Neurology Minute

Dr. Alex Menze and Dr. Kathryn C. Fitzgerald discuss using accelerometry to detect subtle, longitudinal changes in disability in people with multiple sclerosis and how these changes relate to brain atrophy and disability progression. 
Show citation: 
Fitzgerald KC, Sanjayan M, Dewey BE, et al. Association of Changes in Activity Patterns With Brain Atrophy and Disability Progression in People With Multiple Sclerosis. Neurology. 2026;106(7):e214678. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000214678 
Show transcript: 
Dr. Alexander Menze:
Hi, this is Alexander Menze. I just finished interviewing Kate Fitzgerald for the Neurology Podcast. For today's Neurology Minute, Kate, I'm hoping you can tell us the main points of your paper.
Dr. Kathryn C. Fitzgerald: 
So we followed 238 people with MS who are 40 or older for over three years and they wore risk-worn accelerometers roughly every three months and had regular clinical assessments and brain MRI. And what we found was that changes in activity patterns over time at the individual level were associated with subsequent changes in disability worsening and brain volume loss, particularly in the deep gray matter and thalamus.
Dr. Alexander Menze:
Thank you very much. Be sure to download this week's podcast to hear our full interview.

In the second part of this series, Dr. Katie Krulisky and Dr. Cristina Domínguez-González explore the most effective approach to evaluating suspected mitochondrial disease.
Show citation:
Bermejo-Guerrero L, Restrepo-Vera JL, Martin-Jimenez P, et al. Clinical Heterogeneity and Candidate Biomarkers in POLG-Related Mitochondrial Disease. Neurol Genet. 2026;12(2):e200365. Published 2026 Mar 10. doi:10.1212/NXG.0000000000200365 
Show transcript: 
Dr. Katie Krulisky:
This is The Neurology Minute. This is the second part of our series. I'm Katie Krulisky from the University of Utah and I'm here with Cristina Domínguez-González from the 12th of October University Hospital and its affiliated health research institute in Madrid, Spain. We've just recorded a full podcast on our paper, Clinical Heterogeneity and Candidate Biomarkers in POLG-related Mitochondrial Disease, which has been published in Neurology Genetics.
Cristina, for The Minute, what's the most practical way to work up suspected mitochondrial disease today?
Dr. Cristina Domínguez-González: 
In practice, everything starts with the clinical picture. Recognizing the pattern, whether it's a combination of features or a more subtle isolated presentation, is what should first raise suspicion. From there, you decide the next step. Targeted genetic testing if the phenotype is well-defined, grow their sequencing if it is less clear or more complex.
Biomarkers can also be very helpful. GDF15, Growth Differentiation Factor 15, is markedly elevated in many mitochondrial diseases and can support the suspicion. In myopathies in particular, it is especially useful because of its high negative predictive value helping to rule out a mitochondrial cause when levels are not elevated.
And finally, muscle biopsy still has a role. It can provide important information in selected cases, particularly in adults or when genetic results are inconclusive, both for diagnosis and also to guide further studies.
Dr. Katie Krulisky:
Thank you. That's super helpful. And for more on mitochondrial diseases and POLG-related disorders, have a listen to the full neurology podcast.
Again, I'm Katie Krulisky from the University of Utah with Cristina Domínguez-González  from the 12th of October University Hospital and its affiliated health research institute in Madrid, Spain.

In the last episode of the series, Dr. Stacey Clardy and Drs. Deborah Hall and Deborah Setter discuss some practical changes that can immediately improve lactation support in neurology workplaces. 
Show transcript:
Dr. Stacey Clardy:
This is the Neurology Minute. I'm Stacey Clardy from the Salt Lake City VA and the University of Utah. I've just had a fantastic in depth podcast discussion with Deborah Hall from Rush University and Deborah Setter from Olmsted Medical Center on their paper titled Workplace Lactation in Neurology: Barriers and Opportunities. You can find that in Neurology Clinical Practice.
Deborah Hall, what are some practical changes that can immediately improve lactation support in neurology workplaces?
Dr. Deborah Hall:
One practical change that could be considered is to plan immediately when you know a provider will be going out on maternity leave. Prior to departure, you can plan what that schedule's going to look like when that provider returns. Ensure that they have those 30 minute breaks every two to three hours in their inpatient or outpatient schedule. Make sure that there's a space for them and have them go look at it that would be appropriate for their lactation breaks. You want to make sure they have that dedicated refrigerator for breast milk storage. And finally, make a plan for compensation. It's really important that they understand how their productivity targets and how compensation will be affected by the breaks that they will be taking.
Dr. Stacey Clardy:
Easy to make changes, right? And as we discuss in the full-length podcast, please everyone take a listen to this. This is something we can all improve on to support all of our colleagues in neurology. Please have a listen to the full-length podcast. We give you everything that you need to know to be a better support to your colleagues. Thanks so much, Deborah.

In the May episode of the President's Spotlight, Dr. Jason Crowell and Dr. Natalia Rost provide a leadership perspective on the 2026 Annual Meeting. 
Stay informed by watching the President's Spotlight video.  
Show transcript: 
Dr. Jason Crowell:
Hey, this is Jason Crowell with today's Neurology Minute. Once again, we have Natalia Rost joining us for our monthly check-in. Of course, Natalia is the president of the AAN. Natalia, thanks for joining us again this month.
Dr. Natalia Rost:
Hi, Jason.
Dr. Jason Crowell:
So what have you been up to since we last spoke a month ago?
Dr. Natalia Rost:
Well, as you know, we just came back from Chicago, where our 2026 AAN annual meeting took place, and of course, it's the largest gathering of neurologists and neuroscience professionals worldwide, so not a small feat. We welcome this time a record-breaking 16,000 plus participants in person in Chicago and online, representing 110 countries and all 50 states, what I call a microcosm of the global neurology community. It was amazing, and an opportunity to step back, reflect, and be reminded that progress in neurology happens not in isolation, but through our shared purpose and collaboration, and the energy and optimism coming out of this meeting is something I'm so proud of.
Dr. Jason Crowell:
I can only imagine what a whirlwind week that is for you. So now that it's past us and you reflect back, what stands out to you from the week?
Dr. Natalia Rost:
Well, it was clear during that meeting that we're advancing what comes next and that's why science and research was at the heart of the week and why sustained investment in discovery matters. I had the privilege of seeing colleagues modeling leadership in neurology, both on stage and behind the scenes and attendees engaged with cutting-edge science, shared insights across disciplines, and bringing those new insights and techniques home to their practices, institutions, and communities.
Dr. Jason Crowell:
Now, your presidential plenary at the meeting was about neuroscience at the crossroads. What would you say is the most urgent challenge facing our neurology community right now?
Dr. Natalia Rost:
You know, as a physician scientist myself, I'm focused on how to sustain progress at this moment of rapid scientific advancement. Our neurology community is gathering extraordinary volume of knowledge, but translating that momentum into durable impact requires continued commitment to research, workforce development and collaboration across disciplines are key topics. And I feel that this is a pivotal time for our field.
Dr. Jason Crowell:
And if I could ask you to just briefly take off your president hat for a moment, personally, what was your favorite thing about the week?
Dr. Natalia Rost:
What always been for me for over two decades now, the chance to come together as a community. I always say AAN is our home and the annual meeting is like one big homecoming for us. There's a unique energy that comes from being in the same space with colleagues from across neurology, sharing ideas, learning from each other, and just reconnecting with people who care deeply about this field, your colleagues. And while our work can be demanding, as we know on a day-to-day basis, the meeting helps remind us why we chose this profession and why it matters.
Dr. Jason Crowell:
And lastly, what would you say for anyone who was not able to make it to this homecoming in Chicago?
Dr. Natalia Rost:
We got you. We have great resources for those who weren't able to join live and you can get high-level highlights or diving into programming online. Access it all at theaan.com/am.
Dr. Jason Crowell:
Natalia, thanks so much.
Dr. Natalia Rost:
Thanks for having me.

In part one of this series, Dr. Katie Krulisky and Dr. Cristina Domínguez-González discuss when a neurologist should start thinking about mitochondrial disease. 
Show citation:
Bermejo-Guerrero L, Restrepo-Vera JL, Martin-Jimenez P, et al. Clinical Heterogeneity and Candidate Biomarkers in POLG-Related Mitochondrial Disease. Neurol Genet. 2026;12(2):e200365. Published 2026 Mar 10. doi:10.1212/NXG.0000000000200365 
Show transcript: 
Dr. Katie Krulisky:
This is The Neurology Minute, and this will be a two-part series. I've had the pleasure of speaking with Cristina Domínguez-González from the 12th of October University Hospital and its affiliated Health Research Institute in Madrid, Spain. I'm Katie Krulisky from the University of Utah. We've just recorded a full podcast on our paper, Clinical Heterogeneity and Candidate Biomarkers and POLG-related Mitochondrial Disease, which has been published in Neurology Genetics. So for our first minute, Cristina, when should a neurologist start thinking about mitochondrial disease?
Dr. Cristina Domínguez-González:
Mitochondrial diseases are among the most common inherited neurological disorders. Think of them whenever you see compatible features like ptosis ophthalmoplegia, polyneuropathy, ataxia or myopathy, especially when they occur in combination. But even when these features appear in isolation, mitochondrial disease should still be part of the differential. This is particularly important because many patients do not present with a full classical picture, especially in early the disease course. In practice, this means maintaining a low threshold to consider mitochondrial disease, even in a typical presentations.
Dr. Katie Krulisky:
Thank you so much. And for more information on mitochondrial disease and POLG-related disorders, do listen to the full neurology podcast. Again, I'm Katie Krulisky from the University of Utah with Cristina Domínguez-González from the 12th of October University Hospital and its affiliated Health Research Institute in Madrid, Spain.