 This is an exciting moment in the field of neuro-genetics. Advances in gene therapy are opening up new avenues to treating certain genetic forms of otherwise fatal and incurable diseases like ALS and dementia. This may give genetics a bigger role in the daily clinical practice of many adult neurologists. Today we'll learn about this frontier in neuro-genetics from Dr. Bryan Traynor at the National Institute on Aging. He was interviewed by ANA member and neuromuscular specialist at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Ricardo Roda. Series 1, Episode 14

ANA Investigates

ANA Investigates ALS

In July, the World Health Organization released its updated classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. The last update was in 2016. The update reflects the increasing role of molecular biomarkers in tumor characterization -- a change that has major implications for how we diagnose and treat patients with brain and spinal cord tumors. Joining us today to help us understand these changes is Dr. Lynne Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a professor of Neurology and Oncology at the University of Washington and co-director of the Alvord Brain Tumor Center at University of Washington Medical Center. Dr. Taylor was interviewed by ANA Investigates producer and neuro-oncologist, Dr. Doug Ney. Series 2, Episode #10

ANA Investigates Central Nervous System Tumor Classification

In recent years, the Food and Drug Administration approved several new treatments specifically for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. But what about neuroimmunological conditions that do not have FDA approved options and require off-label use of immunomodulatory medications -- conditions like neurosarcoidosis, neuro-Behcet’s, or central nervous system involvement of systemic rheumatologic conditions? There is often a lack of rigorous evidence to guide treatment of these conditions, leaving experts to rely on individual or institutional experience. Our guest on this episode is Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand, neuroimmunologist and Associate Professor of Neurology at UCSF. He specializes in treating patients with rare neuroinflammatory conditions, and he’ll talk to us about the new drugs for NMO as well as off-label use of immunomodulatory therapies for a range of neurological conditions. Dr. Gelfand was interviewed by ANA producer Dr. Rohini Samudralwar. Series 2, Episode #9 Disclosures: Dr. Gelfand receives research support to UCSF for clinical trial from Rosch and Genetech; provides consulting to Biogen

ANA Investigates Therapeutic Advancements in Neuroimmunology

 For much of the history of neurology, diagnosing a genetic disease meant giving bad news. Genetic meant incurable, often fatal. On past shows, we’ve talked about how this narrative is changing for certain monogenic diseases like Huntington’s Disease, where emerging gene therapies offer hope for a cure. But what hope can the field of neurogenetics offer to patients with more complex diseases with both genetic and environmental risk factors, like Alzheimer’s? Our guest today, Dr. M. Elizabeth Ross, is Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience in the Brain and Mind Research Institute and Director of the Center for Neurogenetics at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her lab works on the genetics of neurologic diseases affecting humans at every stage of the lifecycle. Today she’ll help us understand the role of genetics in a range of neurodegenerative diseases -- and how and when clinicians should incorporate genetic considerations into patient care. Series 2, Episode 8

ANA Investigates Neurogenetics

 Neurology and psychiatry: two fields, one organ system. Today, we’ll focus on the intersection between the two. We’ll discuss one common psychiatric disease -- depression -- and how new treatments for depression may inform how we treat other neurologic illnesses. ANA Investigates Producer Dr. Rohit Das interviewed Dr. Helen Mayberg, behavioral neurologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, about her pioneering research in circuit-based treatment of depression, particularly deep brain stimulation, or DBS. Series 2, Episode 7

ANA Investigates Connections between Neurology & Psychiatry

Current guidelines for management of carotid stenosis are based on a series of trials dating back to the 1990s. If you ask today’s guests, virtually no other area of neurology is so badly in need of an update. Dr. Seemant Chaturvedi, the Stewart Greenebaum Endowed Professor of Stroke Neurology at University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Dr. Cheryl Bushnell is Professor of Neurology, Vice Chair of Research, Stroke Division Chief at Wake Forest Baptist Health join us for a discussion of the major advances in medical therapy for stroke prevention and why these advances require new trials to refine patient selection for revascularization. They’ll also discuss the growing role of plaque imaging in treatment decisions. Series 2, Episode 6

ANA Investigates Advancing Carotid Stenosis Treatment

The topic of today’s podcast is tenecteplase. This is a thrombolytic drug that is administered intravenously, for certain patients who present to the hospital with an acute ischemic stroke.  There is mounting evidence that intravenous tenecteplase is at least as safe and effective as intravenous alteplase, the current standard of care in ischemic stroke. Tenecteplase also less expensive and easier to administer. Our guest today is Dr. Bruce Campbell, who has played a pivotal role in the deployment of tenecteplase for stroke. Dr. Campbell was interviewed by Dr. Michelle Johansen, a vascular neurologist at Johns Hopkins. Series 2, Episode 5

ANA Investigates Tenecteplase in Stroke

Less than a year -- that's how long it took between when the novel coronavirus emerged and when a vaccine was available to prevent it. This incredible speed of vaccine development exemplifies scientific innovation in a time of crisis. There is increasing vaccine acceptance among the public, but questions about target populations, mechanisms, and side effects remain. Neurological complications are well-documented with other vaccines, and some have already been seen with the vaccines for Covid-19. Our guest on this episode, Dr. Avindra Nath, is a physician-scientist who specializes in neuroimmunology and infections of the nervous system. He is the intramural Clinical Director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health. The resources mentioned during the episode may be accessed on: https://myana.org/education/ana-investigates-podcast-series, Series 2, Episode 4

ANA Investigates Detection & Management of Neurologic Complications from COVID-19 Vaccines

 The past year has forced us all to contend with the devastating power of infectious disease. The daily, mortal fear of infection is a new experience for many people in the developed world. But that fear characterizes life for millions of people around the globe -- including those who have already lived through plagues or lost loved ones to curable infections. These infections disproportionately target those living in poverty. Many have epidemic or pandemic potential. And many have neurological manifestations. In this episode, Dr. Adeline Goss interviews Dr. Farrah Mateen, a neuroinfectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and her recent work with a group of colleagues to compile the neurological manifestations of the 20 diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential recognized by the World Health Organization. Season 2, Episode 3

ANA Investigates Neurologic Manifestations of the World Health Organization’s List of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases

In this episode, we'll introduce you to the next generation of ANA scientists. You may remember a new event at this year's ANA conference called the Emerging Scholars sessions, where we heard presentations from our junior ANA members about their cutting edge research. Those talks were judged based on scientific merit and presentation quality.... and today we'll introduce you to the four winners.  This year's Emerging Scholars are Dr. Gus Davis, Dr. Juliane Gust, Dr. Jenn Orthmann-Murphy, and Dr. Xilma Ortiz-Gonzalez. They were interviewed by Dr. Michelle Johansen, a vascular neurologist and assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins. Series 2, Episode 2

ANA Investigates the ANA2020 Emerging Scholars Awardees

This is an exciting moment in the management of a devastating neurologic condition -- Huntington's Disease. As we know, this genetic disease often hits patients at the prime of life and, because it is autosomal dominant, can be haunting for affected families. As we'll discuss today, new developments in biomarkers and therapies for Huntington's are converging into a more hopeful picture for those affected. In this episode, we’ll hear from two Huntington Disease experts -- Dr. Jee Bang, Clinical Director of Johns Hopkins Huntington Disease Center of Excellence and Assistant Professor of Neurology... and ANA investigates producer Dr. Danny Bega, Director of the Northwestern Medicine Huntington Disease Center of Excellence and Associate Professor of Neurology.

ANA Investigates Huntington's Disease

 Today’s show is on the science of sleep. Specifically, how sleep – or too little of it – affects the growing brains of adolescents. Why do teenagers stay up so late? What sleep schedules are optimal for their learning? We’ll hear from two world experts in adolescent sleep -- Dr. Beth Malow and Dr. Frances Jensen. Dr. Malow is a Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at Vanderbilt, and the Burry Chair in Cognitive Childhood Development. She directs the sleep division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and has been a major advocate for policies that promote healthy adolescent sleep patterns. Dr. Jensen is Professor and Chair of Neurology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and is President Elect of the American Neurological Association. She has researched the mechanisms of epilepsy, stroke, and adolescent brain development, and is the author of the book “The Teenage Brain.” Drs. Malow and Jensen were interviewed by ANA Investigates producer and UCSF Neurohospitalist, Dr. Megan Richie. Series 1, Episode 15

ANA Investigates Teens & Sleep

Today, in recognition of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month, we'll hear from Dr. David Holtzman, professor and chair of neurology at Washington University in St Louis. Dr. Holtzman's work has helped to clarify the relationship between Apolipoprotein E4, or apoE4, and Alzheimer's disease. He is also working to develop CSF biomarkers for Alzheimer's, and he has worked on the development of anti-amyloid beta and anti-tau antibodies for now being evaluated through clinical trials in patients with the disease. ANA’s education manager, Jen Hurley, spoke with Dr. Holtzman about the current state of research in biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Holtzman wishes to disclose that he is a co-founder with equity in the company C2N Diagnostics, a biotech start up focusing on blood biomarkers for AD; he is on the Scientific advisory board of C2N Diagnostics and Denali Therapeutics, and consults for Genentech and Idorsia. Series 1, Episode 13

ANA Investigates Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease

During this special jointly-produced ANA-AUPN episode, Dr. Clifton Gooch, AUPN president and Dr. Justin McArthur, ANA president discuss how their institutions and departments are approaching operations amid COVID-19, as well as sliver linings they see resulting from the unavoidable shift to virtual operations both clinically and in research. Series 1, Episode 12 **Join the ANA today to attend ANA2020 Virtually for free***

ANA Investigates The Way Out: How Can Departments Bounce Back from Covid-19? A joint ANA-AUPN episode

 In this episode, we’ll visit the frontiers of vascular neurology, discussing an important but little-understood category of strokes — embolic strokes of undetermined source, or ESUS. We’ll hear from Dr. Hooman Kamel, division chief of neurocritical care at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Kamel is a co-principal investigator for the ARCADIA trial, which is testing anti-thrombotic strategies in patients with cryptogenic stroke and atrial cardiopathy. He was interviewed by ANA Member Michelle Johansen, a vascular neurologist and assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins. Series 1, Episode 11

ANA Investigates ESUS

At a time when support for basic and translational science needs a strong voice and the burden of neurological disease is growing, the ANA is the champion of neurological research and the ally of all physicians and scientists who strive to make a difference through careers that combine discovery, education, and clinical care. From advances in stroke and dementia to movement disorders and epilepsy, the American Neurological Association has been at the forefront of research and practice since 1875 as the premier professional society of academic neurologists and neuroscientists devoted to understanding and treating diseases of the nervous system.