Abstracts - 2026

 2026


AAPM Pain Connect - Salt Lake City

Spinal Cord Stimulation in Parkinson’s Disease: Beyond Motor Control—A Path to Pain Relief

Beyond Motor Control: Deep Brain Stimulation Significantly Reduces Pain in Parkinson’s Disease

MDS PAS 2026 - Houston







World Parkinson Congress - Phoenix





ACNS Annual Meeting - New Orleans

Successful Surgical Treatment of Radiation-Induced Epilepsy Using sEEG: A Case Report

EEG-Guided Anesthesia in Cardiothoracic Surgery: Does BIS Improve Neurological Outcomes?

Meta-Analysis of Auricular VNS in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: What Do Randomized Trials Reveal?

Smartphone Videos for Seizure Diagnosis: High Specificity Compared to cEEG

Centromedian Thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation in Epilepsy: Does It Really Work? A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Outcomes

Rowan Research Day - Stratford

Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Manganese Levels in Parkinson’s Disease: A Method‑Stratified Meta‑analysis

Effects of Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation on Depressive Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta‑Analysis

Efficacy and Safety of Droxidopa for Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension: A Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis

Efficacy and Safety of Levetiracetam for Essential Tremor: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis

Focal Status Epilepticus in a Patient with Responsive Neurostimulation: A Rare Complication and Management Insights

Irritability and Related Behavioral Adverse Events Associated With Levetiracetam: A Meta‑Analysis and Meta‑Regression of Randomized Trials

Missense Mutations in the SNCA Gene: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Restless Legs Syndrome in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis

Trends and Disparities in Mortality Involving Epilepsy and Aspiration Pneumonia Among Older Adults in the United States, 1999–2020

Wearable and Technology‑Assisted Gait and Balance Interventions in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis

AAN - Chicago
























Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Endovascular Therapy versus Best Medical Treatment in Patients with Distal Medium Vessel Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis





AAIC - London, UK

Harnessing Gamma: Randomized Placebo-controlled Evidence For 40 Hz Sensory Stimulation In Alzheimer’S Disease

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation In Severe Alzheimer Disease: A Meta-analytic Evaluation Of Cognitive Outcomes

Do Csf aβ42 Increases Predict Cognitive Benefit? Evidence From Alzheimer’s Disease Trials

P2P - Phoenix


ATMRD - Washington, D.C.

Efficacy and Safety of Riluzole in Huntington’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis of Placebo‑Controlled Clinical Trials

Retinal Structural Changes in Huntington Disease: An OCT‑Based Meta‑analysis

Three Decades of U.S. Huntington’s Disease Mortality: National Age‑ and Sex‑Specific Trends

Clinical Effects of Perampanel in Parkinson’s Disease: Evidence from Controlled Trials

Effects of Traditional Acupuncture on Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Placebo‑Controlled Meta‑analysis

Efficacy and Safety of Curcumin Supplementation in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta‑Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

MDS International Congress - Seoul, Korea

Smell as a Diagnostic Signature: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of UPSIT Accuracy in Distinguishing Parkinson’s Disease from Essential Tremor

Telerehabilitation Versus Conventional Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease: Evidence from Randomized Controlled Trials

Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation Produces Consistent Improvements in Sleep Quality and Daytime Sleepiness in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Comparative Motor Response to Bilateral STN‑DBS in LRRK2‑Related and Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

Effects of Modafinil on Motor and Non‑Motor Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta‑Analysis of Randomized, Placebo‑Controlled Trials

Efficacy and Safety of Inhaled and Sublingual Apomorphine for On-Demand Treatment of OFF Episodes in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta‑Analysis of Randomized Placebo‑Controlled Trials

Efficacy and Adverse Events of Tetrabenazine, Deutetrabenazine, and Valbenazine in Huntington’s Disease

Clinical Impact of Nicotine in Parkinson’s Disease: Evidence from Randomized Controlled Studies

Motor and Quality‑of‑Life Outcomes After MR‑Guided Focused Ultrasound Subthalamotomy for Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta‑analysis

Ketogenic Diet and Motor Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials

Efficacy and Safety of Ecopipam for Tourette Syndrome: A Meta‑analysis of Controlled Trials

A Meta-analysis of Tonic Motor Activation (TOMAC) Therapy for Restless Legs Syndrome

Efficacy and Safety of Mesdopetam (IRL790) for Levodopa‑Induced Dyskinesia in Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta‑analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Efficacy of Vitamin C for Restless Legs Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Antidepressants in Huntington’s Disease: A Meta‑Analysis of Mood and Motor Outcomes with Placebo-controlled Trials

Risk of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta‑Analysis of Observational Studies

Bidirectional Association Between Gout and Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Escitalopram for Depression and Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‑analysis

ISFTD - Philadelphia, PA

Cerebrospinal Fluid and Blood Neurofilament Light Chain in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis

C9orf72-Associated Parkinsonism: Defining a Multisystem Neurodegenerative Spectrum

ANA - San Diego, CA

Deferiprone in Parkinson’s Disease: Motor, Imaging, and Safety Outcomes Across Randomized Trials

Levetiracetam Versus Phenobarbital as First‑Line Therapy for Neonatal Seizures: A Meta‑analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstracts - 2025

 2025


AANS - Boston


AAN - San Diego












MDS International Congress - Hawaii, USA










CNS - LA










AES - Atlanta

Abstracts - 2023

2023

238. Accepted

237. Accepted

236. Accepted

235. Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease: The Role of Environmental Toxins

Article type: Literature Review
Article title: Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease: The Role of Environmental Toxins

Journal: Journal of Central Nervous System Disease
Year: 2026
Authors: Jamir Pitton Rissardo, Megan Katz, Vishnu Vardhan Byroju, Ana Letícia Fornari Caprara, and Ian M. Walker

ABSTRACT
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a rapidly growing global health challenge, with prevalence projected to reach 13–14 million cases by 2040. While aging and improved diagnostic awareness partly explain this trend, mounting evidence implicates environmental factors as critical contributors. This review synthesizes current literature on exposures such as pesticides, solvents, heavy metals, air pollutants, and infectious agents, emphasizing their mechanistic links to neurodegeneration. These factors interact with genetic susceptibility and aging, supporting the “multiple-hit” hypothesis, which posits that PD arises from cumulative insults rather than a single cause. Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and impaired protein clearance emerge as convergent pathways underlying dopaminergic vulnerability. Recent findings highlight viral infections—particularly SARS-CoV-2—as potential triggers or amplifiers of PD pathogenesis, raising concerns about long-term neurological sequelae following pandemics. Beyond individual toxins, the exposome concept underscores the lifelong interplay of physical, chemical, and social exposures in shaping disease risk. Climate-related changes, including increased air pollution and wildfire frequency, further compound these risks, suggesting a systemic dimension to PD etiology. Understanding these complex interactions is essential for developing preventive strategies, refining experimental models, and informing public health policies aimed at mitigating environmental contributions to neurodegeneration. This multifactorial perspective offers a foundation for future research targeting modifiable risk factors and resilience mechanisms in PD.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, neurodegeneration, environmental toxins, pesticides, air pollution, heavy metals, solvents, multiple-hithypothesis, SARS-CoV-2, exposome 

Full text available at:

DOI

Citation
Pitton Rissardo J, Katz M, Byroju VV, Fornari Caprara AL, Walker IM. Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease: The Role of Environmental Toxins. Journal of Central Nervous System Disease. 2026;18. doi:10.1177/11795735261461554.
Figure 1. Likelihood of diagnosing Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The probability of a PD diagnosis increases as the cumulative burden of risk factors rises. Key contributors include aging, chronic inflammation, and exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants. These factors interact with genetic susceptibility—particularly high-penetrance mutations—to elevate disease risk. The synergistic effect of these elements underscores the multifactorial nature of PD pathogenesis.
Figure 2. Role of exposome in Parkinson’s Disease. Exposure to environmental factors through an individual’s life-time plays a role in pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. (A) Heavy metals (Iron, Zinc, Mercury, Lead, Copper) exposure through paint, tools and drinking water. (B) Air pollution and environmental toxins containing PM2.5, NO2, O3 and other particles. (C) Pesticide and fungicide exposure to 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, Rotenone, diquat, paraquat and others. (D) Helicobacter pylori infection and other gut microbiomes exert influence. (E) Exercise and physical activity. (F) Exposure to nicotine, intravenous drugs and toxins such as MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine). (G) Diet and understanding of macro and micronutrients.
Table 1. Environmental and Biological Risk Factors Associated With Parkinson’s Disease.
Table 2. Toxic Models of Parkinson’s Disease.

Functional Movement Disorders (Part 4): Functional Slowness, Speech and Voice Disorders

Functional Movement Disorders (Part 4): Functional Slowness, Speech and Voice Disorders

Functional Parkinsonism

Video 15.54 (C15c54): Functional Bradykinesia
Apparent slowness without decrement, rigidity, or gait abnormality.

Video 15.55 (C15c55): Functional Reduced Arm Swing
Absent arm swing despite preserved dexterity and normal motor testing.

Video 15.56 (C15c56): Functional Parkinsonism
Effortful movements, variable slowness, distractible involuntary tapping, and collapses inconsistent with organic parkinsonism.

Functional Voice Disorders

Video 15.57 (C15c57): Functional Breathing and Voice Disorder
Paroxysmal stridor, dyspnea, and vocal dysfunction triggered during examination.

Video 15.58 (C15c58): Functional Speech Disorder
Inconsistent low-pitched speech with intrusive consonant production.

Video 15.59 (C15c59): Functional Voice Tremor/Spasm
Neck and vocal intrusions during speech disappearing with altered speaking patterns and singing.

Functional Movement Disorders (Part 3): Functional Spasms, Posturing and Functional Dystonia

Functional Movement Disorders (Part 3): Functional Spasms, Posturing and Functional Dystonia

Functional Spasms and Functional Dystonia

Video 15.34 (C15c34): Functional Spasm Episode
Severe episodic posturing, breathing difficulty, and impaired ambulation.

Video 15.35 (C15c35): Functional Generalized Spasm
Sustained limb and facial posturing with retained interaction during the episode.

Video 15.36 (C15c36): Functional Dystonic Attacks
Stress-related painful sustained posturing with preserved awareness.

Video 15.37 (C15c37): Functional Generalized Dystonia
Continuous complex posturing involving all four limbs.

Video 15.38 (C15c38): Functional Paroxysmal Limb Posturing
Episodic arm dystonia evolving from tremor-like movements.

Video 15.39 (C15c39): Functional Painful Hand Posturing
Jerking hand movements relieved by dramatic flinging behaviors.

Video 15.40 (C15c40): Functional Mixed Hyperkinetic Syndrome
Combination of leg bouncing, arm jerks, facial movements, and neck turning.

Video 15.41 (C15c41): Functional Fixed Finger Flexion
Fixed finger postures resistant to passive manipulation.

Video 15.42 (C15c42): Functional Fixed Dystonia of the Hand
Persistent flexed finger posture with immediate recurrence after correction.

Video 15.43 (C15c43): Functional Dystonia with Jerks
Alternating sustained postures and jerking forearm movements.

Video 15.44 (C15c44): Functional Dystonic Attack
Progression from finger tremor to whole-arm, neck, and trunk involvement.

Video 15.45 (C15c45): Functional Limb Posturing with Gait Impairment
Task-induced arm posturing and nonphysiologic lower-limb dysfunction.

Video 15.46 (C15c46): Functional Facial Spasms
Difficulty closing eyes during attacks with atypical facial contractions.

Video 15.47 (C15c47): Mild Functional Jaw Movement Disorder
Essentially normal examination except intermittent jaw movements.

Video 15.48 (C15c48): Functional Cranio-Cervical Spasms
Repetitive jaw opening, eye closure, facial pulling, and neck flexion.

Video 15.49 (C15c49): Functional Eye Closure Episode
Eye closure with eyebrow elevation and nonanatomic ocular findings.

Video 15.50 (C15c50): Functional Arm Posturing
Jerky arm movements with preference for sustained flexed posture.

Video 15.51 (C15c51): Functional Foot Dystonia
Persistent inversion and adduction posture with inconsistent weakness.

Video 15.52 (C15c52): Functional Upper-Limb Dystonia
Sustained finger and arm flexion despite preserved target-directed movements.

Video 15.53 (C15c53): Functional Gait Disorder with Leg Buckling
Inconsistent lower-limb dysfunction persisting across different gait tasks.

Functional Movement Disorders (Part 2): Functional Tremor, Shaking and Functional Gait Disorders

Functional Movement Disorders (Part 2): Functional Tremor, Shaking and Functional Gait Disorders

Functional Tremor

Video 15.12 (C15c12): Functional Gait Disorder with Shaking
Astasia-abasia and truncal flexion occurring only during standing and walking.

Video 15.13 (C15c13): Functional Cervical Tremor
Variable neck shaking with astasia-abasia gait and nonphysiologic spiral findings.

Video 15.14 (C15c14): Functional Generalized Shaking
Variable-amplitude shaking affecting limbs and trunk with dramatic gait impairment.

Video 15.15 (C15c15): Functional Leg Shaking
Continuous leg shaking accompanied by relative indifference and preserved coordination.


Video 15.16 (C15c16): Functional Gait Disorder
Highly unusual gait with excessive stepping, pelvic tilting, and preserved tandem abilities.

Video 15.17 (C15c17): Functional Leg Tremor
Variable bilateral leg shaking with knee-knocking and astasia-abasia features.

Video 15.18 (C15c18): Functional Upper-Limb Tremor
Complex variable tremor with preserved finger-to-nose accuracy and inconsistent disability.

Video 15.19 (C15c19): Functional Head and Truncal Tremor
Continuous head movements relieved by turning the head and accompanied by gait bouncing.

Video 15.20 (C15c20): Functional Gait and Tremor Syndrome
Bouncing gait, give-way weakness, and prominent astasia-abasia.

Video 15.21 (C15c21): Generalized Functional Tremor
Variable whole-body shaking with differing phenomenology during sitting versus standing.

Video 15.22 (C15c22): Distractible Functional Tremor
Body shaking improving with motor entrainment and distraction.

Video 15.23 (C15c23): Functional Tremor with Speech Disturbance
Arm shaking and speech changes provoked by simple motor tasks.

Video 15.24 (C15c24): Functional Arm Tremor
Tremor during action without impairment of target accuracy.

Video 15.25 (C15c25): Functional Monomelic Tremor
Persistent unilateral arm tremor with inconsistent neurologic findings.

Video 15.26 (C15c26): Entrainable Functional Tremor
Bilateral arm tremor suppressed by contralateral motor tasks.

Video 15.27 (C15c27): Functional Generalized Shaking
Whole-body shaking relieved by purposeful movements and targeting tasks.

Video 15.28 (C15c28): Functional Tremor Mimicking Parkinson Disease
Rest, postural, and action tremor lacking characteristic Parkinsonian features.

Video 15.29 (C15c29): Functional Facial Pulling and Tremor
Facial asymmetry, truncal flexion movements, belching, and task-dependent tremor.

Video 15.30 (C15c30): Functional Generalized Tremor
Continuous variable shaking with spontaneous imbalance and astasia-abasia.

Video 15.31 (C15c31): Distractible Functional Tremor
Latency-dependent hand tremor abolished by cognitive distraction.

Video 15.32 (C15c32): Functional Rest Tremor with Gait Disorder
Variable unilateral tremor and incongruent leg-dragging gait.

Video 15.33 (C15c33): Functional Bilateral Tremor
Asynchronous rest tremor with variable suppression and nonphysiologic spiral performance.
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