parkinson disease

MONTH IN REVIEW | January 2024

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We’re looking forward to lots of exciting things in 2024!

Happy New Year! We’re excited to share another year with you through our monthly e-newsletters! We hope that you had a lovely holiday season and a happy start ot 2024.

Congratulations!

We would like to say congratulations to Dr. Alexander Baumgartner who was offered and accepter the NeuroNEXT Fellowship Research Grant. He received a competitive one-year grant from the University of Colorado Rocky Mountain NeuroNEXT for his pilot study. You can read more about Dr. Baumgartner’s research interests here.

Dr. Isabelle Buard, Dr. Matthew Woodward, Dr. Jeanne Feuerstein, and Ying Liu presented posters at the 2023 Parkinson’s Study Group in December 2023.

Welcome, Dr. Aslam!

The Movement Disorders Faculty and staff are excited to welcome Sana Aslam, DO.

She is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in Movement Disorders at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She completed her undergraduate education at Wellesley College and Medical School at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Following medical school, she completed her Neurology training and a Movement Disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation Fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute.

Read more about Dr. Aslam on our Meet the Team! page.

Upcoming Events

Parkinson’s Foundation Revolution Ride

Saturday, February 24, 2024, 12:30 PM
Parkinson’s Foundation
CycleBar Southwest Plaza
Come see us that the Parkinson’s Foundation fundraiser. We’ll be cheering on riders and giving out some goodies!
Learn more here.

From Dependent to Independent: Treatment Options for Essential Tremor

This series of talks will resume again in March. Please stay tuned for details.

In the News

Here are a few noteworthy articles that were published recently. Some of our faculty have contributed to the articles below. We encourage you to check them out!

Research

The MDC Faculty regularly publish articles in peer-reviewed journals. Some of these may not be available to read without a subscription. But, these listings will let you know what the faculty have been working on lately!

  • Cristini J, Potvin-Desrochers A, Seo F, Dagher A, Postuma RB, Rosa-Neto P, Carrier J, Amara AW, Steib S, Paquette C, Roig M. The Effect of Different Types of Exercise on Sleep Quality and Architecture in Parkinson Disease: A Single-Blinded Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol. Phys Ther. 2024 Jan 1;104(1):pzad073. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzad073. PMID: 37354450; PMCID: PMC10776310.

Have you considered participating in clinical research?

Did you know…

  • all of the current therapies we have came from clinical trials?
  • people in clinical trials tend to have better clinical outcomes? (This could be because they are more closely observed by a expert clinician, the placebo effect, or because it inspires hope.)
  • the Movement Disorders Center has interventional and observational trials? This means we have studies that offer therapies for movement disorders and we have studies where clinicians monitor the progress of diseases with no therapy offered.

If you are interested in learning more, reach out to our research recruitment team at NeuroResearch@cuanschutz.edu or 303-724-4644.

Current Research
Join Database
Research Catalog

2023 World Parkinson Disease Day

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April 11 is World Parkinson Disease Day. The faculty and staff at the University of Colorado are proud to work with the Parkinson Community. While patient care is a large part of our care for the Parkinson’s community, there is a lot more they do outside of the clinic.

The Anschutz Medical Campus is a training facility for upcoming medical providers. Our faculty participates in the education of young medical students and residents. Additionally, we have a movement disorders fellowship program to train the next generation of movement disorders neurologists. In addition to becoming part of our own faculty, these trainees have gone on to serve movement disorders communities in underserved areas and continue clinical research in their own practices. You can learn more about our program and its importance by visitng our Fund-a-Fellow page.

Our faculty are also leading research to find new therapies or better understand Parkinson disease. This research can include trials of potential new medications or devices. It also includes research projects initiated by our own faculty that help patients and care partners. If you are interested in learning more about our research, we have a research catalog and a research website for you to view. If you are interested in participating in clinical research, contact our research recruitment team. Many resources are available in English and Spanish.
e-mail: NeuroResearch@cuanschutz.edu
phone: 303-724-4644
webform

In 2022, our faculty provided 64 formal talks to patients, care partners, medical providers, and medical learners. These talks were regional, national, and international. Our faculty finds so much value in providing access to updated information to the Parkinson’s community to help them take control of their health. If you are interested in having someone speak to your group, please reach out to movement@ucdenver.edu.

In addition, we will host our 10th Annual Parkinson Disease Symposium on October 28, 2023. Follow our Facebook page for updated details. You can look for an event page on our website soon. We look forward to an informational and exciting day with many special extras this year.

The University of Colorado Movement Disorders Center looks forward to continuing these missions in 2023 and beyond. We look forward to connecting with you.

Transitions

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The Movement Disorders Center is growing again! A handful of providers have moved on from our center for various personal reasons, including retirement and spouses being transferred to new positions. But we are excited to welcome new faculty to our group.

The faculty and staff at the center continue to be dedicated to improving the lives of people with movement disorders.

We announced in our newsletter that Dr. Alex Baumgartner and Dr. Michael Korsmo will be graduating from our fellowship program and will be joining us as faculty in August. Both bring niched areas of expertise that will help round out our center.

Dr. Baumgartner will be joining Dr. Kern as part of our advanced therapies and deep brain stimulation (DBS) team in the operating room. In the past few years, the number of DBS surgeries performed yearly has nearly doubled. The team has recently added a new neurosurgeon and more programmers as well. Dr. Baumgartner will see patients in the clinic at the Anschutz Medical Campus and in Lone Tree.

Dr. Korsmo will be expanding our reach to underserved communities. In addition, he will be seeing patients at our main clinic on the Anschutz Medical Campus and at our Boulder clinic.

Dr. Vaughan is expanding her neuro-palliative clinic. Her clinic will now be found at the Anschutz Medical Campus. By moving her clinic, Dr. Vaughan and her patients will have access to more services and resources. Her focus will now be neuro-palliative care; the main difference is that she will not be the primary movement disorders specialist for patients. She will still serve the movement disorders community through neuro-palliative care during all stages of diseases. She will still be available to all patients for neuro-palliative care via telehealth.

For more information about neuro-palliative care, you can read our Fall 2021 newsletter.

MDC Receives Parkinson’s Foundation Award

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The University of Colorado Movement Disorders Center received an award from the Parkinson’s Foundation for the Highest Team Participation for the Parkinson’s Foundation Palliative Care Education Course. The award was presented at this year’s COE Leadership Conference and was accepted by Ryan Khan, a chaplain who works closely with our Palliative Care team.

In 2020, the Parkinson’s Foundation launched an initiative to make palliative care a standard practice of care across all Centers of Excellence in the United States. The MDC received the award for being the Center of Excellence (COE) with the most team members who have completed the online Palliative Care Training.

The Movement Disorders Center is honored to receive this award in recognition to our dedication to patient care.

New Interdisciplinary Clinic Opening in Boulder + More Good News

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We have a lot to celebrate this month!

Our interdisciplinary Boulder team completed the Parkinson’s Foundation Team Training. This course was designed by the Parkinson’s Foundation to increase knowledge of Parkinson’s disease. The course is also designed to encourage collaborative care. This was an intensive course that ran throughout the Spring. We look forward to enrolling more of our interdisciplinary team in the future.

Our Boulder team will begin hosting an Annual Parkinson’s Disease Interdisciplinary Clinic. This clinic is designed specifically for individuals with Parkinson’s disease. During this annual visit, patients receive a standardized set of evaluations by their movement disorders specialist, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy. The goal is for people with Parkinson’s disease to go through this clinic yearly. This will assist in tracking the progression of Parkinson’s disease more accurately and integrate the perspectives of the interdisciplinary team when offering our recommendations for activity-based and pharmacological treatments. Our hope is that this input will help patients maintain their optimal function and quality of life. This clinic is also offered at our Anschutz Medical Campus.

Congratulations to Michelle Fullard, MD and Isabelle Buard, PhD for receiving the University of Colorado Department of Neurology’s Intradepartmental Grant. This award has been offered since early 2016 to assistant and associate professors. This grant is designed to give the junior faculty a jumpstart on new research years and allows for protected time to prepare a grant application, write a peer-reviewed journal article, develop collaborations and/or perform any other research task that may otherwise be challenging because of time.

Dr. Buard’s research is “Investigating cortical sleep patterns disruption after traumatic brain injury under the mentorship of Dr. Benzi Kluger and Dr. Jeff Hebert. Dr. Fullard will conduct Examining gender differences in therapy preferences and risk tolerance in Parkinson disease” under the mentorship of Dr. Maureen Leehey. Dr. Fullard recently completed an interview with Davis Phinney Foundation about “Removing Barriers to Deep Brain Stimulation for Women with Parkinson’s.” You can watch the full interview on YouTube on Davis Phinney Foundation’s channel.

Upcoming Events for Parkinson Disease

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upcoming events for parkinson disease

The faculty and staff of the Movement Disorders Center has moved online for many things. Many of our upcoming events for Parkinson disease community have also been moved online. We miss meeting in person but have been able to continue our collaborations and work.

One of the great things we have found through these tough times is the ability to connect with other groups and organizations. We have been working virtually with groups throughout Colorado and throughout the country. Our community has access to more information and more resources.

Upcoming Events for Parkinson Disease | Movement Disorders Center

Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson Disease and Essential Tremor

Dr. Drew Kern is hosting a webinar about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Essential Tremor and Parkinson disease. The webinar will be Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 10:00 AM MT.

Dr. Kern will talk about the DBS process, different products available, and the benefits and risks of surgery.

The webinar is free, but please register here before. After registering, you will get a confirmation email with instructions to join the webinar.

Upcoming Events for Parkinson Disease | Parkinson’s Foundation (PF)

Care Partner Summit

The Parkinson Foundation summit will take place virtually on Saturday, May 16th from 12:00 pm- 3:30 pm ET (10:00 am – 1:30 pm). This year’s Summit will focus on the unique journey of a care partner, with our theme: Planning for the Unpredictable Path of Parkinson’s Caregiving.

A timely topic during the COVID-19 pandemic, the speakers and care partners are ready to share their insight and encouragement to those caring for someone living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). We recognize the hard work that goes into caregiving and we want to create this space for them to share their life lessons, learn from each other and grow in their self-care skills.

The summit will be online only, and individuals may register for English or Spanish. The Care Partner Summit will be focused on the following topics:

  • Cognitive Changes
  • Mental Health
  • Self-Care
  • Practical Planning

PD Health @ Home

During this challenging and often isolating time of social distancing, now more than ever PF recognizes the importance for people within the Parkinson’s community to stay active, connect with each other, and receive support no matter their physical location.

Visit Parkinson.org/PDHealth for a full list of events. Participants can register for virtual community engagement events of interest and put them on their calendars.  You can join PF for these upcoming events:

Mindfulness Mondays
Start your week with calmness, as you take part in guided relaxation techniques to help boost brain power and reduce stress. Sign up now. View past events.

Expert Briefings Tuesdays
Taking place in home offices across the nation, the PF will host webinars about the PD topics that matter most to you. Sign up now. View past events.

Wellness Wednesdays
Join us at noon for a Facebook Live event or a PD-related educational video that will highlight PD awareness, research, or treatments. Follow us on Facebook now. View past events.

Take Time Thursdays
Choose from several virtual events taking place across local chapters. Engage with a PD expert on the topics that matter most to you ― from exercise, nutrition, stress management, and more. Sign up now. View past events.

Fitness Fridays
This PD-tailored 10-part fitness series will feature a new focus every week, from balance to coordination, posture, and more. Watch each 12-minute session from home as many times as you wish. Watch now!

Consult with your healthcare team before beginning any new physical activity, including online exercise classes and programs. The Parkinson’s Foundation is in no way liable or responsible for injuries sustained from online classes.

PD Health @ Home will be held from April 6 to June 11. Find all PD Health @ Home programs here. Register for the events that interest you and put them on your calendar. New to virtual events? Read our guide here.

Resources That are Always Available
The Parkinson’s Foundation is dedicated to empowering the PD community through education. Below are additional resources always available to you:

  • PD Conversations
  • Parkinson’s Today Blog
  • Bilingual Helpline 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) Weekdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Substantial Matters Podcast
  • Expert Briefing Webinars

Stay healthy and well!

MDC Designated a Parkinson Disease Center of Excellence

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The faculty and staff at the University of Colorado Movement Disorders Center (MDC) are excited to announce we have earned the designation of Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. Dr. Lauren Seeberger and Dr. Maureen Leehey will serve as co-directors.

The MD is now one of 34 center in the United States and one of 48 sites internationally. 

MDC showcased its commitment to the criteria of a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence throughout the application process. These criteria include practicing at the highest level of evidence-based patient care, conducting relecant research that serves patient priorities, leadership in professional training, and educating patients and the community through outreach programs. 

The team at MDC is made up of Movement Disorders-trained neurologists, neuro-palliative neurologists, neuro-behavioral neurologists, neuro-ophthalmologists, neurosurgeons, rehabilitative medicine specialists, speech language therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, neuro-psychiatrists, and many others, including the invaluable Parkinson disease organizations throughout our community. This team has a deep understanding of all aspects of Parkinson disease and its therapies. 

“We learned so much about our own program going through the rigorous process to receive designation as a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence,” said Dr. Seeberger.

 

Receiving this designation is an incredible honor and we look forward to deepening our relationships with those in our PD community. In doing so, we also look forward to elevating standards of care for people with PD and those who care for them. 

“The team at the University of Colorado is thrilled to be part of a larger network of high-performing sites that allow us to share what we do well and create opportunities to raise the bar by incorporating successful programs from other sites,” said Dr. Leehey.

Our Center is Here to Help

In 2018, the Movement Disorders Center served 3,281 people with Parkinsonism, conducted 39 PD studies involving nearly 300 patients, and delivered 78 talks to professionals and the community. 

The MDC offers a Newly Diagnosed Educational Visit shortly after diagnosis. During this visit, patients are given one-on-one education on the diagnosis and treatment options for Parkinson disease. This time is dedicated to answering all questions and providing extra support and encouragement. 

The full press release can be read on the Parkinson’s Foundation website.