Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders

Projects led by our team aim to further identify early biomarkers of neurodegeneration related to Parkinson’s disease (PD), REM-sleep Behavior Disorders, atypical parkinsonism and other movement disorders. These biomarkers are studied to better understand the underlying pathophysiology and facilitate an early differential diagnosis between PD and other clinically related disorders. Also, those biomarkers may facilitate monitoring of the responses to therapeutic intervention and accelerate therapeutics research. Using 7T brain MRI, they focus on the evaluation of brain tissue microstructure (basal ganglia and brainstem), ion homeostasis (sodium) and connectivity. Then, correlations with clinical symptoms (motor, dysautonomic and cognitive) are looked for. The team works in close collaboration with the several neurology departments from La Timone University Hospital (the movement disorders department, the neuropsychology department, and the Sleep Center), as well as with other PD specialist teams in the southeast of France.

Representative recent publications:

Grimaldi, S., Eusebio, A., Carron, R., Regis, J. M., Velly, L., Azulay, J. P., & Witjas, T. (2022). Deep Brain Stimulation–Withdrawal Syndrome in Parkinson’s Disease: Risk Factors and Pathophysiological Hypotheses of a Life-Threatening Emergency. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface.

Grimaldi, S.*, Horowitz, T.*, Azulay, J. P., & Guedj, E. (2022). Molecular imaging in Parkinsonism: The essential for clinical practice and future perspectives. Revue Neurologique. *Co-first authorship

Grimaldi, S., El Mendili, M.M., Zaaraoui W., Ranjeva, J.P., Azulay, J.P., Eusebio, A., Guye, M. (2021) Increased sodium concentration in substantia nigra in early Parkinson’s Disease: a preliminary study with ultra-high field (7T) MRI. Frontiers in Neurology doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.715618

Verger, A., Grimaldi, S., Ribeiro, M. J., Frismand, S., & Guedj, E. (2021) SPECT/PET molecular imaging for parkinsonism: a fast-developing field. Annals of Neurology.

Grimaldi, S., Boucekine, M., Witjas, T., Fluchere, F., Azulay, J. P., Guedj, E., & Eusebio, A. (2021). Early atypical signs and insula hypometabolism predict survival in multiple system atrophy. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

Grimaldi, S., Renaud, M., Robert, D., Lagier, A., Somma, H., Soulayrol, S., … & Witjas, T. (2020). Prevalence and characterisation of vocal fold motion impairment (VFMI) in patients with Multiple system atrophy compared with Parkinson’s disease. Rev Neurol. 2020 Mar 9.

Grimaldi, S., Boucekine, M., Witjas, T., Fluchère, F., Renaud, M., Azulay, J. P., … & Eusebio, A. (2019). Multiple System Atrophy: Phenotypic spectrum approach coupled with brain 18-FDG PET. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 67, 3-9.

Grimaldi, S., Lagier, A., Robert, D., Korchia, D., Soulayrol, S., & Azulay, J. P. (2018). Dystonia of the soft palate: Mutation of the THAP1 (DYT6) gene in a 42-year-old patient. Revue neurologique, 174(1-2), 67-68.