eanCast: Weekly Neurology ean.org

In this episode Iva Stankovic hosts Alessio Di Fonzo to discuss how to diagnose chorea and how to approach differential diagnosis to entangle the etiology of chorea.

Moderator: Yildiz Degirmenci (Istanbul, Turkey)

Guest: Vladimira Vuletic (Rijeka, Croatia)

In this episode Yildiz Degirmenci and Vladimira Vuletic cover the approach to dystonia emergencies. Dystonia, marked by muscle contractions and abnormal movements, can be triggered by medications like antipsychotics. Management includes stopping triggering drugs and using medications like diphenhydramine. Status dystonicus, a severe form, requires intensive care with oxygen or ventilation. Primary and secondary dystonias are prone to this condition, possibly needing medication adjustments or deep brain stimulation. They stress the significance of patient history for precise diagnosis and treatment.

Moderator: Yildiz Degirmenci (Istanbul, Turkey)

Guest: Christos Ganos (Berlin, Germany)

Yildiz Degirmenci hosts a discussion with Christos Ganos, a movement disorder specialist, about ticks and Tourette syndrome. They delve into the definition of ticks, discuss diagnostic criteria, and differentiate between primary and functional tic disorders. The conversation also covers treatment options, including psychoeducation, psychological interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacological treatments such as antipsychotics, and invasive neuromodulation methods.

Moderator: Rolf Fronczek (Leiden, The Netherlands)

Guest: Marina Tüzün (Bern, Switzerland)

Rolf Fronczek and Marina Tüzün discuss the Burden of Sleep Disorders Project, targeting daytime sleepiness and insomnia across Europe. They emphasize primary care collaboration for effective management, including patient perspectives and long-term follow-ups. Dr. Tüzün's personal interest in sleep research drives her involvement, inviting listeners to stay updated on the project's progress.

Moderator: Francesco Di Lorenco (Rome, Italy)

Guest: Dag Aarsland (London, United Kingdom)

Francesco Di Lorenco and Prof. Dag Aarsland discuss managing behavioral symptoms in dementia, highlighting the burden on patients and families. They stress the importance of timely treatment and challenges in diagnosis. They mention brexpiprazole's FDA approval for Alzheimer's agitation and the need for careful monitoring. Early detection of psychiatric symptoms in neurological diseases is crucial, but distinguishing between disorders is challenging. Therapeutic options like clozapine and cholinesterase inhibitors are mentioned, calling for more research and collaboration.

Moderator: Massimo Filippi (Milan, Italy)

Guest: Federica Agosta (Milan, Italy)

In this week’s episode Prof. Massimo Filippi and Prof. Federica Agosta discuss frontotemporal dementia (FTD) emphasizing the role of neuroimaging (MRI and FDG PET) in early diagnosis. They highlight MRI for identifying crucial patterns and FDG PET for detecting metabolic changes. Early detection is crucial for future treatments. Connectomics, studying brain networks, aids in predicting FTD progression. Emerging PET tracers, like UCBJ, show promise for early neurodegeneration markers. The episode is a valuable resource for neurologists interested in FTD diagnostics and monitoring.