JNNP podcast

Current treatments for Parkinson’s ameliorate the core, motor symptoms. However as we look for therapies to modify the underlying course of the disease there’s a need to better understand its development. Jonathan Evans, from the Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, UK, explains what his work has revealed, and how it can progress treatment.And the latest evidence in the debate on whether multiple sclerosis prevalence increases with latitude. Steve Simpson Jnr, Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania, Australia, tells editor Matthew Kiernan how his meta-analysis supports the link, and clears up some of the questions around the association.See also:The natural history of treated Parkinson’s disease in an incident, community based cohort http://tinyurl.com/bc6grncLatitude is significantly associated with the prevalence of multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis http://tinyurl.com/bedfy9c

Current treatments for Parkinson’s ameliorate the core, motor symptoms. However as we look for therapies to modify the underlying course of the disease there’s a need to better understand its development. Jonathan Evans, from the Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, UK, explains what his work has revealed, and how it can progress treatment.And the latest evidence in the debate on whether multiple sclerosis prevalence increases with latitude. Steve Simpson Jnr, Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania, Australia, tells editor Matthew Kiernan how his meta-analysis supports the link, and clears up some of the questions around the association.See also:The natural history of treated Parkinson’s disease in an incident, community based cohort http://tinyurl.com/bc6grncLatitude is significantly associated with the prevalence of multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis http://tinyurl.com/bedfy9c

Movement disorders following head trauma are well recognised, but we know much less about those occuring after a peripheral injury. Diana van Rooijen, Leiden Medical Center, the Netherlands, tells us what her review on this group of conditions reveals (0.58).Clinicians are used to seeing ALS patients who are or have been athletic. So is there a link, and if so, could exercise have a direct effect on the condition? Dr Martin Turner, John Radcliffe University Hospital, Oxford, talks us through his investigations (8.58).See also:Concordance between site of onset and limb dominance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis http://tinyurl.com/b3bdzc7Peripheral trauma and movement disorders: a systematic review of reported cases http://tinyurl.com/b977yzm

Movement disorders following head trauma are well recognised, but we know much less about those occuring after a peripheral injury. Diana van Rooijen, Leiden Medical Center, the Netherlands, tells us what her review on this group of conditions reveals (0.58).Clinicians are used to seeing ALS patients who are or have been athletic. So is there a link, and if so, could exercise have a direct effect on the condition? Dr Martin Turner, John Radcliffe University Hospital, Oxford, talks us through his investigations (8.58).See also:Concordance between site of onset and limb dominance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis http://tinyurl.com/b3bdzc7Peripheral trauma and movement disorders: a systematic review of reported cases http://tinyurl.com/b977yzm

Intravenous thrombolysis is the only curative treatment for acute ischaemic stroke, but is only licensed for patients up to 80 years old. Dr Paul Guyler, Southend Hospital NHS Trust, UK, discusses the evidence for outcomes in those over this limit, and whether or not doctors should treat off-licence.Also in this July edition, Dr Alan Carson, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK, on his research into disability, distress and employment in neurology outpatients who’s symptoms can’t be explained organically, and why they don’t fit the stereotypes.See also:Intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis to aid decision making in patients over 80 years of age http://tinyurl.com/ar9emm3Disability, distress and unemployment in neurology outpatients with symptoms ‘unexplained by organic disease’ http://tinyurl.com/acmtha7

Intravenous thrombolysis is the only curative treatment for acute ischaemic stroke, but is only licensed for patients up to 80 years old. Dr Paul Guyler, Southend Hospital NHS Trust, UK, discusses the evidence for outcomes in those over this limit, and whether or not doctors should treat off-licence.Also in this July edition, Dr Alan Carson, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK, on his research into disability, distress and employment in neurology outpatients who’s symptoms can’t be explained organically, and why they don’t fit the stereotypes.See also:Intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis to aid decision making in patients over 80 years of age http://tinyurl.com/ar9emm3Disability, distress and unemployment in neurology outpatients with symptoms ‘unexplained by organic disease’ http://tinyurl.com/acmtha7

Dizziness can significantly complicate peoples’ lives, especially if it does not have a satisfactory medical explanation. We talk to Dr Gabriele Schmid of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Germany, about how psychotherapy might be beneficial for these patients.Also in this month’s podcast, Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi of King’s College London discusses the link between prenatal testosterone levels and ALS.See also:Psychotherapy in dizziness: a systematic review http://tinyurl.com/a4eughgLow index-to-ring finger length ratio in sporadic ALS supports prenatally defined motor neuronal vulnerability http://tinyurl.com/ay29ovu

Dizziness can significantly complicate peoples’ lives, especially if it does not have a satisfactory medical explanation. We talk to Dr Gabriele Schmid of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Germany, about how psychotherapy might be beneficial for these patients.Also in this month’s podcast, Professor Ammar Al-Chalabi of King’s College London discusses the link between prenatal testosterone levels and ALS.See also:Psychotherapy in dizziness: a systematic review http://tinyurl.com/a4eughgLow index-to-ring finger length ratio in sporadic ALS supports prenatally defined motor neuronal vulnerability http://tinyurl.com/ay29ovu

Recent clinical, neuropsychological, imaging, genetic and pathological developments have changed our understanding of frontotemporal dementia, its classification and criteria. Dr Jonathan Rohrer, Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, talks about these advances and future research directions.Also in this edition, Dr Shaun O’Keeffe, Merlin Park University Hospital, Dublin, explains how simple questions about time are, and should be, used to assess dementia and delirium.See also:Clinical, genetic and pathological heterogeneity of frontotemporal dementia: a review http://tinyurl.com/barrt7sOrientation to time as a guide to the presence and severity of cognitive impairment in older hospital patients http://tinyurl.com/ajaqsa4

Recent clinical, neuropsychological, imaging, genetic and pathological developments have changed our understanding of frontotemporal dementia, its classification and criteria. Dr Jonathan Rohrer, Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, talks about these advances and future research directions.Also in this edition, Dr Shaun O’Keeffe, Merlin Park University Hospital, Dublin, explains how simple questions about time are, and should be, used to assess dementia and delirium.See also:Clinical, genetic and pathological heterogeneity of frontotemporal dementia: a review http://tinyurl.com/barrt7sOrientation to time as a guide to the presence and severity of cognitive impairment in older hospital patients http://tinyurl.com/ajaqsa4

This month Robert Wilson, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA, on how dementia affects our knowledge of words, and the neuropathology which underlies this.Also, the use of deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson’s disease. Tom Foltynie describes the image guided, rather than microelectrode guided, technique used at the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK, and the success they’ve had.See also:MRI-guided STN DBS in Parkinson’s disease without microelectrode recording: efficacy and safety http://tinyurl.com/a5nnod9Loss of basic lexical knowledge in old age http://tinyurl.com/a3fpnjc

This month Robert Wilson, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA, on how dementia affects our knowledge of words, and the neuropathology which underlies this.Also, the use of deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson’s disease. Tom Foltynie describes the image guided, rather than microelectrode guided, technique used at the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK, and the success they’ve had.See also:MRI-guided STN DBS in Parkinson’s disease without microelectrode recording: efficacy and safety http://tinyurl.com/a5nnod9Loss of basic lexical knowledge in old age http://tinyurl.com/a3fpnjc

It’s been known for years that the prevalence of MS increases the further you go from the equator, but not why. Roisin Lonergan, from St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, describes her investigations into a genetic factor and vitamin D levels, and if they can help explain this.Also Quinton Deeley, from the Institute of Psychiatry at London’s King’s College, UK, talks about hysteria and hypnosis, and why they could stem from similar brain processes.See alsoMultiple sclerosis prevalence in Ireland: Relationship to vitamin D status and HLA genotype http://tinyurl.com/a7c5xmjDissociation in hysteria and hypnosis: evidence from cognitive neuroscience http://tinyurl.com/a66mpdp

It’s been known for years that the prevalence of MS increases the further you go from the equator, but not why. Roisin Lonergan, from St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland, describes her investigations into a genetic factor and vitamin D levels, and if they can help explain this.Also Quinton Deeley, from the Institute of Psychiatry at London’s King’s College, UK, talks about hysteria and hypnosis, and why they could stem from similar brain processes.See alsoMultiple sclerosis prevalence in Ireland: Relationship to vitamin D status and HLA genotype http://tinyurl.com/a7c5xmjDissociation in hysteria and hypnosis: evidence from cognitive neuroscience http://tinyurl.com/a66mpdp

This month Harriet Vickers (BMJ’s multimedia intern), talks to Solveig Glad about how long patients with benign multiple sclerosis stay in work, and what could help them hold down jobs.Also Colette Donaghy explains how examining eye movements in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis could help with diagnosis, and tell us more about the pathophysiology of the disease.See also:How long can you keep working with benign multiple sclerosis? http://tinyurl.com/bxjogdoEye movements in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and its mimics: a review with illustrative cases http://tinyurl.com/aojsuza