Neurology Minute

Dr. Tesha Monteith, a prominent voice in the discourse on long COVID, breaks down the new 2024 definition established by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. She delves into the complexities of long COVID and its far-reaching impacts on health and society. The conversation highlights the necessity of a standardized definition to better address this emerging concern. Tune in to learn how this definition might shape future understanding and treatment of long COVID.

Dr. Jeff Ratliff, a specialist in dopaminergic imaging techniques, teams up with Dr. Eduardo De Pablo-Fernández, an expert in Parkinsonian disorder diagnostics. They delve into the vital role of dopamine transporter imaging in diagnosing Parkinsonism, highlighting its impressive negative predictive value. The conversation also touches on the limitations of this imaging method, providing a balanced view of its efficacy in clinical settings. Listeners gain key insights into how imaging impacts the diagnosis and management of these complex disorders.

In this insightful discussion, Dr. Dan Ackerman, a cardiac monitoring and anticoagulation expert, joins Dr. Luciano A. Sposato, a specialist in embolic stroke of undetermined sources. They explore the challenges in treating embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) and the ongoing controversies regarding monitoring strategies. The conversation highlights the need for improved preventive measures and questions current treatment approaches, making it a vital listen for those in the medical field.

Dr. Tesha Monteith provides an overview of the updated position statement on migraine prevention by the American Headache Society.  

Dr. Dan Ackerman, a leader in stroke care, teams up with Dr. Gaspard Gerschenfeld, a specialist in international stroke practices, to unveil fascinating contrasts in stroke treatment. They dive into how American and French centers differ in their imaging protocols, particularly the use of MRI in emergencies. Expect insights into the benefits and challenges of these approaches, highlighting how they can impact patient outcomes. The duo’s expertise sheds light on why these variances matter in critical stroke management.

Dr. Meagan Seay discusses a relatively recently described but very interesting phenomenon called transient smartphone blindness. This is a phenomenon causing acute, painless, transient, monocular vision loss associated with smartphone use while lying down in the dark. Show reference: Transient Smartphone Blindness - EyeWiki 

Dr. Dan Ackerman and Dr. Gaspard Gerschenfeld discuss the efficacy and safety of both thrombolytics in patients with large ischemic core.  Show reference: https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209398  

Dr. Jason Crowell and Dr. Colin Hoy discuss the concept of prodromal Parkinson disease and the ethical considerations surrounding its diagnosis.  Show reference: https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209522 

Dr. Jeff Ratliff, a medical professional specializing in movement disorders, dives deep into emergent rigidity and movement difficulties. He emphasizes the importance of thorough patient assessment and reviews critical medication histories. The discussion highlights serious complications like neuroleptic malignant syndrome and serotonin syndrome, advocating for both supportive care and necessary medication adjustments. Dr. Ratliff’s insights provide essential strategies for managing these complex emergencies effectively.

In the second episode of this three-part series, Dr. Jeff Ratliff provides a rapid overview of hyperkinetic disorders that require urgent attention.