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Dr Petya Bogdanova-Mihaylova, Consultant Neurologist, Tallaght University Hospital, speaks to Catherine Reilly about the upcoming Neurology Update Meeting
The 24th Annual Neurology Update Meeting will take place on Friday 10 October at O’Reilly Hall, University College Dublin (UCD).
The meeting is organised by the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience (IICN), which promotes the academic clinical neurosciences in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The IICN aims to provide up-to-date information on the clinical neurosciences on the island of Ireland; support members and trainees in their research and academic activities; promote the availability of high-standard clinical neuroscience services; advocate on behalf of patients and their support groups; and collaborate with Irish neuroscientists working in other countries.
The Director of the 24th Annual Neurology Update Meeting is Dr Petya Bogdanova-Mihaylova, Consultant Neurologist, Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), Dublin. Her special interests are headache disorders and inherited ataxias.
Speaking to the Medical Independent, Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova said the meeting will cover latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of neurological conditions. The meeting will be of interest to neurologists, neurology trainees, neurosurgeons, other clinical neuroscientists, and general medicine physicians across the island.
Experts
The invited speakers – from home and abroad – are acknowledged experts in their fields. Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova also commented on the diversity of the agenda, which covers a spectrum from common neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis and epilepsy to rare neurological disorders; and from genetic treatments to music as therapy in epilepsy. She said the programme aims to convey the “complexity of patients seen in our day-to-day practice”, and the multifaceted approach required in current patient care to manage complex conditions.
The meeting comprises four sessions in total, which will be chaired by Dr Stela Lefter; Dr Peter Boers; Dr Gavin McDonnell; and Dr Donal Costigan.
The opening presentation is titled ‘Beyond borders: Advancing patient care through the European Reference Network-Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND) Registry’, by Prof Sinéad Murphy, TUH. Prof Murphy is the Irish lead for the ERN-RND.
The ERN-RND is a European reference network established by the EU to support patients and families affected by rare neurological diseases which require highly specialised knowledge, treatment and resources. ERNs are virtual networks connecting healthcare professionals around Europe with expertise, allowing them to share knowledge and to discuss a patient’s diagnosis and care, with their consent.
TUH is the Irish ERN-RND site for two disease groups (cerebellar ataxias and hereditary spastic paraplegias; and atypical Parkinsonian syndromes and genetic Parkinson’s disease). It has established a registry for these conditions, which Prof Murphy will speak on during her presentation.
Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova emphasised that being part of the ERN-RND allows clinicians to broaden their knowledge and skills. This supports more timely diagnosis and ultimately helps patients on their journey.
The next speaker is Dr Declan O’Rourke, Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street, who will speak on genetic treatments in paediatric neuromuscular disorders. Dr O’Rourke is a Paediatric Neurologist with an interest in advanced therapeutics for children with neuromuscular disorders, such as gene modification therapies and gene replacement therapies. He has been particularly active in clinical trials investigating potential treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Dr O’Rourke will be followed by Dr Olwen Murphy, TUH, who will present video cases to provide insights into diagnosis and treatment in vestibular and ocular motor neurology.
IIH
The meeting’s guest speaker is Prof Alexandra Sinclair, University of Birmingham, UK, who will speak on ‘Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): New insights shaping clinical practice’.
Prof Sinclair is Professor of Neurology within the Department of Metabolism and Systems Science at the University of Birmingham, and Head of the Translational Brain Science Research Group. She is an international figure in translational research in IIH, headache, and traumatic brain injury.
IIH is associated with raised intracranial fluid pressure, debilitating headaches, and visual disturbance, and typically occurs in young women with obesity.
Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova said that there is evidence of a rapid increase in cases in line with global obesity trends.
“If IIH is left undiagnosed and untreated, the major risk is that affected people can lose their eyesight,” she added.
If IIH is left undiagnosed and untreated, the major risk is that affected people can lose their eyesight
Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova said she was delighted Prof Sinclair accepted the invitation to the meeting. “She is very keen to share her knowledge, which is an excellent opportunity for all neurologists in the country to learn from the expert.”
An update on the management of multiple sclerosis (MS) will be presented by Prof Chris McGuigan, St Vincent’s University Hospital (SVUH), Dublin. Prof McGuigan leads the MS clinical research group in SVUH/UCD.
Prof McGuigan is a recognised expert in this field. Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova referred to key developments in MS over recent years, including the advent of disease-modifying therapies, and the 2024 revised McDonald criteria for the diagnosis of MS.
The next speaker will be Dr Paul Burns, Consultant Interventional Neuroradiologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, who will present on ‘Stroke mimics’.
Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova said stroke remains the leading cause of acquired neurological disability and a major cause of death. It was therefore important to include a talk on this topic. Dr Burns will present interesting cases and imaging findings of cases that mimicked stroke.
The final two presentations of the meeting will offer delegates something quite different.
‘Psychiatry and neurology: Contested aspects of a complex relationship’ is the intriguing title of Prof Brendan Kelly’s talk. Prof Kelly is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and has authored several books on psychiatry and mental health. His research interests include mental health legislation, human rights, and the history of psychiatry.
Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova said Prof Kelly is an excellent speaker with many diverse interests, and that it is exciting to have him on the panel.
The final presentation is titled ‘Sound waves and brain waves: The neuroscience behind music as therapy in epilepsy and beyond’. The presenter is Dr Yerko Ivanovic Barbeito, TUH.
Dr Barbeito is a Consultant Neurologist with a subspecialty interest in epilepsy. He also lectures at the University of Madrid on the neuroscience of music and regularly performs recitals across Europe.
Dr Barbeito will present on the evidence supporting the application of music in the treatment of people with epilepsy and will discuss the ‘Mozart effect’. He will also play some piano pieces at the meeting, including work by Mozart and Bach, to bring the audience on a classical music journey.
“I hope the audience will enjoy the performance,” said Dr Bogdanova-Mihaylova.
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