Data emerging from upcoming clinical trials assessing the treatment efficacy in people with clinically established Parkinson’s disease will shed light on optimal treatment approaches. In this interview with touchNEUROLOGY, Prof. Angelo Antonini (IRCCS San Camillo, Venice, and University of Padova, Italy) gives his thoughts on these and discusses how new efficacious therapies for Parkinson’s disease […]

Slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s disease is key to improving outcomes. In this interview with touchNEUROLOGY, Prof. Angelo Antonini (IRCCS San Camillo, Venice, and University of Padova, Italy) presents the core concept of the Movement Disorders Society Task Force on the biological definition of Parkinson’s disease and treatment objectives, and shares his thoughts on […]

Huntingtin (HTT) is a gene containing a key region of CAG repeats. Dr Salvatore Mazzeo (University of Florence, Florence, Italy) discusses his study on HTT alleles containing from 27 to 35 CAG repeats – termed intermediate alleles (IAs) – and the effect of these IAs on progression of cognitive impairment in patients with subjective cognitive […]

In this touchNEUROLOGY interview at EAN 2022, Dr Salvatore Mazzeo (University of Florence, Florence, Italy) discusses his study on HTT alleles containing from 27 to 35 CAG repeats – termed intermediate alleles (IAs) – and the effect of these IAs on progression of cognitive impairment in patients with subjective cognitive decline. The abstract titled, Huntingtin […]

Cognitive impairment can predict physical disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). It was a pleasure to speak with Dr Barbara Willekens (Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium), who talked through some of the presentations given in this EAN 2022 session on predictors and outcomes in MS and related disorders. Questions:  How does cognitive impairment predict physical […]

Headache is one of the most common nervous system disorders. In an interview with touchNEUROLOGY, Dr Raquel Gil-Gouveia (Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal) summarizes the ePoster session she chaired at EAN 2022, ranging from topics such as how COVID-19 has impacted on young people with headaches, the potential of new treatments such as eptinezumab and […]

The ADAPT trial (NCT03669588) supported US Food and Drug Administration approval of efgartigimod alfa-fcab in generalized myasthenia gravis. Dr Francesco Saccà (University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy) discussed the findings of the study, in terms of health-related quality-of-life outcomes. Questions: 1. What are the current challenges in managing cases of generalized myasthenia gravis? (00:14) […]

ABCA7 is a major risk gene for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and rare premature termination codon and missense mutations are enriched in AD patients. Elisabeth Hendrickx Van de Craen (VIB-UAntwerpen, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium) spoke with touchNEUROLOGY about the findings of her study with patients presenting with cerebral amyloid angiopathy and Alzheimer’s disease, and how […]

Real-world data is an important supplement to evidence gained from clinical trials regarding the use of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis. In this touchNEUROLOGY interview, Dr Melinda Magyari (University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark) shares her thoughts on the benefits of real-world data, how ‘big data’ can help physicians understand treatment characteristics, and the future impact […]

In an interview with touchNEUROLOGY, Prof. Heinz Reichmann (University of Dresden Medical School, Germany) gave us his insight into his highlights in Parkinson’s disease, the interventions currently under investigation and how he sees management strategies for Parkinson’s disease evolving in the coming years. Questions: What are your highlights from the Parkinson’s disease scientific sessions at […]

In phase 3 studies, alemtuzumab demonstrated efficacy and safety in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. In an interview with touchNEUROLOGY, Prof. Bart Van Wijmeersch (Universiteit Hasselt and Rehabilitation and MS-Centre Pelt, Belgium) talks through the aims of the alemtuzumab post-authorization safety study, key findings, and insights gained regarding duration of monitoring following treatment with alemtuzumab […]

Opicapone has proved effective for the treatment of end-of-dose motor fluctuations in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Here, Prof. Ray Chaudhuri (King’s College Hospital, London, UK) discusses the effect of disabling fluctuations and dyskinesias on patient quality of life, efficacy and safety of opicapone, and the best way to incorporate this treatment into practice. Questions: For […]

Early detection of Parkinson’s disease can vastly improve outcomes. Prof. Tiago Outiero (University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany) discussed with touchNEUROLOGY his research combining basic science to use biological markers and clinical signs to diagnose Parkinson’s disease. Questions: Why is early detection of Parkinson’s disease essential, and what are the current challenges in achieving this? […]

The effect of TREM2 on neurodegenerative diagnosis, cognitive profile and brain structure are discussed in this touchNEUROLOGY interview with Dr Oliver Cousins (King’s College London, London, UK). Microglial genes are risk factors for neurodegenerative disease. This study investigated the association between different TREM2 variants and neurodegenerative disease and evaluated their association with brain structure and […]

A growing body of evidence has highlighted the role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of many neurological diseases. While neuroinflammation has been well characterised in some conditions, notably multiple sclerosis, it is now known to play a role in diseases that have been considered non-inflammatory, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, movement disorders, stroke, migraine […]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) typically presents as a relapsing-remitting form (RRMS) that is characterised by neuroinflammation. Over time, this evolves into a secondary progressive form that shows more indolent inflammation but significant irreversible neurodegeneration. Maintaining this inflammatory state relies on immunologic memory and maintaining a pool of autoreactive lymphocytes.1 Many experts have hypothesised that there is  […]

touchNEUROLOGY met with Renato Mantegazza (Department of Neuroimmunology and Neuromuscular Diseases, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy) to discuss the challenges that arise in treating patients with myasthenia gravis. The abstract entitled: ‘Safety and Tolerability of Efgartigimod in Patients with Generalized Myasthenia Gravis: Phase 3 ADAPT Study Results’ was presented at the 7th […]

We were delighted to meet with Heinz Reichmann (Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany) to discuss the key real world findings from the OPTIPARK study, investigating the use of Opicapone in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The abstract entitled: ‘Opicapone in Parkinson’s patients with motor fluctuations and complications of therapy at baseline: the OPTIPARK study’ was presented […]