Congratulations to Dr. Srinivasa Subramaniam on the publication of “Ribosome Profiling and Mass Spectrometry Reveal Widespread Mitochondrial Translation Defects in a Striatal Cell Model of Huntington Disease,” which appears in the April edition of Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. Abstract Huntington disease (HD) is caused by an expanded polyglutamine mutation in huntingtin (mHTT) that promotes prominent atrophy in the striatum and subsequent psychiatric, cognitive deficits, and choreiform movements. Multiple lines of evidence point to an association between HD and aberrant striatal mitochond ..read more

Congratulations to Drs. Michael Okun and Kelly Foote on the publication of “Assessment of lmage-guided Programming (IGP) on Bilateral STN and GPi Deep Brain Stimulation Programming Time,” which appears in the April edition of Neurology. Abstract Objective: Assessment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patient outcomes using an image-guided programming (IGP) applied during initial deep brain stimulation (DBS) programming, either with STN or GPi as brain target. Background: Optimization of DBS programming can be a lengthy, empirical trial-and-error process potentially leading to extended programming se ..read more

Congratulations to Drs. Visual Perera and Michael Okun on the publication of “The History of the Term “Catatonia” in Cases of Encephalopathy,” which appears in the April edition of Neurology. Abstract Objective: The neuropsychiatric term catatonia was born in the 19th century. We explored primary source documents to define the founder’s intent for its application in neurology and psychiatry. Background: Catatonia was originally described as a ‘tonic-mental disorder’ in 1874 by Dr. Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum, which included 17 distinct clinical signs or symptoms. Since its introduction to c ..read more

Congratulation to Drs. Michael Okun and Kelly Foote, on the publication of “Real-world Outcomes Using DBS Systems with Directionality and Multiple Independent Current Control: USA Experience,” which appears in the April edition of Neurology. Abstract Objective: Here, we present preliminary outcomes from an ongoing prospective, multicenter outcomes registry conducted at centers in the United States consisting of patients implanted with directional Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Systems capable of multiple independent current control (MICC) for use in management of the motor signs and symptoms in ..read more

Congratulations to Dr. Srinavasa Subramaniam on the publication of “SUMO modifies GβL and mediates mTOR signaling,” which appears in the April edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Introduction The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling is influenced by multiple regulatory proteins and post-translational modifications; however, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report a novel role of small ubiquitin–like modifier (SUMO) in mTOR complex assembly and activity. By investigating the SUMOylation status of core mTOR components, we observed that the regulatory subunit ..read more

Michael Okun, medical director of the Parkinson’s Foundation, told AFP that from a practical standpoint, the differences in patient outcomes were not clinically significant, but “statistically and compared to other studies, this type of difference should draw our interest and attention.” “Experts will likely argue whether this study meets a minimum threshold for neuroprotection, and it likely does not,” continued Okun, adding the weight loss side effect was concerning for Parkinson’s patients.  ..read more

 Duchenne muscular dystrophy families, advocates and health care providers celebrated a milestone in March with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the first nonsteroidal drug for the treatment of Duchenne. In findings published in the April issue of The Lancet Neurology, a team of investigators led by pharmaceutical company Italfarmaco, in collaboration with the University of Florida, demonstrated that the drug is associated with slower functional decline and decreased fat replacement in muscle. “This announcement brings a lot of hope and opportunity to patients ..read more

Congratulations to Dr. Kenneth Heilman on the publication of his new book “Changes in Medicine: The Way Forward,” which was published in February of 2024. The book presents the professional and personal history and milestones of renowned neurologist, Dr. Heilman, offers a unique perspective on neurology and medicine and discusses challenges of healthcare, what problems exist and how there can be improvement. Each chapter in this book focuses on integral areas of medicine, including research, creativity, career development, patient-physician relationship, wellness and more ..read more

Millions of people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease. Yet, despite its prevalence, there’s a lot of confusion and misunderstanding surrounding it. In this installment of Keeping the Well in Well-thy, Barbara Archer, and renowned neurologist Dr. Michael Okun, discuss the intricacies of Parkinson’s disease. They explore the wide range of symptoms, patients’ experiences, the journey to a proper diagnosis, and the latest strategies for managing the disease effectively. By addressing common misconceptions and highlighting the importance of comprehensive care, this podcast serves as a be ..read more

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Okun on the publication of “Hospitalization and Parkinson’s disease: safety, quality and outcomes,” which appears as an editorial in the April 4, 2024 edition of Frontiers . Introduction For people with Parkinson’s (PWP), hospital admissions can be perilous. Nearly 300,000 PWP are admitted to the hospital each year in the US. Following admission, they are at an increased risk of complications that may lengthen their stay and increase the risks of both morbidity and mortality. These preventable hospital-occurring complications occur as a result of many factors. Th ..read more