VJNeurology Podcast
The Video Journal of Neurology (VJNeurology) podcast covers the latest neurology news from international experts, including topics such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, and headache. It is designed for healthcare professionals and researchers, offering a global, independent, open-access platform. Listeners can hear cutting-edge trial updates, controversies, and opinions.
Episodes
The evolving role of BTK inhibitors in multiple sclerosis
This episode of the VJNeurology podcast explores the evolving role of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), from the role of BTK in MS pathophysiology to the recent EU approval of tolebrutinib for secondary progressive MS without relapses. Experts discuss the pivotal Phase III HERCULES (NCT04411641) and GEMINI (NCT04410978) trial data supporting tol
Menopause and neurological conditions: understanding the impact on brain health and patient care
In this episode, we explore the relationship between menopause and neurological conditions, and consider how hormonal changes during the menopause transition may influence symptoms, disease management, and brain health. Katarina Rukavina, MD, PhD, Movement Disorders Hospital, Beelitz, Germany, discusses the management of menopause in patients with Parkinson's disease, followed by Celia Oreja-Gueva
The impact of climate change on neurological diseases
In this episode, we bring you a discussion recorded at EAN 2026 exploring the growing impact of climate change on neurological health. The panel discusses evidence linking rising temperatures and environmental change with worsening neurological conditions, increased risk of heat-related illness, and implications for mental health. The discussion also highlights the importance of advocacy, educatio
Advancing the treatment of myasthenia gravis: current and emerging therapies
Welcome to this episode of the VJNeurology Podcast, where leading experts will explore some of the latest advances in the treatment of myasthenia gravis, discussing emerging therapeutic strategies and new clinical data that could shape the future management of this condition. You'll hear about recently approved therapies, including inebilizumab and nipocalimab, as well as promising approaches stil
Life after Stroke: Practical strategies for secondary prevention and rehabilitation
Episode 2 of our Life after Stroke roundtable discussion series is now available as a podcast!
In this exclusive discussion, leading experts Aristeidis Katsanos, MD, PhD, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Hanne Christensen, MD, PhD, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, Joseph Kwan, MB ChB, MPhil, MD, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK, and Jesse Dawson, MD, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
Orexin agonists in narcolepsy: current evidence and future directions
In this episode of the VJNeurology Podcast, we explore the rapidly evolving landscape of orexin agonists for the treatment of narcolepsy. Following the recent FDA approval of oveporexton, as well as new clinical trial data on alixorexton and E2086, experts discuss the latest evidence, emerging developments, and what these advances could mean for the future of narcolepsy treatment.
Featuring Nancy
Life after Stroke: First steps in secondary stroke prevention
Episode 1 of our Life after Stroke roundtable discussion series is now available as a podcast!
In this exclusive discussion, leading experts Aristeidis Katsanos, MD, PhD, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Diana Aguiar de Sousa, MD, PhD, Central Lisbon University Hospital Center, Lisbon, Portugal, Jesper Petersson, MD, PhD, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, and Gisele Sampaio Silva, MD, PhD, Fede
Advances in sleep medicine and research from SLEEP 2026
This episode of the VJNeurology Podcast showcases advances across insomnia, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea from SLEEP 2026. Leading experts discuss updates to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guidelines, trial updates, novel approaches being explored, and more.
Featuring insights from Emerson Wickwire, PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, Michael
AAN 2026 highlights: key trial updates across narcolepsy, movement disorders, Tourette syndrome & more!
This episode of the VJNeurology Podcast showcases key trial updates from the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. Highlights include orexin receptor agonists for narcolepsy, AMT‑130 in Huntington’s disease, ulixacaltamide for essential tremor, ecopipam for Tourette’s, novel headache agents, and more.
Featuring Emmanuel Mignot, MD, PhD, Stanford University School of Medicine
Pediatric sleep disturbances: impact, screening, and ongoing research
This episode of the VJNeurology Podcast features a discussion with Prof. Karen Spruyt, PhD, Université Paris Cité, INSERM, NeuroDiderot, Paris, on pediatric sleep disturbances. Prof. Spruyt shares her expert perspectives on the impact of sleep disturbances in children, how to screen for these disturbances, and ongoing research in the field.
Updates in MS research from ACTRIMS 2026: trial updates, new technologies, & more
This episode focuses on key updates in multiple sclerosis (MS) research from the 11th Annual Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) Forum. We begin with key trial updates, including the FENtrepid (NCT04544449) and MoonStone (NCT06564311) results presented by Amit Bar-Or, MD, FRCPC, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Le Hanh Hua, MD, Cleveland Clini
Updates in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cluster headache
In this episode of the VJNeurology podcast, we are joined by Prof. Mona Nada, MBBCh, MD, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, to discuss updates in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cluster headache. Cluster headache is a rare but devastating primary headache disorder, often described as one of the most severe pain conditions in medicine. Characterized by recurrent attacks of severe unilatera
The impact of climate change and temperature fluctuations on the management of epilepsy
This episode of the VJNeurology Podcast focuses on the impact of climate change and temperature fluctuations on the management of epilepsy. Anita Arsovska, MD, PhD, University “Ss Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje, North Macedonia, and Medine Gulcebi Idriz Oglu, MD, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey, delve into the effects of rising temperatures on seizure frequency, the supply chains of anti-seizur
CAR T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: insights from a Phase I trial
In this episode of the VJNeurology Podcast, Jeffrey Dunn, MD, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, shares insights from a Phase I trial (NCT06138132) of CAR T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). CAR T-cell therapy is a form of adoptive cell transfer that has revolutionized hematologic oncology and is now being investigated as a targeted immunotherapeutic approach for autoim
Gene therapy in Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders: advances and future directions
In this episode of the VJNeurology Podcast, we’re joined by Krystof Bankiewicz, MD, PhD, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, to explore the evolving role of gene therapy in Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. Dr Bankiewicz provides an insightful overview of gene therapies currently in clinical development, highlighting emerging efficacy and safety data from ongoing trials. H
Blood pressure targets in ICH: should we go low?
In this podcast episode, leading experts Kara Melmed (NYU Langone Health, New York City, NY) and Chitra Venkatasubramanian (Stanford University, Stanford, CA) debate blood pressure targets in ICH, focusing on the key question: how low should we go? They discuss the pathophysiological background for lowering blood pressure in ICH, key trial evidence, selecting between agents, and give advice for pr
Advancing the awareness and management of rare neurological disorders: ALSP, PKU, CADASIL, SSADHD, & rare epilepsies
Welcome to today's podcast, which focuses on the understanding and management of rare brain disorders. This episode, in honor of Rare Disease Day, delves into a variety of rare neurological conditions, including adult-onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP), phenylketonuria (PKU), cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarct (CADASIL), succini
Updates to the McDonald diagnostic criteria for MS
The 2024 revision of the McDonald diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis (MS) was recently presented at the 40th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS 2024). Key updates include the recognition of optic nerve lesions, the incorporation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) kappa-free light chains as a diagnostic biomarker, and the addition of cent
Updates on managing augmentation in RLS from Sleep Europe 2024
Dopaminergic medications have been widely used in the treatment of restless legs syndrome (RLS), where they are effective at reducing symptoms in the short term. However, long-term use of these agents has been associated with augmentation, a worsening of symptoms over time or earlier in the day. This phenomenon has led to a shift in treatment recommendations, favoring non-dopaminergic options as f
ALS Gene Therapy Insights with Prof. Dame Pamela Shaw
In recent years, genetic therapies have garnered much attention for their potential to modify the underlying pathological processes in neurological diseases. By correcting, replacing, or removing aberrant genetic material, gene therapies could revolutionize the treatment of many diseases, where symptomatic management is the only available option.
Examples of gene therapy methods include the use of
Navigating Status Epilepticus: Breakthroughs in Management
In this episode, we delve into the complexities of managing status epilepticus, particularly the refractory stages that resist initial treatments. Status epilepticus is a neurological emergency that requires prompt medical intervention to prevent significant morbidity and mortality. Despite aggressive treatment, some cases do not respond to initial lines of therapy. Refractory and super refractory
Breaking the Cycle: Debating Management Approaches in Medication Overuse Headache
Welcome to this episode of the VJ Sounds Podcast, brought to you by the Video Journal of Neurology (VJNeurology). In this podcast, we discuss the important subject of medication overuse headache (MOH). Discover insights into key debates in the field from renowned experts, Prof. Sait Ashina from Harvard Medical School, Prof. Morris Levin from the University of California, San Francisco, Alan Rappap
Examining evidence for EVT in MeVO stroke
The latest guidelines recommend endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) as the gold standard treatment approach for eligible patients with an acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion, but there is currently no robust randomized control data supporting its routine use in medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) strokes.
In this podcast, stroke experts delve into current uncertainties surrounding the man
Decoding epilepsy: a precision approach to management
Welcome to our latest episode of the Video Journal of Neurology podcast where we explore the rapidly evolving world of precision medicine within the field of epilepsy. In this episode, we delve into how our emerging understanding of genetic factors is reshaping our knowledge of epilepsy syndromes, shedding light on personalized treatment strategies.
Join us as Guido Rubboli, MD; Simona Balestrini,
Cluster headache management: current landscape & emerging therapies
Cluster headache, a rare and severe headache disorder, represents the
most common trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia. Due to its rarity and often refractory nature, management can be challenging.
In this episode, leading experts delve into acute and preventive treatment strategies for cluster headache. Emerging therapies are also discussed, including psilocybin and CGRP-targeted agents.
Evolving perspectives in MOGAD: a comprehensive research update
In this podcast, key opinion leaders Hans Lassman, MD, Medical University of Vienna; Vyanka Redenbaugh, MD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; Torge Rempe, MD, PhD, University of Florida College of Medicine; and Kazuo Fujihara, MD, PhD, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, give a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape in MOGAD, including its differentiation from MS, dia
Artificial intelligence: a new era in neurology
In this podcast, Tiago Outeiro, PhD, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Chia-Chun Chiang, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Daniel Goldenholz, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the latest developments in AI application. They explore how AI's predictive capabilities could revolutionize basic science, its po
The wearables revolution in neurology
Neurologists and researchers are increasingly harnessing the power of wearables to gather real-time, high-quality data about patients' neurological conditions.
We are joined by leading neurology experts who will share their insights into the diverse applications of wearables in the fields of epilepsy, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis and sleep disorders, offering a glimpse into the future of
ɑ-syn in Parkinson’s disease: cause, biomarker, & treatment target
The causative nature of alpha-synuclein (ɑ-syn) accumulation in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathophysiology has been a subject of debate among researchers, ever since its identification in Lewy bodies.
In this episode, experts discuss our current understanding of the role of ɑ-syn in PD, as well as the possibility that the loss of normal ɑ-syn function may be more relevant than the accumulation of in
Biomarkers for disease progression and treatment response in MS
Biomarker development and discovery have been an important point in multiple sclerosis (MS) research for many years.
In this podcast, Elias Sotirchos, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Ferhan Qureshi, VP – Biomarker Product Development, Octave, Menlo Park, CA; and Shane Arsenault, MD, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada, discuss recent updates on t
Debating bridging thrombolysis at ISC 2023
In this episode, key opinion leaders debate the value of bridging therapy for endovascular thrombectomy following recent reports from several large scale randomized controlled trials. What evidence do we have and what is the best way forward?
With Manon Kappelhof, Johannes Kaesmacher, Urs Fischer, Yvo B. Roos, and Thanh Nguyen.
Current and future therapeutic approaches in narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder of rapid onset eye movement (REM) sleep, affecting the sleep-wake cycle in the brain. It is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, uncontrollable sleep attacks, and sleep fragmentation and is often associated with cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations.
In this week’s podcast, Claudio Bassetti, MD, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerl
Emerging treatment approaches for Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease, and thus far, only efficacious symptomatic treatments have been developed, with PD remaining a progressive disease without a cure. In this week’s podcast Milton Werner, PhD, Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc., Atlanta, GA; Daniel Otzen, PhD, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Charbel Moussa, MBBS, PhD, Georgetown Univer
Research challenges and treatment updates in pediatric migraine
Headaches in children and adolescents have high incidence and prevalence rates, significantly impacting the quality of life and ability to function in academic and social activities. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine and their diagnosis and treatment have seen remarkable progress over the last years. However, this information comes mainly from studies conducted among adults.
In
Seizures can promote more seizures through maladaptive myelination, new findings suggest
New research in rodent models of generalized epilepsy has demonstrated that absence seizures, or brief, sudden lapses of consciousness, can cause abnormal changes in myelin plasticity, maladaptively leading to progressively more seizures.
In this podcast we spoke to Juliet Knowles, MD, PhD, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, about the research which led to this discovery and the implications this
The emergence of psychedelic-assisted therapies
In this episode, leading experts Tadeusz Hawrot, Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA); and Ellen James, PhD, Director of Research and Development, Small Pharma, London, UK, discuss new research into psychedelic-assisted therapies and how the views surrounding psychedelics within the medical field are evolving.
Pregnancy management in MS and NMOSD
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are chronic conditions of the central nervous system, predominantly affecting women of childbearing age. Hence pregnancy planning is significant in patients with MS and NMOSD.
In this podcast, Melinda Magyari, MD, PhD, The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Eva Kubala Havrdová,
Debating intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis use in ischemic stroke
In this podcast, stroke experts discuss the latest updates in recanalization therapy in acute ischemic stroke, highlighting the major debates that have the potential to change clinical practice. Both the value of bridging intravenous thrombolysis and the assessment of intra-arterial thrombolysis after endovascular therapy to improve restoration of microcirculation are discussed.
With Urs Fischer,
MS genetics and environment: new findings
In this podcast, Sergio Baranzini, PhD, The University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, discusses our current knowledge of the etiology of MS, the future of genetic studies, and interesting new findings regarding disease progression and the role of the gut microbiome.
Key trials in Huntington’s disease: SAGE-718, pridopidine, PTC518, & ANX005
In this week’s episode, specialists in the Huntington's disease (HD) field discuss the details of major ongoing studies and give an insight into the implications that their research could have for disease modification and quality of life in HD. The novel agents up for discussion this week are: SAGE-718, a first-in-class oral positive allosteric modulator of NMDAR; pridopidine, an oral sigma-1 rece
New horizons in hyperkinetic movement disorders
In this podcast, Sanjay Pandey, MD, Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India; Carlo Colosimo, MD, FEAN, Santa Maria University Hospital, Terni, Italy; and Marcelo Kauffman, MD, PhD, Hospital JM Ramos Mejia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, will discuss the latest updates in the classification and management of hyperkinetic movement disorders, including iatrogenic disorders, and will also cover the e
Update on cenobamate: long-term and subgroup analyses
Cenobamate was approved by the FDA in 2019 and the EMA in 2021 for the adjunctive treatment of focal-onset seizures with or without secondary generalization in adult patients. Following its approval, studies have continued to further investigate long-term safety and effectiveness.
In this podcast, William E. Rosenfeld and Pavel Klein share new data from open-label extensions and subgroup analyses,
Novel targets for therapeutic intervention in movement disorders
In this episode, Serge Przedborski, MD, PhD, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Marina Romero-Ramos, PhD, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; and Tiago Outeiro, PhD, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, discuss novel findings and topics of interest that may lead to the identification of targets for therapeutic interventions in movement disorders.
Improving ALS management: diagnosis and treatment
In this podcast, Matthew Kiernan, MBBS, PhD, DSc, FRACP, FAHMS, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; and Nigel Leigh, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, FAAN, FMedSci, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, discuss crucial developments in our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of ALS, strategies to improve diagnosis and outline the pipeline of late-stage therapeutic options for patients with ALS.
Broadening the use of thrombectomy in stroke management
In this podcast, experts discuss the current controversies surrounding the application of endovascular thrombectomy in stroke management and present developments in research regarding patient selection and broadening thrombectomy utilization.
Complement inhibitors and FcRn antagonists for myasthenia gravis
In this episode, James F. Howard, Jr., MD, FAAN, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, discusses the results from the open-label extensions of the CHAMPION MG trial (NCT03920293) of ravulizumab and of the ADAPT trial (NCT03770403) that served as a basis for the FDA approval of efgartigimod. The current and future role of complement inhibitor therapy and the knowledge ga
Novel imaging biomarkers in multiple sclerosis
Experts discuss novel imaging biomarkers in multiple sclerosis and efforts to drive these tools into clinical practice. Jaume Sastre-Garriga, MD, PhD; Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona; Pascal Sati, PhD, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles; Letizia Leocani, MD, PhD, Scientific Institute Vita-Salute University San Raffaele, Milan; and Alberto Calvi, MD, UCL Queen Square Institute of
Latest guidance on pregnancy and breastfeeding in epilepsy
Epilepsy specialists talk on the care of women with epilepsy before, during, and after pregnancy, highlighting what they do in their own practice and commenting on new data regarding folic acid, breastfeeding safety, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with prenatal anti-seizure medication exposure. Hear exclusively from Marte-Helene Bjork, MD, PhD, Haukeland University Hospital, Norway; B
Managing migraine: gepants for acute and preventive treatment
During recent neurology conferences, migraine experts have shared noteworthy developments regarding the use of gepants, including clinical trial results, potential new indications, and recent FDA submissions. Explore the most recent updates on the use of gepants from Richard Lipton, MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Stewart Tepper, MD, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; and Jessica Ailani,
Latest developments in the treatment of motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease
In this week’s podcast, movement disorder specialists; Fabrizio Stocchi from IRCCS San Raffaele Rome; Angelo Antonini from the University of Padua; Joaquim Ferreira from the University of Lisbon, and K. Ray-Chaudhuri from King's College London, will discuss recent advances in the use of levodopa and opicapone in Parkinson's disease.
Accelerating time to treatment: new approaches to pre-hospital and in-hospital stroke care
Working at each stage of the process, experts are implementing novel approaches to improve prehospital, in-hospital, and interhospital workflow. In this week’s episode, top stroke specialists discuss their research into streamlining care delivery for stroke patients.
Updates in isolated RBD
Delve into the minds of leading authorities Mitchell Miglis, MD, Stanford University; Matteo Cesari, PhD, Medical University of Innsbruck; Aleksander Videnovic, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School; and Shady Rahayel, PhD, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University – as they discuss current updates on isolated RBD.
Insight into the pathogenesis of pediatric-onset MOGAD
MOGAD is an inflammatory disorder mainly affecting the optic nerve, spinal cord, and brain. As a result of enhanced clinical testing capabilities, MOG antibodies are being detected in children with central nervous system demyelinating diseases, including pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS). In this episode, Doctor Amin Ziaei, MD, PhD, University of California – San Francisco, San Francisco,
Optimizing clinical trial design for improved outcomes in multiple sclerosis
In this podcast, David Li-Bland, PhD, Unlearn.ai; Gavin Giovannoni, MBBCh, PhD, FCP, FRCP, FRCPath, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London; and Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, Joi Life Wellness Group, discuss potential improvements that can be made to clinical trials in MS: design, efficiency, and ethnic representation.
Clinical trials in neuromuscular disorders: ALS, MG & SMA
In this episode, Sabrina Paganoni, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, James F. Howard, Jr., MD, FAAN, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, and Jerry Mendell, MD, FAAN, Nationwide Children’s Hospital & Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, discuss key clinical trials in neuromuscular disorders, including the CENTAUR trials in ALS, the Phase III ADAPT trial in m
Subtyping in Parkinson’s disease
In this deep dive into the importance of subtyping in PD, leading authorities Chin-Hsien Lin, MD, PhD, National Taiwan University; Alberto Espay, MD, FAAN, University of Cincinnati, Etienne Hirsch, PhD, Inserm, Sorbonne Université; and Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD, University of Pennsylvania, talk on the limitations of clinical subtyping and why a one-size-fits-all approach to clinical trials is unlikel
Advances in stroke rehabilitation and recovery
In this episode, Seth Hays, PhD, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX, Jesse Dawson, MD, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, and Christian Gerloff, MD, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, review recent breakthroughs in stroke recovery and rehabilitation. Our panel of stroke experts will cover the recent FDA approval of the Vivistim paired vagus nerve stimulation
