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.