics Hutton, J. S., et al. (2020). Associations between screen-based media use and brain white matter integrity. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(1), e193869.
This month's pediatric neuroscience developments highlight major advances in early autism detection, pediatric attention research, neurodevelopmental genetics, infant brain maturation, and systems-based pediatric neurology care . These findings reinforce the growing role of precision medicine and early intervention in child neurology. Early Autism Detection Through Wearable Technology Researchers at UCLA Health are developing wearable sensor technology capable of detecting subtle motor abnormalities in infants at high risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study uses wrist- and ankle-based sensors combined with machine learning algorithms to identify movement variability before traditional behavioral symptoms emerge. Why This Matters Motor differences often precede language and social communication changes in ASD. Earlier identification could allow intervention during critical neurodevelopmental windows when neuroplasticity is greatest. Clinical Implications for Pediatric Neuroscience Nurses Increased emphasis on developmental surveillance during infancy Potential integration of digital biomarkers into pediatric neurology clinics Expanded family education regarding early motor signs of ASD References Nature Reviews Neurology Lord, C., et al. (2020). Autism spectrum disorder. Nature Reviews Disease Primers, 6, 5. JAMA Pediatrics Landa, R. J., et al. (2013). Developmental trajectories in infants with autism spectrum disorders. JAMA Pediatrics, 167(7), 629–638. Brain Signals May Predict Attention Lapses in Children A newly identified neural “attention signature” may predict lapses in attention before they occur in children. Investigators demonstrated that real-time recognition of this brain signal could restore focus using targeted interventions. Why This Matters This research may have implications for: ADHD diagnostics Pediatric cognitive rehabilitation Neurofeedback interventions Classroom attention monitoring technologies Clinical Implications Future development of individualized neurocognitive therapies Potential non-pharmacologic interventions for attention disorders Improved objective biomarkers for pediatric attentional dysfunction References Neuron Posner, M. I., & Petersen, S. E. (1990). The attention system of the human brain. Neuron, 13(1), 25–42. Biological Psychiatry Castellanos, F. X., & Proal, E. (2012). Large-scale brain systems in ADHD. Biological Psychiatry, 72(3), 192–197. Infant Sleep Emerging as a Neurodevelopmental Biomarker A new review in Pediatric Research emphasizes the critical relationship between infant sleep architecture and early brain development. Researchers highlight sleep spindle maturation as a potential biomarker for neurodevelopmental outcomes. Why This Matters Sleep quality and organization during infancy may influence: Cognitive development Memory consolidation Synaptic maturation Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes Clinical Implications Reinforces importance of sleep assessment in developmental evaluations Supports parent education on sleep hygiene May influence NICU and infant follow-up practices References Sleep Medicine Reviews Jan, J. E., et al. (2010). Sleep hygiene for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 14(6), 389–396. Nature Reviews Neuroscience Frank, M. G. (2011). Sleep and synaptic plasticity in the developing brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12, 477–488. New Genetic Insights Into Neurodevelopmental Disorders Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital identified a gene-disease association involving ASTN1, a gene critical for neuronal migration and cortical development. Why This Matters The findings help explain previously undiagnosed neurodevelopmental syndromes and reinforce the role of genetic sequencing in pediatric neurology. Clinical Implications Expanding role of neurogenetics in diagnostic evaluation Increased importance of interdisciplinary genetic counseling Potential future precision therapies targeting neuronal migration pathways References Lancet Neurology Guerrini, R., & Dobyns, W. B. (2014). Malformations of cortical development. Lancet Neurology, 13(7), 710–726. Neuron Valiente, M., & Marín, O. (2010). Neuronal migration mechanisms. Neuron, 66(4), 573–587. Early Screen Exposure & Adolescent Brain Outcomes Longitudinal data continue to show associations between excessive screen exposure before age two and later anxiety symptoms, altered cognitive flexibility, and changes in brain network maturation. Why This Matters This reinforces concerns surrounding early digital exposure during sensitive neurodevelopmental periods. Clinical Implications Strengthens anticipatory guidance recommendations for families Encourages developmental counseling around media exposure Supports integration of environmental history into pediatric assessments References Pediatrics Madigan, S., et al. (2019). Association between screen time and children’s performance on developmental screening tests. Pediatrics, 143(4). JAMA Pediatrics Hutton, J. S., et al. (2020). Associations between screen-based media use and brain white matter integrity. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(1), e193869. Stoke Therapeutics Announces First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: STOK) is a biotechnology company dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body’s potential with RNA medicine and has a lead investigational medicine, zorevunersen, in development with Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) as a first-in-class potential disease-modifying treatment for Dravet syndrome. The Company today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, and announced new 4-year longitudinal data from the ongoing Phase 1/2a open-label extension (OLE) studies that provide additional support for zorevunersen as a potential disease-modifying treatment for Dravet syndrome. Statistically significant improvements were demonstrated in cognition and behavior at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years of treatment compared to OLE baseline. Reductions in major motor seizure frequency were observed through 4 years of treatment in patients taking standard anti-seizure medicines (ASMs). Zorevunersen continues to be generally well tolerated, with some patients treated for more than 5 years in the Phase 1/2a and ongoing OLE studies. The Company also announced an update on progress of the global Phase 3 EMPEROR study. Enrollment of approximately 150 patients in the U.S., UK and Japan is expected to complete in June 2026 to support a data readout in mid-2027. These data are anticipated to complete the rolling New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) planned to initiate in the first quarter of 2027. Read the full press release here: https://investor.stoketherapeutics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/stoke-therapeutics-announces-first-quarter-2026-financial