MDS Podcast

The classic direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia are often taught as simple “Go” and “No-Go” systems for movement. But emerging evidence reveals a much richer picture. Dr. Michele Matarazzo speaks with Dr. Ann Graybiel about her 2026 Best Review Paper in Movement Disorders, exploring how basal ganglia circuits contribute to learning, decision-making, motivation, and mood; the emerging role of the external globus pallidus; and newly identified striosomal pathways that regulate dopamine and may reshape our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Read the article.

Dr. Ray Dorsey passionately shares the mounting evidence supporting the role environmental neuro-toxicants have in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) and why PD prevention deserves our attention. Read the article.

Dr. Mitra Afshari discusses with Dr. Jeffrey Hausdorff the potential of AI-enabled digital biomarkers in Parkinson’s disease, including their role in patient monitoring, challenges in accuracy and reliability, and barriers to clinical implementation.

Ms. Nicole Duff discusses with Dr. Sara Lidstone the diagnosis and management of functional neurological and movement disorders, including clinical signs, patient-centered communication, and the importance of interdisciplinary rehabilitation.

Dr. Mitra Afshari discusses with Dr. Raul Martínez-Fernández recent advances in MRI-guided focused ultrasound for essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease, including improvements in safety and efficacy, its relationship with deep brain stimulation, and emerging neuromodulation approaches.

Dr. Eduardo de Pablo-Fernández discusses with Dr. Samuel Kim recent advances in Huntington’s disease, including genetic mechanisms, emerging biomarkers, and the potential of huntingtin-lowering therapies and gene therapy.

Dr. Eduardo de Pablo-Fernández discusses with Prof. Tom Foltynie emerging disease-modifying and restorative treatments for Parkinson’s disease, including recent clinical trial findings and promising therapeutic approaches.

Ms. Nicole Duff discusses with Dr. Alison Yarnall the prevalence and impact of frailty in Parkinsonism, including how it is identified and measured and its implications for clinical trials and patient care.

Dr. Jerome Honnorat sits down with host Dr. Divyani Garg at the 2026 MDS international Congress to review the most recent advancements in autoimmune movement disorders.

Dr. Sabine Hilfiker addresses with Dr. Tiago Outeiro the slight differences of alpha-synuclein pathology in LRRK PD and what they could mean in terms of cell biology and molecular mechanisms.

Dr. Ignacio Mata discusses with Dr. Divyani Garg the dramatic increases in genetic testing globally over the last several years that have enhanced our understanding of the genetic architecture of Parkinson's disease.

Prof. Wassilios Meissner discusses scientific advances in multiple system atrophy, from our growing understanding of MSA pathophysiology to potential diagnostic biomarkers to investigational therapeutics.

Prof. Burn speaks with Dr. Michele Matarazzo about the initiaves and direction of MDS.

Dr. Cecilia Peralta sits down with host Dr. Michele Matarazzo to review the most recent findings and future of neuroimaging in the field.

Dr. Genko Oyama gives us an inside look at the most exciting moments from the last full day of the MDS Congress — including 2 exciting Clinical Breakthrough announcements and his favorite case from the Video Challenge.

Dr. Andrew Siderowf shares what you missed from #mdscongress day three, which included a deep dive into the evolving AI landscape and insightful live patient rounds.

Highlights from day 2: Dr. Sanjay Pandey recaps the key takeaways, including from the aging & comorbidities and renown awardee lecture sessions.

Dr. Thomas Kimber breaks down the eventful and science-packed first day of the #MDSCongress.

Prof. Tiago Outeiro speaks with 2026 MDS Congress C. David Marsden Presidential Lecture Award winner Prof. Vincenzo Bonifati about his landmark genetic discoveries and the future of movement disorders research.

Sara Schaefer speaks with the MDS Congress 2026 Junior Award Winner Dr. Richard Morton about his prevalence study on Parkinson's disease in Kalifi County, Kenya, a substudy of the Transforming Parkinson's Care in Africa (TraPCAf) study.

In this episode, we speak with Zixiao Yin, recipient of a Junior Award at the MDS Congress, about his work on reconstructing deep brain activity from cortical signals. Using more than 700 hours of simultaneous cortical and subcortical recordings across different movement disorders, brain targets, and clinical states, Yin and colleagues developed deep learning approaches to infer subcortical activity from cortical recordings. We discuss why this could matter for adaptive DBS, how cortical signals can be used to estimate STN beta activity and reconstruct deep brain signals, and whether this approach could provide an alternative when direct subcortical sensing is unreliable.

Dr. Sara Schaefer speaks with 2026 MDS Congress Stanley Fahn Award Lecture winner Dr. Beomseok Jeon about his career and the inspiration he drew from his time as a movement disorders fellow under Dr. Stanley Fahn.

Dr. Divyani Garg speaks with Dr. Hubert H. Fernandez about tavapadon, a once-daily selective dopamine D1/D5 receptor agonist, and what the TEMPO clinical development program tells us about its potential role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). They discuss the rationale for D1/D5 stimulation, findings from other TEMPO programs, the magnitude and clinical meaning of the motor benefit, flexible dosing, and the important tolerability and discontinuation findings from TEMPO-2. The conversation also explores where tavapadon might fit relative to levodopa and conventional D2/D3 dopamine agonists, and its potential role across different stages of PD. Read the article.

Prof. Jeffrey Kordower and Prof. Franziska Richter Assêncio join Prof. Tiago Outeiro to discuss the historical use of animal models in the field of Parkinson's disease. Together they review ethical issues, the value of different types of models, and their relevance to the field.

In this new episode of the Hot Topic 'Prodromal synucleinopathies' Dr. Eva Schäffer joins Dr. Eduardo de Pablo Fernández to discuss recent advances, future challenges, and practical clinical advice in prodromal Parkinson's disease.

In this episode, Dr. Kathryn Yang discusses a case of a young girl with subacute-onset jerky movements with an interesting finding on oculomotor examination, and explores the etiological diagnosis of this peculiar syndrome. Read the article.

Sleep Specialist Dr. Laura Pérez-Carbonell joins Dr. Eduardo de Pablo Fernández to discuss a wide range of topics related to REM sleep behaviour disorder as a prodromal synucleinopathy.

In this episode, Dr. Mitra Afshari speaks with Dr. Jen Nagao about her latest work highlighting the automation of subthalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) with Evoked Resonant Neural Activity (ERNA) in Parkinson’s disease. They discuss the potential benefits of ERNA over beta power in the operating room and future opportunities to explore this newer neurophysiological marker for DBS programming. Read the article. Journal CME is available until June 30, 2027.

Dr. Todd Gross and Dr. Laxman Bahroo discuss with Dr. Sara Schaefer the real-world use of daxibotulinumtoxinA in patients with cervical dystonia following initial clinical trials and FDA approval. Read the article.

Dr. Asif Doja explores the diagnostic possibilities of behavioral arrests and loss of postural reflexes in a young boy, and details the diagnostic approach to such cases.
View the case videos:
KCNMA1-Related Episodes of Behavioral Arrest and Loss of Postural Reflexes
Cataplexy in Patients Harboring the KCNMA1 p.N999S Mutation

Ms. Nicole Duff spends time with Mrs. Cassandra Mulcahy and Prof. Stefan Mainka, both of whom are qualified music therapists. They discuss the benefits of music therapy in treating both motor and non-motor symptoms in persons with Parkinson's disease. Different forms of music therapy are discussed, along with the physiology behind them. Lastly, possible future directions of music therapy in the rehabilitation of persons with Parkinson's disease were explored.

Dr. Sarah Camargos is joined by Dr. Rajeev Kumar to explore early research on targeting neuroinflammation in Huntington's disease. Dr. Kumar delves into the intricacies of the complement cascade, highlighting the pivotal role of C1q as the recognition molecule at the top of this immune system chain reaction and how ANX005 aims to prevent the initiation of the cascade. He further discusses the implications of biomarker advancements and safety protocols in moving towards more effective treatments for Huntington's disease. Read the article. Journal CME is available until June 30, 2027.

Ms. Nicole Duff and Prof. Hae-Young Hawong discuss the benefits of Argentine tango in the rehabilitation of person's with Parkinson disease. The motor, non-motor, social, and quality of life gains are all explored; in addition to, the neuro-anatomical, neurophysiological and neuroplastic benefits. Prof. Hawong also describes the very successful and passion-based Argentine tango program she has established at the Yale School of Medicine.

Dr. Norihito Uemura joins Prof. Tiago Outeiro to discuss perampanel, an AMPA receptor antagonist, and how it has been shown to block alpha-synuclein propagation and neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Lewy body disease. Dr. Uemura explains the mechanistic findings of transsynaptic propagation and the study limitations pertaining to mouse behavior. They also discuss perampanel’s established therapeutic ranges in epilepsy, review limited prior Parkinson’s data, and outline next steps including a potential clinical trial in Parkinson’s disease patients. Read article. Journal CME is available until June 5, 2027.

Ms. Nicole Duff and Dr. Marjan Meinders discuss end of life preferences of people with Parkinson’s disease. Together they discuss the ways that end-of-life records could be sourced, as well as what information could be found in the end-of-life record. They further dive into the differences between specific European countries and the reasons around the low rate of end-of-life records for people with Parkinson's disease.

Dr. Connie Marras discusses with Dr. Sara Schaefer her recent study in Movement Disorders Clinical Practice exploring the perspective of Persons with Parkinson's disease on the definition of quality of life. Read the article.

Myths and misconceptions related to the surgical risks of deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures remain common despite many years of evidence demonstrating its relative safety. This leads to both patient and provider fear in referring eligible patients for consideration of a potentially life-altering therapy for symptom management in many movement disorders. Dr. Mitra Afshari speaks to functional neurosurgeon, Dr. Chengyuan Wu, about a recent large retrospective study he conducted comparing risks of DBS surgery to other common elective surgeries. They also bring in the perspective of DBS specialist, Dr. Delaram Safarpour, who recently published expert consensus recommendations for referral of Parkinson’s disease patients for DBS. Listen in on the lively discussion of how we can reframe this conversation with our patients and colleagues.
Read the retrospective study.
Read the expert consensus recommendations.

For many years ataxias, especially the genetic forms, were considered untreatable diseases. In this episode Dr. Orlando Barsottini and Dr. Liana Rosenthal discuss the new advances in the treatment of ataxias and perspectives for the future.

Prodromal autonomic dysfunction has emerged as an important area of research in understanding Lewy body diseases, including Parkinson's disease, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Dr. Michelle Matarazzo sits down with three experts in the field, Dr. Abhimanyu Mahajan, Dr. Alison Yarnall, and Dr. David Goldstein to discuss the current evidence behind various disturbances and how they may precede classic motor and cognitive symptoms, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urinary, and thermoregulatory disturbances. Together they discuss how these early non-motor manifestations may be considered integral features of the disease process. Read the related Scientific Issue Discussion on this topic.

Genetic ataxias have many non-motor features, such as fatigue, sleep disorders, and cognitive dysfunction. In this episode, Dr. Orlando Barsottini and Dr. Christopher Stephen discuss the most common non-motor symptoms and how to approach them.

Dr. Michele Matarazzo sits down with Dr. Rebecca Wallings to discuss how two of the most important genetic forms for Parkinson's disease, LRRK2 and GBA1, influence immune response to bacterial simulation. Their discussion highlights a potential link between genetics, environment, and inflammation in Parkinson’s disease. Journal CME is available until March 18, 2027
Read the article.

In this episode, Dr. Orlando Barsottini and Dr. Malco Rossi discuss the main imaging findings and clues for the the diagnosis of genetic and sporadic ataxias.

In this episode Dr. Hugo Morales Briceno and Dr. Ai Huey Tan discuss how to approach deafness-dystonia syndrome and its etiological differential diagnoses. Read the discussed case.

In this interview, Dr. Orlando Barsottini and Dr. Divyani Garg discuss the main forms of sporadic ataxias, how to approach them, and what steps not to miss.

Dr. Mattia Rosso joins Dr. Sara Schaefer to discuss the historical use of videography in movement disorder clinical practice and education, and how it influenced the evolution of the field. Read the article.

Cases of late-onset cerebellar ataxias are a challenge for neurologists. In this episode Dr. Orlando Barsottini and Dr. José Luiz Pedroso discuss new advances on the investigation of late-onset cerebellar ataxias and identification of new genes.

Dr. Michele Matarazzo interviews Prof. Hesheng Liu about his recent Nature paper proposing a major conceptual shift: Parkinson’s disease as a somato-cognitive action network (SCAN) disorder. Together they discuss how a large multimodal dataset suggests a characteristic pattern of hyperconnectivity between SCAN cortical areas and subcortical nuclei in Parkinson’s disease, how this signature changes with effective therapies, and why personalized SCAN targeting may help refine non-invasive stimulation and circuit-guided interventions. The conversation explores implications for biomarkers, patient-specific targeting, and key unanswered questions that will shape the next generation of studies. Read the article.

In this episode, Dr. Orlando Barsottini and Dr. Bart van de Warrenburg discuss the importance of precise neurological examination and classification of ataxias. The further discuss the rational etiological investigation for cases of ataxia and how to utilize different clinical assessments.

In this episode, Dr. Kirsten Müller-Vahl explores one of the first long-term follow-up studies of mass social media–induced functional tic-like behaviors (MSMI-FTLB). She discusses what their findings mean for clinical counseling, why early diagnosis appears to improve outcomes, how factors such as psychiatric comorbidity and secondary gain influence recovery. She also examines the surprising finding that reduced screen time did not significantly affect prognosis and what this suggests about social media as a trigger versus a maintaining factor. Read the article.

Dr. Eduardo de Pablo-Fernández is joined by Dr. Susan Fox and Dr. Claudia Trenkwalder to discuss how to improve the current MDS clinical diagnostic criteria for Parkinson's disease. Read the article.

Functional dystonia can closely mimic idiopathic dystonia, and objective physiological markers to support the diagnosis are still limited. In this episode, Dr. Michele Matarazzo speaks with Prof. Roberto Eleopra about a pilot study using poly-EMG during a controlled propofol sedation protocol to help differentiate functional from idiopathic dystonia. They discuss the study’s rationale and design, the key findings, and what this approach could (and could not) add to real-world diagnostic workflows in selected complex cases. Journal CME is available until February 19, 2027
Read the article.

A young boy presents with exercise-induced episodic gait disturbance. Dr. Shekeeb Mohammad analyses the clinical phenomenology alongside laboratory and neuroimaging findings, systematically exploring the differential diagnosis before arriving at the final diagnosis.

Dr. Mena Farag joins Dr. Eduardo de Pablo-Fernández to discuss how proenkephalin and other biomarkers can help monitor the earliest stages of Huntington's disease decades before the onset of motor symptoms. Journal CME is available until February 11, 2027
Read the article.

This episode explores shame as an often-overlooked but impactful non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Drawing on her team's recent research, Dr. Vanessa Fleury discusses the psychological and clinical determinants of shame, its strong link to quality of life, and why it deserves greater attention in routine care. The conversation highlights how recognizing and addressing shame may open new avenues for more holistic, patient-centered management. Read the article.

In this episode, Dr. Alexander Lehn explores the clinical management of Parkinson’s disease across the reproductive journey; before conception, during pregnancy, and in the postpartum period. He shares the current evidence, practical challenges, medication safety considerations, and multidisciplinary decision-making. The conversation highlights gaps in data, real-world clinical strategies, and key counseling points to support optimal outcomes for both the parent and child. Read the article.

Dr. Sara Schaefer is joined by Dr. Valentina Leta and Dr. Ray Chaudhuri to discuss their randomized controlled trial on the effects of probiotic use on inflammation, motor, and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. Journal CME is available until December 18, 2026
Read the article.

In another installment of the ongoing History Series, Dr. Christopher Goetz joins Dr. Sara Schaefer to discuss the legacy of Jean-Martin Charcot within the fields of medicine medicine, neurology, medical education, and movement disorders.

Dr. Sarah Camargos continues her conversation on palliative in movement disorders by interviewing Mr. Victor McConvey. Together they discuss the current state of palliative care in movement disorders including current barriers, challenges, and future goals.

Differentiating a dystonic head tremor from a head tremor in essential tremor can sometimes be diagnostically challenging. In this episode, Dr. Mitra Afshari interviews Dr. Jung Hwan Shin and Prof. Beomseok Jeon on their investigation into the rhythmicity and sinusoidality of head tremors in cervical dystonia versus essential tremor using simple 2D video recordings. We’ll hear about how their findings fit their original hypotheses and potential future work that the group has been brainstorming. Journal CME is available until November 26, 2026
Read the article.

Two key leaders of the MDS Pan-American section, Dr. Cynthia Comella and Dr. Oscar Gershanik, discuss how they got involved in the society, what they are most proud of, and what the Society means to them, both professionally and personally.

To celebrate the 40th Anniversay of the MDS, Dr. Michele Matarazzo sits down with two key leaders of the MDS Asian Oceanian section, Prof. Carolyn Sue and Prof. Beomseok Jeon. Together they discuss the early years of movement disorder “rock stars,” how the society has changed through their eyes, and impacts it has had on their careers.

Two key leaders of the MDS African Regional section, Dr. Njideka Okubadejo and Dr. Jonathan Carr, discuss their experiences within MDS and what makes them proud to be long-standing members.

To celebrate the 40th Anniversay of the MDS, Dr. Sara Schaefer sits down with two key leaders of the MDS European Regional Section, Prof. Marie Vidailhet and Prof. Alberto Albanese. Listen as they share their fond memories of scholarly debate, Congress experiences, and hopes for the future.

In this Hot Topic episode, Dr. Sarah Camargos talks with Prof. Janis Miyasaki about the meaning and benefits of palliative care and how it improves quality of care in movement disorders.

In this episode, Prof. Fanny Mochel discusses the rationale and key findings from a retrospective cohort study of patients with CSF1R-related disorder treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, highlighting the potential of this therapy to achieve both clinical and radiological disease stabilization.
Journal CME is available until September 24, 2026
Read the article.

In this episode, Dr. Divyani Garg converses with Prof. Kristina Simonyan on applying the standard alcohol challenge test, in combination with targeted genetic analysis in the GABAergic synapse pathways, in persons with laryngeal dystonia. Together they explore alcohol’s role in laryngeal dystonia, the genetic signatures that may predict responsiveness, and what this could mean for the future of treatment of laryngeal dystonia specifically, but also dystonia in general. Read the article.

Dr. Michele Matarazzo interviews Dr. Victor Hvingelby, the recipient of this year’s MDJ Research Article of the Year award. Together they discuss the use of PET tracers to assess microglial activation in isolated REM sleep behavior disorder and how these tools can better define prodromal Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Sarah Camargos interviews Dr. Guillaume Cogan and Prof. Alexis Brice, the corresponding authors of the article selected as the Movement Disorders Review of the Year. Listen as their conversation dives into the new sequencing technologies, and the broader diagnosis they bring to the field.

Functional movement disorders (FMDs) are the most common subgroup of functional neurological disorders. Prof. Selma Aybek breaks down current trends for FMDs, controversies, and treatment preferences, including implementing an interdisciplinary team.

Prof. Paul Wilmes breaks down his #mdscongress talk discussing the recent studies on the influences of the gut microbiome on PD. He also dives into future goals and what interventions may be beneficial for PD.

There have been major breakthroughs in functional neurosurgery. Prof. Jill Ostrem breaks down the latest updates in the field, specifically surrounding adaptive DBS.

Prof. Susanne Schneider discusses all things dystonia. Listen as she reviews the revised MDS definition and classification system for dystonia, updates for neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, and the exciting future of genetic therapies.

Dr. Lauren Jackson discusses recent clinical trials, genetic updates, and interesting research in the field of ataxia.

Prof. Alessandra Fanciulli discusses how the MDS criteria for the diagnosis of MSA has made an impact on the field, the status of biomarker research, and optimal targets for disease-modifying trials for MSA.

Developments in neuroimaging have grown a lot over the years. Dr. Thilo van Eimeren discusses biomarker development, both in tau and alpha synuclein, current research, and his hope for future successes.

Dr. Victor Fung reflects on his term as MDS President and his appreciation for the accomplishments that were achieved. He further discusses his future hopes and goals of the Society and the #mdscongress.

The field of genetics often moves quickly, making it a challenge to stay informed. Dr. Gerard Saranza breaks down the current landscape, new discoveries and technologies, and what changes we can expect in the upcoming years.

Due to genetic advancements, the pediatric movement disorder field is ever growing. Dr. Shekeeb Mohammad breaks down the current landscape of the field and how adult neurologists can advance their learning.

There have been nearly 30 years of disease modifying trials for PD, but little success. Prof. Tanya Simuni breaks down clinical trial design for a heterogenous disease like PD and discusses the future goals and importance of a biological definition.

Rehabilitation for movement disorders, like PD, has become increasingly prevalent for patient care. Prof. Alice Nieuwboer discusses how technology has shaped the field, how neurologists can support patient exercise, and what future updates she looks forward to.

Dr. Yaroslau Compta discusses how the view of co-pathologies has changed the view of many disorders, including tauopathies. He dives into the current state of clinical trials for PSP and what those results may mean for the future of biomarkers.

The last full day of the #mdscongress was full of exciting sessions and events. Dr. Laura Silveira-Moriyama shares her excitement about the keynote speaker, updates on disease modifying clinical trials, and of course, the crowd pleasing MDS Video Challenge.

Dr. Huw Morris discusses the session highlights from #mdscongress day three, which included a plenary session on protein aggregation clearance, movement disorder grand rounds, and several exciting oral platforms.

Prof. Francesca Morgante breaks down the second day of the #mdscongress which included the presidential lectures, junior awardees, and several enlightening teaching sessions.

An eventful first day of the 2025 #mdscongress has come to a close. Listen here as Dr. Davide Martino reviews the events and interesting scientific sessions for those near and far. Don’t miss out!

Dr. Mitra Afshari chats with Dr. Jung Hawn Shin, one of this year’s MDS Congress Junior Awardees. Together they discuss his career path and what lead him to studying, and ultimately deciphering specific neuronal cell-types within the subthalamic nucleus (STN) that could be responsible for anti-parkinsonian motor benefits, and potentially non-motor side effects, of stimulation using optogenetic technology in Parkinsonian mice.

Dr. Eduardo de Pablo-Fernández interviews one of the 2025 Junior Awardees, Dr. Lydia Chougar about her work combining neuroimaging with transcriptomics and PET maps to elucidate the biological underpinnings of structural abnormalities in multiple system atrophy.

This year’s MDCP Review Article of the Year covers the spectrum of movement disorders associated with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). Dr. Sarah Camargos interviews Dr. Charulata Sankhla on her team’s findings and why she believes movement disorder specialists should be aware of this measle-associated complication. Read the article.

Dr. Jon Stoessl looks back on his distinguished career in neuroimaging, highlighting the discoveries that have advanced our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and related conditions. In this conversation, he reflects on the evolution of imaging technologies, the challenges of interpreting complex data, and the lessons learned throughout his journey. His recognition with the David Marsden Lecture Award underscores the lasting impact of his contributions to the field.

Prof. Mark Edwards, the awardee for the 2025 Stanley Fahn Lecture Award, discusses his work and interest in the neurology-psychiatry continuum as it relates to the care of patients with chronic neurological diseases, including functional neurological disorders.

In this episode, we dive into the world of epilepsy dyskinesia syndrome (EDS) with our guest, Dr. Darius Ebrahimi-Fakhari. Listen as he unpacks the findings from one of the largest multinational studies to date, involving over 600 patients across 25 countries. Read the article.

In the third and final episode of the normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) Hot Topic series, Dr. Sara Schaefer speaks with Dr. Joachim Krauss about the assessment of patients with NPH for neurosurgical intervention, outcomes data, and his vision for the future of NPH research and clinical care.

In this second episode of the Hot Topic series on normal pressure hydrocephalus, Dr. Sara Schaefer discusses with Dr. Alfonso Fasano the pathophysiological theories behind NPH, co-pathology in this population, and controversies surrounding the disease.

In this first episode of the Hot Topic series on normal pressure hydrocephalus, Dr. Sara Schaefer discusses with Dr. Mats Tullberg the symptoms of NPH, examination techniques and pearls, imaging findings, and the differential diagnosis.

In this episode, host Dr. Michele Matarazzo interviews Dr. Nicolaas Bohnen about his team’s recent study using FEOBV PET to investigate cholinergic deficits in Parkinson’s disease patients with dopa-unresponsive freezing of gait (FOG). The results reveal a distinct pattern of cortical cholinergic denervation that may underlie this challenging and poorly treatable symptom. Dr. Bohnen discusses the implications for subtyping FOG, the role of cholinergic systems in higher-order motor control, and the potential for cholinergic-targeted therapies. Read the article.

Dr. Mitra Afshari interviews Drs. Patricia Krause and Andrea Kühn on the results of a 10-year prospective follow-up study of a multicenter trial of GPI-DBS in isolated generalized and segmental dystonia. Together they discuss motor, non-motor, and safety outcomes, as well as the strong and stable long-term improvements in dystonia from pallidal DBS. Further, they provide their expert insights on the common themes with respect to treatment failure and the critical need for a personalized approach.
Journal CME is available until June 19, 2026
Read the article.

Could gene therapy with neurotrophic factors help restore dopaminergic terminals in Parkinson’s disease? Dr. Michele Matarazzo speaks with Dr. Amber Van Laar about her team’s Phase 1b trial of AAV2–GDNF gene therapy delivered directly to the putamen. They discuss the preclinical evidence for GDNF, how advanced delivery techniques and higher putamen coverage may overcome past challenges, and the encouraging early results in moderate Parkinson’s. The conversation also explores lessons from previous trials, safety outcomes, and the path forward.
Journal CME is available until June 25, 2026
Read the article.

Ms. Nicole Duff and Dr. Amanda Currie discuss the potential role of the social worker in deep brain stimulation (DBS) and the work of Dr. Currie’s team in creating a simple pneumonic that could be used to determine whether a social worker's involvement would be beneficial to DBS patients. They also discuss the clinical implications of this study as well as possible future directions to further outline the role of the social worker in DBS. Read the article.

Mutations in LRRK2 are a common cause of familial and sporadic Parkinson’s. Though clinical features resemble typical PD, about half of cases lack Lewy pathology. Doctors Hiroaki Sekiya and Nanna Møller Jensen discuss their recent studies on the neuropathology of LRRK2-PD patients. They dive into their methods and how proximity ligation assays may compare to alpha-synuclein seeding assays in identification of alpha-synuclein oligomers. Together they explain their surprising results on how alpha-synuclein oligomers may be a key early feature in LRRK2-PD.
Read the first article.
Read the second article.