Publications by authors named "Amit Batla"
Rare genetic movement disorders usually manifest early in life with dystonia, parkinsonism, chorea, or a combination thereof. These are often associated with neurodevelopmental delay, intellectual disability, speech problems, retinal abnormalities, seizures, ataxia, spasticity, or systemic features. Due to their vast number and pheno-genotypic heterogeneity, the diagnosis of these disorders can be challenging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEuropean Academy of Neurology (EAN)/European Federation of Autonomic Societies (EFAS)/International Neuro-Urology Society (INUS) Guidelines for Practising Neurologists on the Assessment and Treatment of Neurogenic Urinary and Sexual Symptoms (NEUROGED Guidelines).
Jalesh N Panicker
,
Alessandra Fanciulli
,
Magdalena Krbot Skoric
,
Tamara Kaplan
,
Katina Aleksovska
,
Amit Batla
Eur J Neurol
April 2025
Background: Urinary and sexual symptoms are common following neurological disease, and we aimed to develop multidisciplinary inter-society evidence-based management guidelines.
Methods: The ADAPTE framework was used, and a systematic search of guidelines published in different languages was performed. Guidelines, consensus statements, and systematic reviews were included, and guideline quality was appraised using AGREE II.
Running into Trouble: The Problem of Overexercise in Parkinson's Disease (in some).
Mov Disord Clin Pract
July 2025
Brain calcification is often detected incidentally, but basal ganglia calcification has a wide differential diagnosis, including genetic and acquired causes. Primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) (formerly 'Fahr's disease') refers to neurological disorders characterised by bilateral, symmetrical deposition of calcium-hydroxyapatite crystals in the basal ganglia and other encephalic regions, with a presumed genetic basis. Its clinical picture encompasses motor, cognitive and psychiatric manifestations in various combinations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Parkinson disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with complex motor and nonmotor symptoms. To assess these, clinical assessments are completed, providing a snapshot of a person's experience. Monitoring Parkinson disease using wearable devices can provide continuous and objective data and capture information on movement patterns in daily life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEthnic Differences in Atypical Parkinsonism-is South Asian PSP Different?
Mov Disord Clin Pract
November 2024
Article Synopsis
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is a debilitating condition that has been under-studied in non-white European populations, prompting an investigation into its characteristics among South Asian patients.
- A study involving 27 South Asian PSP patients (primarily Indians) revealed a mean age of onset at 63.8 years, with a notable 22% experiencing early onset before age 60, and common symptoms including parkinsonism and cognitive dysfunction.
- The findings indicated higher occurrences of atypical symptoms and family history of parkinsonism, suggesting that current MDS diagnostic criteria may not adequately capture the clinical picture in this ethnic group, highlighting the need for further research.
Episodic mandibular tremor in dogs: an idiopathic movement disorder or a manifestation of pain.
J Am Vet Med Assoc
October 2024
Article Synopsis
- - The study focuses on episodic mandibular tremor (EMT) in dogs, characterized by brief episodes of teeth chattering, and aims to detail clinical signs, MRI findings, and outcomes for affected dogs.
- - Researchers analyzed data from 11 hospital dogs and 31 survey respondents and found that EMT episodes are usually rapid and can be triggered by excitement, mainly affecting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed, with a median age of 3 years.
- - The findings indicate that EMT may appear similar to movement disorders or pain, and a significant number of affected dogs had concurrent medical conditions, though no brain diseases were found in those further investigated.
Article Synopsis
- Importance of PPIE
- : Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) are crucial for designing effective trials, as they enhance participant experience and overall delivery.
- EJS ACT-PD Initiative
- : The UK consortium aims to integrate PPIE into all aspects of a clinical trial focused on disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson's Disease (PD).
- Evaluation and Impact
- : A working group involving patients and care partners is developing processes to evaluate PPIE effectiveness, using various research methods to assess the quality and impact of their involvement on trial outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms are common in Parkinson's disease and can worsen motor symptoms, impact quality of life, and increase fall risk.
- A comprehensive evaluation is needed as various medical co-morbidities and Parkinson's medications can influence LUT symptoms, which are often overlooked.
- Treatment options range from behavioral therapies and oral medications to botulinum toxin and neuromodulation, but care must be taken to manage potential drug interactions and side effects that could worsen Parkinson's symptoms.
Article Synopsis
- The International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) formed a task force to develop guidelines for transitioning pediatric patients with movement disorders to adult healthcare systems.
- A formal consensus was established through a multi-round Delphi survey, informed by literature reviews and surveys of MDS members on transition practices, with input from 23 expert neurologists worldwide.
- The task force produced 15 consensus recommendations focusing on team structure, planning, care goals, and research needs, while highlighting challenges in implementation due to healthcare resource distribution and the need for further research on transitional care outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- A 61-year-old man from India was hospitalized after being found unresponsive, subsequently treated for acute coronary syndrome with dual-antiplatelet therapy.
- Following ten days of admission, he developed left-sided weakness that worsened over two months, along with progressive white matter changes shown on brain MRI.
- The case study details the clinical reasoning that identified a rare cause of his neurological condition, as well as the treatment approach that led to significant improvements in his condition and imaging results.
Transition Services for Children and Young Adults with Movement Disorders: A Survey by the MDS Task Force on Pediatrics.
Mov Disord Clin Pract
October 2022
Article Synopsis
- The Movement Disorders Society (MDS) Task Force on Pediatrics surveyed transition services for young adults with movement disorders due to limited existing data.
- The online survey, sent to MDS members, gathered information on service structure, location, and key issues discussed in transition clinics.
- Results showed 252 members from 67 countries participated, with 59% offering transition clinics, highlighting trends in patient age, staffing, and common medical/social concerns.
Article Synopsis
- The review focuses on lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction in Parkinson's disease and related syndromes, discussing clinical presentation and evaluation.
- LUT dysfunction varies in pattern and severity among different parkinsonian syndromes, like multiple system atrophy and dementia with Lewy bodies, based on the specific neural lesions involved.
- Identifying LUT dysfunction patterns can improve patient management and may aid in earlier diagnosis of these syndromes.
Development of parkinsonism after long-standing cervical dystonia - A cohort.
J Neurol Sci
August 2021
Article Synopsis
- Dystonia often appears before parkinsonism in some patients, showing a different pattern from typical cases.
- In a study involving 450 patients, 11 were found to develop parkinsonism a median of 14 years after their initial dystonia onset, with symptoms starting around age 70.
- The findings suggest that long-term dystonia may be linked to the later development of parkinsonism, highlighting the need for clinicians to monitor changes in such patients and prompting further research on this connection.
Article Synopsis
- The study explores the relationship between primary writing tremor and dystonia, investigating shared pathophysiological features.
- It involved testing different groups, including patients with primary writing tremor, dystonic tremor, essential tremor, and healthy subjects using various neurological assessments.
- Results show that primary writing tremor and dystonic tremor syndrome have similar electrophysiological abnormalities, supporting the idea that primary writing tremor may indeed be a type of dystonic tremor.
Article Synopsis
- Nocturia is a common issue in Parkinson's Disease, previously linked to urinary disorders but now viewed as a circadian rhythm problem; melatonin may help regulate this.
- This study evaluated the effectiveness of sustained-release melatonin (2 mg) over 6 weeks in adults with Parkinson’s Disease experiencing nocturia, using various assessment tools before and after treatment.
- Results showed significant reductions in nocturia-related disturbances, including fewer night-time bathroom trips and lower urine volumes, with no major side effects reported, although bed partner sleep quality didn’t notably improve.
Self-concocted, curious and creative coping strategies in movement disorders.
Parkinsonism Relat Disord
February 2021
Article Synopsis
- Lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple system atrophy (MSA) often starts with symptoms like urgency and incontinence, but some patients initially present with urinary retention and require catheterization.
- These patients display mild neurological symptoms that do not initially meet MSA diagnostic criteria, yet show abnormal anal sphincter EMG and report bowel and sexual dysfunction, indicating possible sacral spinal cord involvement.
- The hypothesis suggests that MSA may initially affect the sacral spinal cord before spreading to other brain regions, supporting the idea that patients with early urinary retention could be valuable candidates for neuroprotection trials.
Article Synopsis
- NBIA refers to a group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive movement issues and excessive iron accumulation in specific brain regions, especially the basal ganglia.
- The syndrome exhibits variability in symptoms based on age and individual cases, with ten subtypes identified and genetic links established for nine.
- Diagnosis relies on clinical observation and MRI imaging to detect unique patterns of iron deposition, assisting in distinguishing NBIA from other developmental and movement disorders, although treatments are primarily symptomatic for now.
Article Synopsis
- - Cervical dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary movements in the head and neck, mostly arising without a known cause, though some cases are linked to brain lesions.
- - A study using 'lesion network mapping' identified that despite the varied locations of brain lesions causing cervical dystonia, they all connect to a single brain network affecting the cerebellum and somatosensory cortex.
- - This network's specific connectivity patterns were found to be abnormal in patients with idiopathic cervical dystonia and corresponded with effective deep brain stimulation sites, suggesting potential treatment targets.