Functional Movement Disorders | Congress 2026

In this episode, Dr. Michele Matarazzo interviews Dr. Adolfo M. García, senior author of the MDJ Research Article of the Year in Movement Disorders. They discuss how automated analysis of verbal fluency tasks in 464 Spanish-speaking people with Parkinson's disease can predict global cognition and identify mild cognitive impairment more accurately than simple word counts, as well as the potential for brief, scalable digital cognitive assessments. Read the article.

The classic direct and indirect pathways of the basal ganglia are often taught as simple “Go” and “No-Go” systems for movement. But emerging evidence reveals a much richer picture. Dr. Michele Matarazzo speaks with Dr. Ann Graybiel about her 2026 Review Article of the Year Paper in Movement Disorders, exploring how basal ganglia circuits contribute to learning, decision-making, motivation, and mood; the emerging role of the external globus pallidus; and newly identified striosomal pathways that regulate dopamine and may reshape our understanding of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. Read the article.

Dr. Ray Dorsey passionately shares the mounting evidence supporting the role environmental neuro-toxicants have in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD) and why PD prevention deserves our attention. Read the article.

Dr. Mitra Afshari discusses with Dr. Jeffrey Hausdorff the potential of AI-enabled digital biomarkers in Parkinson’s disease, including their role in patient monitoring, challenges in accuracy and reliability, and barriers to clinical implementation.

Ms. Nicole Duff discusses with Dr. Sara Lidstone the diagnosis and management of functional neurological and movement disorders, including clinical signs, patient-centered communication, and the importance of interdisciplinary rehabilitation.

Dr. Mitra Afshari discusses with Dr. Raul Martínez-Fernández recent advances in MRI-guided focused ultrasound for essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease, including improvements in safety and efficacy, its relationship with deep brain stimulation, and emerging neuromodulation approaches.

Dr. Eduardo de Pablo-Fernández discusses with Dr. Samuel Kim recent advances in Huntington’s disease, including genetic mechanisms, emerging biomarkers, and the potential of huntingtin-lowering therapies and gene therapy.

Ms. Nicole Duff discusses with Dr. Alison Yarnall the prevalence and impact of frailty in Parkinsonism, including how it is identified and measured and its implications for clinical trials and patient care.

Dr. Eduardo de Pablo-Fernández discusses with Prof. Tom Foltynie emerging disease-modifying and restorative treatments for Parkinson’s disease, including recent clinical trial findings and promising therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Ignacio Mata discusses with Dr. Divyani Garg the dramatic increases in genetic testing globally over the last several years that have enhanced our understanding of the genetic architecture of Parkinson's disease.