VJNeurology Podcast

This episode explores recent advances in the treatment of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), featuring expert insights from the recent European Epilepsy Congress (EEC 2026). Discussions cover the biology of Dravet syndrome, emerging disease-modifying approaches, including antisense oligonucleotides and gene therapy, and the Phase III GEMZ trial (NCT05064878) of fenfluramine in CDKL5 deficiency disorder. Experts also explore what defines disease modification in DEEs and how targeting underlying disease mechanisms could transform treatment approaches and improve long-term patient outcomes. Featuring Nicola Specchio, MD, PhD, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy, and William Alves Martins, MD, Hospital São Lucas of PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil. This podcast is intended for healthcare professionals.

In honour of World Stroke Day, we’re bringing you a special podcast episode centered on this year’s theme: Every Minute Counts. The episode will explore where minutes are still being lost in acute stroke care and how we can win them back, from improving reperfusion therapies to the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in speeding up diagnosis and treatment. Featuring Geoffrey Donnan, MD, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, Stephen Davis, MD, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia, Aravind Ganesh, MD, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada, and Jing Zhao, MD, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

This episode of the VJNeurology podcast explores the evolving role of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), from the role of BTK in MS pathophysiology to the recent EU approval of tolebrutinib for secondary progressive MS without relapses. Experts discuss the pivotal Phase III HERCULES (NCT04411641) and GEMINI (NCT04410978) trial data supporting tolebrutinib, alongside findings from the Phase III FENtrepid trial (NCT04544449) of fenebrutinib, a non-covalent BTK inhibitor, in primary progressive MS. Featuring Augusto Miravalle, MD, FAAN, Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL, Celia Oreja-Guevara, MD, PhD, University Hospital San Carlos, Madrid, Spain, Anthony Traboulsee, MD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and Amit Bar-Or, MD, FRCPC, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

In this episode, we explore the relationship between menopause and neurological conditions, and consider how hormonal changes during the menopause transition may influence symptoms, disease management, and brain health. Katarina Rukavina, MD, PhD, Movement Disorders Hospital, Beelitz, Germany, discusses the management of menopause in patients with Parkinson's disease, followed by Celia Oreja-Guevara, MD, PhD, University Hospital San Carlos, Madrid, Spain, who focuses on multiple sclerosis. Finally, Amber Watts, PhD, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, shares insights into the relationship between hormonal changes, cognition, and Alzheimer's disease.

In this episode, we bring you a discussion recorded at EAN 2026 exploring the growing impact of climate change on neurological health. The panel discusses evidence linking rising temperatures and environmental change with worsening neurological conditions, increased risk of heat-related illness, and implications for mental health. The discussion also highlights the importance of advocacy, education, and policy action, with a call for neurologists worldwide to work together to protect vulnerable patients and address the neurological consequences of a changing climate. Featuring Jacques Reis, MD, PhD, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France, Anne-Marie Landtblom, MD, PhD, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden, Pascale Homeyer, MD, Valence Hospital, Valence, France, Thomas Berger, MD, MSc, FEAN, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, David Tanner, Msc ETH, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, Amalia Ghergu, MD, Hospital Center De Sens, Sens, France.

Welcome to this episode of the VJNeurology Podcast, where leading experts will explore some of the latest advances in the treatment of myasthenia gravis, discussing emerging therapeutic strategies and new clinical data that could shape the future management of this condition. You'll hear about recently approved therapies, including inebilizumab and nipocalimab, as well as promising approaches still in development, such as CAR T-cell therapy and telitacicept. Featuring Richard Nowak, MD, MS, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, and Ali Habib, MD, University of California, Irvine, CA.

Episode 2 of our Life after Stroke roundtable discussion series is now available as a podcast! In this exclusive discussion, leading experts Aristeidis Katsanos, MD, PhD, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Hanne Christensen, MD, PhD, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, Joseph Kwan, MB ChB, MPhil, MD, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK, and Jesse Dawson, MD, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK, discuss practical strategies for secondary stroke prevention and rehabilitation. They share insights into anti-thrombotic therapies, lipid-lowering, and blood pressure management, as well as real-world implementation strategies and the importance of lifestyle interventions. This educational activity has received independent medical education support in the form of funding from Bayer. The supporter has had no influence over the production of the content, including the selection of speakers. Bayer’s support is limited to this activity and does not extend to the broader Stroke Channel.

In this episode of the VJNeurology Podcast, we explore the rapidly evolving landscape of orexin agonists for the treatment of narcolepsy. Following the recent FDA approval of oveporexton, as well as new clinical trial data on alixorexton and E2086, experts discuss the latest evidence, emerging developments, and what these advances could mean for the future of narcolepsy treatment. Featuring Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, DO, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, Emmanuel Mignot, MD, PhD, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, Lucie Barateau, MD, PhD, Gui-de-Chauliac Hospital, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France, and Bruce Corser, MD, FAASM, Intrepid Research, Cincinnati, OH.

Episode 1 of our Life after Stroke roundtable discussion series is now available as a podcast! In this exclusive discussion, leading experts Aristeidis Katsanos, MD, PhD, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, Diana Aguiar de Sousa, MD, PhD, Central Lisbon University Hospital Center, Lisbon, Portugal, Jesper Petersson, MD, PhD, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, and Gisele Sampaio Silva, MD, PhD, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, explore the first steps in secondary stroke prevention. They discuss the impact of recurrent stroke on patient outcomes, identify populations at highest risk, and examine key modifiable risk factors. The panel also shares practical insights on what should be prioritized during the early assessment of patients following stroke. This educational activity has received independent medical education support in the form of funding from Bayer. The supporter has had no influence over the production of the content, including the selection of speakers. Bayer’s support is limited to this activity and does not extend to the broader Stroke Channel.

This episode of the VJNeurology Podcast showcases advances across insomnia, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea from SLEEP 2026. Leading experts discuss updates to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine clinical practice guidelines, trial updates, novel approaches being explored, and more. Featuring insights from Emerson Wickwire, PhD, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, Michael Mak, MD, FRCPC, DRCPSC, FCPA, FAASM, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, Michael Grandner, PhD, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, Diego Garcia-Borreguero, MD, PhD, Sleep Research Institute, Madrid, Spain, Arthur Walters, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, TN, Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, DO, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, Lucie Barateau, MD, PhD, Gui-de-Chauliac Hospital, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France, Atul Malhotra, MD, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, Karin Johnson, MD, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA, and Umakanth Katwa, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA.