BlogA deep dive into the 3rd Annual Movement Disorder Meeting A deep dive into the 3rd Annual Movement Disorder Meeting Posted Date : Jan 31, 2025 On November 8–9, 2024, over 200 researchers, trainees, movement disorders specialists, healthcare professionals and industry and patient representatives gathered in Toronto for the 3rd Annual Canadian Movement Disorders Meeting co-hosted by Parkinson Canada and the Canadian Movement Disorders Society. This event is the only conference in the country that brings together the entire movement disorders field from across Canada. Renowned for its robust contributions to neuroscience and movement disorder research, Canada continues to cultivate remarkable innovations and has been known to “punch above its weight” in the field. This meeting continues to serve as a critical platform for sharing new research findings, exploring treatment approaches, and improving patient care strategies while fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange where all corners of the field are represented. For this third iteration of the meeting, a number of new elements were added to the program, including abstract submissions and poster sessions which highlighted the latest research from trainees across Canada, as well as pre-event workshops hosted by industry to discuss the latest therapeutic advances. We saw increased participation of allied health professionals who contributed insightful reflections on how an interdisciplinary team approach to care can have significant impacts on patient quality of life. This year, we increased funding for trainee participation, which allowed junior researchers to take part in important discussions on research and care and present their own work. To support trainee participation, travel funding was offered, and trainees were invited to present posters on diverse topics such as exercise-mediated Parkinson’s symptom improvement, non-invasive brain stimulation, and how alpha-synuclein proliferates through dopamine neurons. Trainees also met with members of the Parkinson’s community to gain experience in communicating their research to the public and hear firsthand how Parkinson’s impacts the person’s quality of life. Supporting emerging professionals in the movement disorders field is key for ensuring that the important work taking place now continues, and that quality of life and care for patients continues to improve. At the end of the day, the research supports the well-being of the community, and this kind of support is vital for seeing that through. Key topics from the meeting The presentations and discussions during the meeting highlighted groundbreaking work and ongoing research in movement disorders. Topics included in the program reflect the ongoing commitment to advancing understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s and movement disorders, as well as improving the lives of those living with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders by addressing the most bothersome symptoms. Below are highlights and key takeaways from the presentations. Parkinson’s Care Pathway The most challenging issues facing Parkinson’s care currently is access to a specialist and underdetection or delayed detection of cases due to insufficient assessment infrastructure. Addressing this requires Canada-wide collaboration and increased funding and resources for health systems research to advocate for innovation in care models. During the meeting, we heard about the development of Parkinson’s Care Pathway led by Parkinson Canada. The Care Pathway represents a shared vision of optimized care that all individuals with Parkinson’s should experience from diagnosis to advanced stages. The pathway is anchored on key recommendations such as increased training for frontline health providers (emergency room, urgent care, etc.) on Parkinson’s and the use of a diagnostic pathway that allows them to detect “red flag” symptoms in order to provide timely referrals to specialized care and timely provision of medication. Non-motor symptoms and quality of life There’s a large amount of research on motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. It’s one of the main markers that helps determine a diagnosis and is typically what many people associate with Parkinson’s. However, there is a vast number of non-motor symptoms that can have a significant impact on quality of life. The meeting covered a number of important talks on non-motor symptoms of movement disorders, including sleep issues and psychiatric disorders. There’s a large amount of research on motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. It’s one of the main markers that helps determine a diagnosis and is typically what many people associate with Parkinson’s. However, there is a vast number of non-motor symptoms that can have a significant impact on quality of life. The meeting covered a number of important talks on non-motor symptoms of movement disorders, including sleep issues and psychiatric disorders. We heard that depression in Parkinson’s is a key influencer of quality of life and can predict greater cognitive decline. We also heard about how sleep issues can be an early predictor of Parkinson’s and that it’s important for movement disorders specialists to collaborate with sleep physicians to detect and monitor patients with specific sleep conditions such as REM Sleep Behavioural Disorder (RBD). Structural differences in alpha-synuclein Alpha-synuclein is the protein associated with Parkinson’s development as it accumulates in the brain. While alpha-synuclein is usually cleared from the brain naturally, it can occasionally misfold and aggregate into harmful clumps called Lewy bodies. These clumps interfere with cell processes and can cause dopamine-producing neurons to die. However, there’s emerging evidence that this doesn’t look the same in everybody with Parkinson’s and other synucleinopathies. Researchers are now identifying that there are significant differences between different types of alpha-synuclein, where some might be completely benign versus potentially malignant, how quickly different types can aggregate in harmful ways, and how different types of alpha-synuclein can be detected. This is an ongoing area of research and is extremely important. The search for a true biomarker that can help detect Parkinson’s before symptom onset and better track disease progression is key for improving patient care and fully understanding the ways in which individual alpha-synuclein profiles and other factors are associated with these differences will be vital in that work. Markers of neurodegeneration Understanding and detecting markers of neurodegeneration remain key priorities for both early intervention and improved tracking of disease progression. During the meeting, researchers provided an update on the development of tracers to identify Parkinson’s hallmarks through PET scans and other imaging technologies. These advancements promise to refine diagnostic tools and enhance monitoring capabilities, which has implications both in identifying cases and diagnosing individuals before symptom onset when certain treatments may be more effective, as well as in tracking disease progression to refine someone’s care over time. Debate: continuous subcutaneous levodopa Researchers considered both sides of a debate on whether Vyalev (a new delivery method and formulation of levodopa that recently was approved for use in Canada) would be a game-changer for patients. Overall, the pros of Vyalev were that many patients prefer a medication delivery system that is easy and hands-off and can provide longer-lasting symptom coverage without the same issues of wearing off as other medications, and clinicians praised its low risk of side effects. On the other side, the argument was made that it can also be expensive and require more time and resources to implement, and there are cases where patients experience adverse effects that are disruptive enough that they discontinue the medication. Understanding both sides of a debate like this is important to guide patient care and ensure that as much information can be provided to patients as possible to make an informed decision on their personal preferences for care. Reflections The 3rd Annual Canadian Movement Disorders Meeting provided a vital platform for researchers, clinicians, and allied health professionals to share knowledge, debate ideas, and inspire innovation within the field across Canada. By also inviting individuals with Parkinson’s to attend certain events during the conference, we’re promoting collaboration with those most affected by Parkinson’s and ensuring that patients and other community members are key collaborators and partners in the research process. As Parkinson’s rates continue to rise, the work presented at this meeting – from advancing our understanding of Parkinson’s biology and genetics to developing new treatments and improving daily quality of life—is more important than ever. Conferences like this one are instrumental in unlocking breakthroughs and ensuring that progress benefits as many people as possible. Parkinson Canada will continue to support and host meetings such as this one due to their vital role in shaping a future where care is more tailored, efficient, and accessible, and where everyone living with Parkinson’s can thrive. Share this post: Your Story Matters: Inspire and Connect Inspire hope and connect with others by sharing your Parkinson’s journey. Your voice can make a difference. Share your story Discover more like this Jan 29, 2025 How I became a Muffin Dec 23, 2024 Experimental Drugs ORCHESTRA and PADOVA show Mixed Results Dec 23, 2024 Honoring My Dad Through Giving: A Parkinson Canada Story