All episodes

Ep. 188: Red flags of treatable rare myopathies

Ep. 188: Red flags of treatable rare myopathies

32m 53s

Moderator: Olimpia Musumeci (Messina, Italy)
Guests: Antonio Toscano (Messina, Italy), Marianne De Visser (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

In this episode, Olimpia Musumeci speaks with Antonio Toscano and Marianne de Visser about hereditary, particularly metabolic, and acquired myopathies, especially idiopathic inflammatory myopathies amenable to treatment. They review advances in pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches and novel therapies, highlighting clinical red flags and strategies that have a significant impact on timely diagnosis and management in daily neurological practice.

Ep. 187: Red flags of treatable rare cerebral small vessels diseases

Ep. 187: Red flags of treatable rare cerebral small vessels diseases

20m 3s

Moderator: Emanuele D’amico (Foggia, Italy)
Guest: Anna Bersano (Milan, Italy)

In this episode, Emanuele D’Amico speaks with Anna Bersano about red flags for rare and potentially treatable cerebral small vessel diseases. They discuss how early onset, family history, multisystem involvement, and characteristic MRI patterns can help distinguish monogenic and metabolic forms from sporadic disease, focusing on conditions such as CADASIL, Fabry disease, CARASIL, and COL4A1/2-related angiopathies, and emphasising the importance of structured diagnostic pathways and early recognition for appropriate management.

Ep. 186: Red flags of treatable mitochondrial disorders

Ep. 186: Red flags of treatable mitochondrial disorders

25m 41s

Moderator: Piervito Lopriore (Pisa, Italy)
Guests: Chiara La Morgia (Bologna, Italy), Michelangelo Mancuso (Pisa, Italy)

In this episode, Piervito Lopriore discusses red flags for treatable mitochondrial diseases with Michelangelo Mancuso and Chiara La Morgia. They highlight the clinical heterogeneity of these disorders, key diagnostic clues in neurological practice, and selected conditions such as Friedreich ataxia, TK2 deficiency, Barth syndrome, and Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, with a focus on early recognition and targeted therapies.

Ep. 185: Cognition and movement: A dynamic duo

Ep. 185: Cognition and movement: A dynamic duo

15m 45s

Moderator: Yildiz Degirmenci (Istanbul, Türkiye)
Guest: Marit Ruitenberg (Leiden, Netherlands)

In this episode, Yıldız Değirmenci speaks with Marit Ruitenberg about the relationship between cognition and movement in neurodegenerative disorders. They discuss evidence showing that conditions traditionally classified as motor or cognitive often involve impairments across both domains, with examples from Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. The conversation highlights subtle cognitive and motor features that may be overlooked and emphasises the clinical relevance of integrated assessment for diagnosis, patient counselling, and understanding disease burden.

Ep. 184: Neuromodulation

Ep. 184: Neuromodulation

27m 54s

Moderator: Gabriela Rusin (Kraków, Poland)
Guest: Jakub Antczak (Kraków, Poland)

In this episode, Gabriela Rusin speaks with Jakub Antczak about non-invasive neuromodulation in neurology. They outline the principles of transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial electrical stimulation, emphasizing their role in modulating brain plasticity in network-based neurological disorders. The discussion reviews current clinical evidence across conditions such as stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, neuropathic pain, and Parkinson’s disease, highlighting variability in treatment response and key limitations. They also address practical considerations for clinical use, the importance of patient selection and combination with rehabilitation, and emerging techniques aimed at improving targeting and personalisation.

Ep. 183: Nerve ultrasound

Ep. 183: Nerve ultrasound

23m 13s

Moderator: Gabriela Rusin (Kraków, Poland)
Guest: Jakub Antczak (Kraków, Poland)

In this episode, Gabriela Rusin speaks with Jakub Antczak about the role of nerve ultrasound in neuromuscular diagnostics. The growing popularity of this method is rapidly transforming the field of neurology. In combination with nerve conduction studies and electromyography, it provides insight into both the function and the structure of peripheral nerves. They discuss the technical foundations of neuromuscular ultrasound as well as key clinical indications (neuropathies, trauma, plexopathies, root lesions, etc.) and real-world applications. Prof. Antczak shares his experience and practical tips for clinicians interested in incorporating peripheral nerve...

Ep. 182: Small Fibre Neuropathy

Ep. 182: Small Fibre Neuropathy

27m 45s

Moderator: Caterina Leone (Rome, Italy)
Guest: Andrea Truini (Rome, Italy)

In this episode, Caterina Leone speaks with Andrea Truini about small fibre neuropathy, a frequently under-recognised condition with a significant impact on patients’ quality of life. They discuss key clinical features, including neuropathic pain and autonomic symptoms, and explain why routine nerve conduction studies are often normal. The conversation highlights the role and limitations of skin biopsy and functional testing, the importance of identifying underlying causes, and practical approaches to diagnosis and management with realistic treatment expectations.

Ep. 181: Advancements in CIDP Treatment

Ep. 181: Advancements in CIDP Treatment

32m 55s

Moderator: Rob Hadden (London, United Kingdom)

Guest: Claudia Sommer (Würzburg, Germany)

In this episode, Rob Hadden and Claudia Sommer discuss ongoing challenges in treating CIDP. While most patients benefit from current therapies, some remain treatment-refractory, driving the need for innovation. They highlight emerging response definitions, promising FcRn and complement inhibitors, and the importance of individualized care and serum biomarkers for improving patient outcomes.

This episode has been supported by an educational grant from argenx. The programme has not been influenced in any way by its supporter.

Ep. 180: Cognitive problems in Multiple Sclerosis

Ep. 180: Cognitive problems in Multiple Sclerosis

31m 59s

Moderator: Yilidz Degirmenci (Istanbul, Türkiye)
Guest: Hanneke Hulst (Auckland, New Zealand)

In this episode, Yıldız Değirmenci speaks with Hanneke Hulst about cognitive problems in multiple sclerosis, an often invisible but highly disabling aspect of the disease. They discuss how common cognitive impairment is in MS, the domains most frequently affected, particularly information processing speed and memory, and the underlying white and gray matter pathology. The conversation highlights the real-world impact on work, relationships, and quality of life, as well as practical strategies for early detection, screening, and cognitive support in clinical practice.

Ep. 179: Language and communication impairment after coma

Ep. 179: Language and communication impairment after coma

16m 15s

Moderator: Alfonso Magliacano (Florence, Italy)

Guest: Charlène Aubinet (Liege, Belgium)

In this episode, Alfonso Magliacano is joined by Charlène Aubinet to examine how language and communication impairments shape the assessment and recovery of patients emerging from coma. They discuss the clinical distinctions between unresponsive wakefulness syndrome and the minimally conscious state, highlighting how aphasia and other comorbidities can obscure signs of awareness and lead to misdiagnosis. Dr. Aubinet outlines emerging tools, from eye-tracking assessments to EEG and fMRI markers, that help detect residual language processing even without behavioral responses. The conversation also explores how early linguistic abilities can serve as...