JNNP Podcast

Informed decision making in MS, and the striatum in neurodegeneration

What's the role of the striatum, in changes in cognition and behaviour in neurodegeneration? Michael Hornberger, University of Cambridge, explains why it may be more pivotal than we currently think.And how best to support patients just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, who are facing difficult decisions around their treatment? Sascha Köpke, University of Lübeck, discusses the results of his trial comparing two programmes.Read the papers, for free:Beyond and below the cortex: the contribution of striatal dysfunction to cognition and behaviour in neurodegeneration http://goo.gl/IZJi2oEvidence-based patient information programme in early multiple sclerosis: a randomised controlled trial http://goo.gl/nQdJ15

BNPA special: Autoimmune encephalitis

Angela Vincent, emeritus professor of neuroimmunology at the University of Oxford, gives Adam Zeman, professor of cognitive and behavioural neurology, University of Exeter, an overview of autoimmune disorders of the central nervous system.This podcast is one of several recorded with the British Neuropsychiatry Association, more of which will be published over the next few months. For all the podcasts in this series, see: soundcloud.com/tags/bnpa%202014

BNPA special: The prospects of a vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease

Adam Zeman, professor of cognitive and behavioural neurology, University of Exeter, asks James Nicoll, professor of neuropathology, University of Southampton, about the progress being made in preventative treatments for Alzheimer's.For more on early treatment for Alzheimer's, watch Nick Fox's talk on presymptomatic treatment for the dementias on JNNP's YouTube channel: http://goo.gl/95sVXBBoth this podcast and the Professor Fox's talk were recorded with with the British Neuropsychiatry Association. More BNPA podcasts will be published over the next few months, for all those in the series see: soundcloud.com/tags/bnpa%202014

An unusual variant of Guillain–Barré syndrome, and dopamine dysregulation syndrome

This month, an unusual variant of Guillain Barre syndrome - the pharyngeal cervical brachial variant. Benjamin Wakeley, a consultant neurologist at the Gloucester Hospitals NHS Foundation trust talks through what clinicians need to know.Also, a look at an uncommon but difficult to resolve complication of Parkinson’s disease therapy - that of dopamine dysregulation syndrome. Robert Cilia, from the Parkinson Institute in Milan, discusses his paper examining the characterisation, management and long-term outcome.If you found that useful you may want to listen to our accompanying podcast on impulse control disorder in Parkinson’s disease, produced with the British Neuropsychiatry association. David Okai, a consultant in psychological medicine in Oxford discusses assessing and managing the disorder. Listen here: goo.gl/gEsUUARead the articles:Dopamine dysregulation syndrome in Parkinson's disease: from clinical and neuropsychological characterisation to management and long-term outcome goo.gl/AEH3vrPharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain–Barré syndrome goo.gl/HFIqla

BNPA special: Impulse control disorder in Parkinson’s

Kieran O'Driscoll, consultant neuropsychiatrist in Liverpool, talks to David Okai, a consultant in psychological medicine in Oxford and researcher at King's College London, discusses assessing and managing impulse control disorder in Parkinson's.This podcast is one of several recorded with the British Neuropsychiatry Association, more of which will be published over the next few months. For all the podcasts in this series, see: soundcloud.com/tags/bnpa%202014See also:Impulse control disorder in patients with Parkinson's disease under dopamine agonist therapy: a multicentre study goo.gl/45jOZmTrial of CBT for impulse control behaviors affecting Parkinson patients and their caregivers goo.gl/6AB4QBImpulse control disorders and dopamine dysregulation in Parkinson's disease: a broader conceptual framework goo.gl/nX5P6S

Diagnosing and treating functional symptoms

February's JNNP is a neuropsychiatry special issue, with papers on a broad range of disorders which lie between neurology and psychiatry. Associate editor Alan Carson discusses the contents, and the thinking behind the edition.To accompany the issue, JNNP and the Association of British Neurologists convened a roundtable of experts to discuss, and advise on, diagnosing and treating functional symptoms. Dr Carson takes part in this, along with:Kailash Bhatia, professor of neurology, Institute of NeurologyMark Edwards, neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and NeurosurgeryJon Stone, neurologist, University of Edinburgh, Western General HospitalThis podcast is one of a series produced in collaboration with the Association of British Neurologists. You can find all the podcasts in the series here: soundcloud.com/tags/abn%202013

Solving the case, making the diagnosis: Neurology and detective writing

When searching for clues to reach a diagnosis, neurologists often empathise with the detective who is trying to solve a case, write Peter Kempster and Andrew Lees in JNNP sister journal Practical Neurology bit.ly/1dqReQq.
In this podcast, journal editor Phil Smith and Andrew Lees, director of the Queen Square Brain Bank in London, discuss how neurologists draw upon detective skills. They also talk about neurologists who have turned these skills to crime fiction writing, and the use of narrative in clinical case histories.
The expert witnesses called upon are:
- Oliver Sacks, best selling author and professor of neurology at NYU School of Medicine
- Peter Gautier Smith, now retired from consulting at Queen Square and author of 31 detective novels
- Chris Goetz, who worked at Rush University Medical Centre with Harold Klawans, crime fiction writer and authority on Parkinson’s disease
Listen to the full interviews here:
Andrew Lees bit.ly/1cPaoxM
Peter Gautier-Smith bit.ly/1d5HhKj
Harold Klawans bit.ly/19cXR
Oliver Sacks bit.ly/1hBsbgz

Radiation for brain metastases, and the genetics of ischaemic stroke

This month, whole brain radiation vs radiosurgery for cerebral metastases. Does the former cause significantly more cognitive defects, and are any blanket, mopping up effects worth it? Clark Chen, vice chairman of neurosurgery, University of California San Diego, talks us through his review.And a clinical guide to the genetics of ischaemic stroke, from Pankaj Sharma, Imperial College Cerebrovascular Research Unit.Read the full papers:Review: Genetics of ischaemic stroke bit.ly/1aptzNlNeurocognitive assessment following whole brain radiation therapy and radiosurgery for patients with cerebral metastases http://bit.ly/1aptIjQ

Education special: Headache

Callum Duncan, neurologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, convenes a round table of experts to discuss advances in headache, particularly the pathophysiological understanding of cluster headache, managing cluster headache and migraine, and new onset chronic daily headache.Taking part are:Phillip Holland, postdoctoral researcher, Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems, University of EdinburghManjit Matharu, clinical lead of the Headache Group at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, LondonAlok Tyagi, neurologist, Southern General Hospital, GlasgowThis podcast is one of a series produced in collaboration with the Association of British Neurologists, of which there will be more to come over the next few months. You can find all the podcasts in the series here: soundcloud.com/tags/abn%202013

Aggressive MS, and disappointment following deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s

This month, getting a handle on aggressive multiple sclerosis. Suresh Menon and Helen Tremlett, both from the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, talk us through their recent step towards a definition of the disease.And Parkinson's patients who are disappointed after deep brain stimulation, despite gaining motor benefits and quality of life improvements. Catherine Lewis and Franziska Maier, both from the Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, explain how to predict who may end up feeling negative about the procedure, and how to support them.Read the papers:Characterising aggressive multiple sclerosis bit.ly/168RLWoPatients’ expectations of deep brain stimulation, and subjective perceived outcome related to clinical measures in Parkinson's disease: a mixed-method approach bit.ly/Hlup68