In July, the World Health Organization released its updated classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. The last update was in 2016. The update reflects the increasing role of molecular biomarkers in tumor characterization -- a change that has major implications for how we diagnose and treat patients with brain and spinal cord tumors. Joining us today to help us understand these changes is Dr. Lynne Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a professor of Neurology and Oncology at the University of Washington and co-director of the Alvord Brain Tumor Center at University of Washington Medical Center. Dr. Taylor was interviewed by ANA Investigates producer and neuro-oncologist, Dr. Doug Ney. Series 2, Episode #10

In recent years, the Food and Drug Administration approved several new treatments specifically for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. But what about neuroimmunological conditions that do not have FDA approved options and require off-label use of immunomodulatory medications -- conditions like neurosarcoidosis, neuro-Behcet's, or central nervous system involvement of systemic rheumatologic conditions? There is often a lack of rigorous evidence to guide treatment of these conditions, leaving experts to rely on individual or institutional experience. Our guest on this episode is Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand, neuroimmunologist and Associate Professor of Neurology at UCSF. He specializes in treating patients with rare neuroinflammatory conditions, and he'll talk to us about the new drugs for NMO as well as off-label use of immunomodulatory therapies for a range of neurological conditions. Dr. Gelfand was interviewed by ANA producer Dr. Rohini Samudralwar. Series 2, Episode #9

Disclosures: Dr. Gelfand receives research support to UCSF for clinical trial from Rosch and Genetech; provides consulting to Biogen

For much of the history of neurology, diagnosing a genetic disease meant giving bad news. Genetic meant incurable, often fatal. On past shows, we've talked about how this narrative is changing for certain monogenic diseases like Huntington's Disease, where emerging gene therapies offer hope for a cure. But what hope can the field of neurogenetics offer to patients with more complex diseases with both genetic and environmental risk factors, like Alzheimer's? Our guest today, Dr. M. Elizabeth Ross, is Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience in the Brain and Mind Research Institute and Director of the Center for Neurogenetics at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her lab works on the genetics of neurologic diseases affecting humans at every stage of the lifecycle. Today she'll help us understand the role of genetics in a range of neurodegenerative diseases -- and how and when clinicians should incorporate genetic considerations into patient care. Series 2, Episode 8

Neurology and psychiatry: two fields, one organ system. Today, we'll focus on the intersection between the two. We'll discuss one common psychiatric disease -- depression -- and how new treatments for depression may inform how we treat other neurologic illnesses. ANA Investigates Producer Dr. Rohit Das interviewed Dr. Helen Mayberg, behavioral neurologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, about her pioneering research in circuit-based treatment of depression, particularly deep brain stimulation, or DBS. Series 2, Episode 7

Current guidelines for management of carotid stenosis are based on a series of trials dating back to the 1990s. If you ask today's guests, virtually no other area of neurology is so badly in need of an update. Dr. Seemant Chaturvedi, the Stewart Greenebaum Endowed Professor of Stroke Neurology at University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Dr. Cheryl Bushnell is Professor of Neurology, Vice Chair of Research, Stroke Division Chief at Wake Forest Baptist Health join us for a discussion of the major advances in medical therapy for stroke prevention and why these advances require new trials to refine patient selection for revascularization. They'll also discuss the growing role of plaque imaging in treatment decisions. Series 2, Episode 6

The topic of today's podcast is tenecteplase. This is a thrombolytic drug that is administered intravenously, for certain patients who present to the hospital with an acute ischemic stroke. There is mounting evidence that intravenous tenecteplase is at least as safe and effective as intravenous alteplase, the current standard of care in ischemic stroke. Tenecteplase also less expensive and easier to administer. Our guest today is Dr. Bruce Campbell, who has played a pivotal role in the deployment of tenecteplase for stroke. Dr. Campbell was interviewed by Dr. Michelle Johansen, a vascular neurologist at Johns Hopkins. Series 2, Episode 5

Less than a year -- that's how long it took between when the novel coronavirus emerged and when a vaccine was available to prevent it. This incredible speed of vaccine development exemplifies scientific innovation in a time of crisis. There is increasing vaccine acceptance among the public, but questions about target populations, mechanisms, and side effects remain. Neurological complications have been documented with other vaccines, and there have been some possible complications observed with the vaccines for Covid-19. Our guest on this episode, Dr. Avindra Nath, is a physician-scientist who specializes in neuroimmunology and infections of the nervous system. He is the intramural Clinical Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health. Series 2, Episode 4

The resources referenced during the interview may be found at the following links:https://www.aan.com/policy-and-guidelines/policy/position-statements/aan... & https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33313649/

The past year has forced us all to contend with the devastating power of infectious disease. The daily, mortal fear of infection is a new experience for many people in the developed world. But that fear characterizes life for millions of people around the globe -- including those who have already lived through plagues or lost loved ones to curable infections. These infections disproportionately target those living in poverty. Many have epidemic or pandemic potential. And many have neurological manifestations. In this episode, Dr. Adeline Goss interviews Dr. Farrah Mateen, a neuroinfectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and her recent work with a group of colleagues to compile the neurological manifestations of the 20 diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential recognized by the World Health Organization. Season 2, Episode 3

In this episode, we'll introduce you to the next generation of ANA scientists. You may remember a new event at this year's ANA conference called the Emerging Scholars sessions, where we heard presentations from our junior ANA members about their cutting edge research. Those talks were judged based on scientific merit and presentation quality.... and today we'll introduce you to the four winners.

This year's Emerging Scholars are Dr. Gus Davis, Dr. Juliane Gust, Dr. Jenn Orthmann-Murphy, and Dr. Xilma Ortiz-Gonzalez. They were interviewed by Dr. Michelle Johansen, a vascular neurologist and assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins. Series 2, Episode 2

This is an exciting moment in the management of a devastating neurologic condition -- Huntington's Disease. As we know, this genetic disease often hits patients at the prime of life and, because it is autosomal dominant, can be haunting for affected families. As we'll discuss today, new developments in biomarkers and therapies for Huntington's are converging into a more hopeful picture for those affected. In this episode, we'll hear from two Huntington Disease experts -- Dr. Jee Bang, Clinical Director of Johns Hopkins Huntington Disease Center of Excellence and Assistant Professor of Neurology... and ANA investigates producer Dr. Danny Bega, Director of the Northwestern Medicine Huntington Disease Center of Excellence and Associate Professor of Neurology.