Neurology Minute

In the second installment of this two-part series, Drs. Stacey Clardy, Ayush Gupta, and Kuntal Sen discuss the most practical testing approach to minimize both under‑ and over‑testing for these disorders. Show citation: Gupta A, Sahjwani D, Kahn I, Gombolay GY, Sen K. Monogenic Mimics of Neuroinflammatory Phenotypes in Children and Young Adults: An Evolving Landscape. Neurol Genet. 2025;11(6):e200326. Published 2025 Nov 25. doi:10.1212/NXG.0000000000200326 Show transcript:  Dr. Stacey Clardy: Hi, this is Stacey Clardy from the Salt Lake City VA in the University of Utah. For a two-part podcast series this week, I've been speaking with Ayush Gupta, from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Kuntal Sen, from Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC about monogenic disorders that mimic neuroinflammatory disease. There are a lot of them, and they are no doubt sitting in our clinics waiting to be recognized. Ayush, for the minute, once a neurologist starts suspecting one of these disorders, what's t

Dr. Aaron Zelikovich discusses the utility of neurofilament light chain as a serum biomarker in peripheral neuropathy.  Show citation: Karam C. Clinical Utility of Serum Neurofilament Light Chain in Peripheral Neuropathy. Muscle Nerve. 2026;73(1):86-92. doi:10.1002/mus.70073 Show transcript: Dr. Aaron Zelikovich: Welcome to today's neurology minute. My name is Aaron Zelikovich, a neuromuscular specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Today, we will discuss a recent article on the utility of neurofilament light chain as a serum biomarker in peripheral neuropathy. It has been studied in other neurological diseases like ALS and multiple sclerosis, as in the 2024 study by Robert Fox et al, which highlighted the limitations of serum neurofilament light chain in patients with multiple sclerosis, since the elevation was inconsistent and tended to occur weeks after MRI changes, and was really only found to be helpful in certain clinical situations. The study we highlight today is a single-center retrospect

Dr. Tesha Monteith discusses the different forms of menstrual migraines.  Show transcript:  Dr. Tesha Monteith: Hi, this is Tesha Monteith with the Neurology Minute. Welcome to our series on headache medicine and women's health. I want to start off this series with a discussion on menstrual migraine. Menstrual migraine is considered more frequent, more severe, and is associated with most migraine-associated symptoms with the exception of aura. The pathophysiology is linked to the effects of estrogen withdrawal and the impacts on the trigeminal vascular system. Do check out a recent paper by Pan and colleagues published just in neurology in November showing a robust hypothalamic activation prior to the headache phase in patients with menstrual migraine compared to controls. Now, there are two forms of menstrual migraine recognized in the International Classification of Headache Disorders III. First is menstrually related migraine which consists of attacks that occurred during the perimenstrual window. That's d

In the second part of this series, Dr. Neishay Ayub discusses levetiracetam and one of its most common side effects, irritability.  Show citations:  Abou-Khalil B. Levetiracetam in the treatment of epilepsy. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(3):507-523. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2937  Löscher W, Gillard M, Sands ZA, Kaminski RM, Klitgaard H. Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Ligands in the Treatment of Epilepsy and Beyond. CNS Drugs. 2016;30(11):1055-1077. doi:10.1007/s40263-016-0384-x Rogawski MA. Brivaracetam: a rational drug discovery success story. Br J Pharmacol. 2008;154(8):1555-1557. doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.221 Ulloa CM, Towfigh A, Safdieh J. Review of levetiracetam, with a focus on the extended release formulation, as adjuvant therapy in controlling partial-onset seizures. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2009;5:467-476. doi:10.2147/ndt.s4844 Wu PP, Cao BR, Tian FY, Gao ZB. Development of SV2A Ligands for Epilepsy Treatment: A Review of Levetiracetam, Brivaracetam, and Padsevonil. Neurosci Bull. 2024;40(5):594-608. doi:10

In part one of this two-part series, Dr. Stacey Clardy and Drs. Ayush Gupta and Kuntal Sen discuss the key clinical features that should shift suspicion from autoimmune encephalitis or demyelinating disease to monogenic mimics.  Show citation: Gupta A, Sahjwani D, Kahn I, Gombolay GY, Sen K. Monogenic Mimics of Neuroinflammatory Phenotypes in Children and Young Adults: An Evolving Landscape. Neurol Genet. 2025;11(6):e200326. Published 2025 Nov 25. doi:10.1212/NXG.0000000000200326 Show transcript:  Dr. Stacey Clardy: Hi, this is Stacey Clardy from the Salt Lake City VA in the University of Utah. For a two-part podcast series, I've been speaking with Ayush Gupta from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Kuntal Sen from Children's National Hospital in Washington DC about the monogenic disorders that mimic neuroinflammatory disease that are lurking in all of our clinics just waiting to be diagnosed. Ayush, for the minute, when you're seeing a patient with a presumed autoimmune encephalitis or demyelinati

Dr. Elizabeth Coon and Prof. Franziska Hopfner discuss the frequency and disease trajectory of MSA patients who do not experience dysautonomia, in comparison to those with autonomic involvement. Show citation:  Wilkens I, Bebermeier S, Heine J, et al. Multiple System Atrophy Without Dysautonomia: An Autopsy-Confirmed Study. Neurology. 2025;105(11):e214316. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000214316 Show transcript:  Dr. Elizabeth Coon: Welcome to the Neurology Minute. I'm Elizabeth Coon, and I'm delighted to welcome Professor Hopfner, who will give us a summary of her recently published paper in Neurology, "Multiple System Atrophy Without Dysautonomia and Autopsy Confirmed Study." Welcome, Professor Hopfner. Please tell us about this study and the key findings. Prof. Franziska Hopfner: So this work reframes how we think about MSA. So, autonomic failure is common but not universal and its absence does not rule out the diagnosis of MSA. So recognizing motor only in multiple system atrophy expands our diagnostic accuracy,

In part one of this two-part series, Dr. Neishay Ayub discusses the history of a novel anti-epileptic drug, levetiracetam.  Show citations:  Abou-Khalil B. Levetiracetam in the treatment of epilepsy. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2008;4(3):507-523. doi:10.2147/ndt.s2937  Löscher W, Gillard M, Sands ZA, Kaminski RM, Klitgaard H. Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Ligands in the Treatment of Epilepsy and Beyond. CNS Drugs. 2016;30(11):1055-1077. doi:10.1007/s40263-016-0384-x Rogawski MA. Brivaracetam: a rational drug discovery success story. Br J Pharmacol. 2008;154(8):1555-1557. doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.221 Ulloa CM, Towfigh A, Safdieh J. Review of levetiracetam, with a focus on the extended release formulation, as adjuvant therapy in controlling partial-onset seizures. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2009;5:467-476. doi:10.2147/ndt.s4844 Wu PP, Cao BR, Tian FY, Gao ZB. Development of SV2A Ligands for Epilepsy Treatment: A Review of Levetiracetam, Brivaracetam, and Padsevonil. Neurosci Bull. 2024;40(5):594-608. doi:10.1007/s1

Dr. Tesha Monteith discusses menstrual migraine and treatment options.  Show transcript: Dr. Tesha Monteith: This is Tesha Monteith with the Neurology Minute. Welcome back to our series on headache medicine and women's health. I'm continuing our discussion on menstrual migraine, and I want to focus on treatment. We talked about increasing the yield of diagnosis for menstrual migraine, but what are the best ways to treat our patients? I think there are two broad categories we can think about: We can think about non-hormonal methods or hormonal methods. The non-hormonal methods include a combination of abortive therapies, as well as preventative therapies that can be used for a mini prophylaxis, as well as when patients have a higher burden of overall migraine, considering the general highly effective preventive therapies. Common mini prophylaxis include triptans such as Frovatriptan, Naratriptan, and Zolmitriptan when used twice per day. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories can be used for five to seven days aroun

In the January episode of the President's Spotlight, Dr. Jason Crowell and Dr. Natalia Rost discuss AAN's plans for 2026, including a general neurology boot camp, Autoimmune Conference, and new resources for members.  Stay informed by watching the President's Spotlight video.  Show transcript: Dr. Jason Crowell: Hello, and welcome to today's Neurology Minute. This is the first installment of 2026 that we have with the president of the AAN, Natalia Rost. Natalia, thanks so much for joining us today, we look forward to our monthly chats to talk about things going on with the AAN. Before we start talking about the plans for 2026 with the American Academy of Neurology, what are the things that are on your mind? Dr. Natalia Rost: Happy new year, Jason, great to join you today. Well, first of all, I think 2026 is going to be a strong year, and as I think what's coming down our pipeline, it's our work to promote brain health and to support neuroscience research. It's the fight that we have to fulfill Medicare paymen

Dr. Derek Stitt and Drs. Joseph Safdieh and Matthew S. Robbins discuss subspecialization's impact on patient care, why preserving a core neurologist identity matters, and how training can reinforce it. Show citation: Safdieh JE, Robbins MS. Opinion & Special Articles: The Core Identity of the Neurologist. Neurology. 2025;105(9):e214265. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000214265 

Dr. Shuvro Roy and Dr. Rosa Cortese discuss new ways to improve MS and MOGAD diagnosis, including how AI and imaging could enhance accuracy and influence future care. Show citations: Cortese R, Sforazzini F, Gentile G, et al. Deep Learning Modeling to Differentiate Multiple Sclerosis From MOG Antibody-Associated Disease. Neurology. 2025;105(6):e214075. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000214075 

Dr. Bradley Ong discusses evidence for candesartan in migraine prevention. Show citation: Øie LR, Wergeland T, Salvesen Ø, et al. Candesartan versus placebo for migraine prevention in patients with episodic migraine: a randomised, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Neurol. 2025;24(10):817-827. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(25)00269-8

In the second part of this two-part series, Dr. Shuvro Roy examines the study's findings and their implications for clinical practice moving forward. Show citation: Kim M, Park YH, Song YS, et al. Gait Improvement Following CSF Tap Test in NPH Patients With and Without Striatal Dopaminergic Deficit: A Preliminary Study. Neurol Clin Pract. 2025;15(6):e200549. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200549

In part one of this two-part series, Dr. Shuvro Roy explains idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), its diagnostic challenges, and a study on whether dopamine transporter (DAT) scan results affect gait improvement after a CSF tap test. Show citation: Kim M, Park YH, Song YS, et al. Gait Improvement Following CSF Tap Test in NPH Patients With and Without Striatal Dopaminergic Deficit: A Preliminary Study. Neurol Clin Pract. 2025;15(6):e200549. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000200549

Drs. Mahinda Yogarajah, Benjamin Tolchin, and Jon Stone discuss recommendations for clinicians, patients, and other stakeholders on the management of functional seizures.  Show citation: Tolchin B, Goldstein LH, Reuber M, et al. Management of Functional Seizures Practice Guideline Executive Summary: Report of the AAN Guidelines Subcommittee. Neurology. 2026;106(1):e214466. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000214466  Show transcript:  Dr. Mahinda Yogarajah: Welcome to this edition of Neurology Minute. I'm your host for this. My name's Mahinda Yogarajah. I've just finished interviewing Dr. Ben Tolchin and Jon Stone for this week's Neurology® Podcast. For today's Neurology Minute, I'm hoping Ben can tell us the main points of the podcast and the paper discussed in that podcast. Dr. Ben Tolchin: We discussed the AAN guideline on the Management of Functional Seizures. This is the first American Academy of Neurology evidence-based guideline on functional neurologic disorder. It includes a systematic review of the randomized

Drs. Greg Cooper, Natalia Rost, and Behnam Sabayan discuss preventive neurology and the need for neurologists to move beyond diagnosis and treatment toward proactive strategies for brain health.  Show citation: Sabayan B, Boden-Albala B, Rost NS. An Ounce of Prevention: The Growing Need for Preventive Neurologists. Neurology. 2025;105(1):e213785. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000213785 Show transcript:  Dr. Greg Cooper: Hi, this is Greg Cooper. I just finished interviewing Behnam Sabayan and Natalia Rost for this week's Neurology® Podcast. For today's Neurology Minute, I'm hoping you can tell us the main points of your paper, An Ounce of Prevention, the Growing Need for Preventative Neurologist. Dr. Behnam Sabayan: We are living in a very exciting time for the field of neurology where we are not just getting very good at diagnosis and treatment of neurological condition, but also we are stepping one step back, and that means that we will find the root causes of neurological conditions. We would act as preventive spe

In the final episode of this seven-part series, Dr. Jon Stone and Dr. Gabriela Gilmour wrap up the conversation discussing future directions.  Show citations: Functional Neurological Disorder Society Finkelstein SA, Carson A, Edwards MJ, et al. Setting up Functional Neurological Disorder Treatment Services: Questions and Answers. Neurol Clin. 2023;41(4):729-743. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2023.04.002  Show transcript:  Dr. Gabriela Gilmour: This is Gabriela Gilmour with the Neurology Minute. Jon Stone and I are back for our final episode of our seven-part series on functional neurological disorder. Today, we will discuss future directions for the field of FND. So Jon, where do you see the field of FND going in terms of diagnosis and treatment? Dr. Jon Stone: So we've seen a tremendous increase in interest in FND, particularly in the last five years since we started the FND Society. I think there's much more awareness of making rule-in diagnoses compared to before. There's much more positivity about treatment and I thi

In part six of this seven-part series on FND, Dr. Jon Stone and Dr. Gabriela Gilmour discuss the prognosis of functional neurologic disorders.  Show citation:  Gelauff J, Stone J. Prognosis of functional neurologic disorders. Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;139:523-541. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-801772-2.00043-6  Show transcript:  Dr. Jon Stone: This is Jon Stone with the Neurology Minute. Gabriela Gilmour and I are back to continue with part six of our seven-part series on FND. Today we're going to talk about prognosis. What's the outlook for people with FND? It's obviously a question that patients and relatives desperate to know the answer. Gabriela, what do you say to your patients with FND when they say, "What's going to happen to me? Dr. Gabriela Gilmour: That's a difficult question because the prognosis is variable and I'll talk in a moment about what we know about prognosis from the literature. But I think when patients ask me what's going to happen, I try to instill hope because we do know that this is a condi

In part five of this seven-part series on FND, Dr. Jon Stone and Dr. Gabriela Gilmour discuss treatment options.  Show citation:  Gilmour, G.S., Nielsen, G., Teodoro, T. et al. Management of functional neurological disorder. J Neurol 267, 2164–2172 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-020-09772-w  Gilmour GS, Langer LK, Bhatt H, MacGillivray L, Lidstone SC. Factors Influencing Triage to Rehabilitation in Functional Movement Disorder. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2024;11(5):515-525. doi:10.1002/mdc3.14007  Stone J, Carson A. Multidisciplinary Treatment for Functional Movement Disorder. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2025;31(4):1182-1196. doi:10.1212/cont.0000000000001606 Tolchin B, Goldstein LH, Reuber M, et al. Management of Functional Seizures Practice Guideline Executive Summary: Report of the AAN Guidelines Subcommittee. Neurology. 2026;106(1):e214466. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000214466  Show transcript:  Dr. Jon Stone: Hello, this is Jon Stone with the Neurology Minute. Gabriela Gilmour and I are back to continue wi

Dr. Zohaib Siddiqi talks with Dr. Catarina Bernardes about a case involving a 35-year-old woman presenting with personality changes and gait impairment.  Show citation:  Bernardes C, Lemos JM, Santo GC. Clinical Reasoning: A 35-Year-Old Woman With Personality Change and Gait Impairment. Neurology. 2025;104(2):e210252. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000210252  Show transcript:  Dr. Zohaib Siddiqi: Hi, everyone. My name is Zohaib Siddiqi and I'm a fifth-year neurology resident and a part of the Neurology® Resident and Fellow Section Editorial Board. I just finished interviewing Catarina Bernardes about her article, Clinical Reasoning: A 35-year-old Woman with Personality Change and Gait Impairment. Catarina, can you tell us the main points of the article? Dr. Catarina Bernardes: So in this article, we discussed the case of a 35-year-old woman who presented with a three-year history of walking difficulties. On examination, she had signs of a frontal temporal dysfunction, a dorsal lateral myelopathy, optic atrophy, and p