Practical Neurology Podcast

Radiologically isolated syndrome: managing the preclinical phase of MS

22 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What should a neurologist do when a routine MRI for migraine reveals incidental white matter lesions that look remarkably like Multiple Sclerosis (MS)...

Bone health in Neurology: managing the fracture risk

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this Practical Neurology bonus international podcast linked to the February issue, host Alasdair Coles (Cambridge, UK) is joined by movement disord...

Head knocks in athletes, the clock drawing test, and generic medications - Editors' Highlights April 2026

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As with any Darwinian subject, neurology is under constant evolution. This podcast for the April 2026 issue of Practical Neurology has co-editors Phil...

Recurring migraine, and unintentional weight loss - Case Reports February 2026

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What unsuspecting dangers lie within a garden compost bin? The Case Reports team are back to uncover a new pair of neurological mysteries. The first c...

A face in the hedge: Dementia with Lewy bodies

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Many patients will affirm seeing clouds shaped like animals or other similar phenomena, which is why confirming pareidolia (seeing meaningful images i...

Mind the gap, passage hallucinations, and conducting on cue - Editors' Highlights February 2026

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When a patient says, "I biffed the car," how should that be translated? Puzzles like this represent the gap between description and diagnosis, and are...

The eye as a snowglobe: Uveitis for Neurologists

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Eye pain can be a source of serious concern for patients, bringing worries about their eyesight. While uveitis is far from the only source of ocular p...

Unusual emboli, and software versus hardware - Case Reports December 2025

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Another set of intriguing cases from the latest issue of the journal, pored over by the Case Reports team.  In the first case, a 24-yo man presents a...

Drugs of misuse: a contemporary guide

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Neurology requires some detective work at times, and identifying the patterns of symptoms associated with drug misuse can be a tricky mystery indeed. ...

Prudent scanning, masquerade syndromes, and spotting the tadpole - Editors' Highlights December 2025

15 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who do we need to scan? Behind the constant considerations of irradiation risk and resource usage, there is nuance to be found. Parkinson's disease - ...

Unihemispheric atrophy, and a culinary culprit - Case Reports Oct 2025

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two new cases from the latest issue of the journal present the podcast team with some rare explanations, and a chance to test yourself on food trivia....

Rethinking Myasthenia Gravis: A global perspective on ABN's latest guidelines

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this special international episode, we explore the 2025 update of the Association of British Neurologists’ guidelines on managing autoimmune myas...

The birdsong of the brain, cognitive flexibility, and a guideline update - Editors' Highlights October 2025

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Another packed episode for this month's issue of the journal. There's a special emphasis on case reports this time, showing their value as a way to un...

Dangers from the deep, and prolonged pituitary inflammation - Case Reports August 2025

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The wonders of the animal kingdom make an absorbing reappearance this episode, so grab your scuba mask before listening - or your chef’s hat. The fi...

Health anxiety: patient paradoxes and successful treatment

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

"This is a disorder that you don't want to miss", says Prof. Jon Stone¹, describing the condition at the heart of this episode, alongside co-author D...

Electrolyte abnormalities, unhelpful reassurance, and the essence of tremor - Editors' Highlights August 2025

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Simplification is everything - that's the message for the latest issue of the journal. Assisted by a cast of characters including Albert Einstein and ...

An international approach to the use of immunoglobulin

11 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the latest bonus podcast, the practical use of intravenous immunoglobulin is discussed with perspectives from three continents. Participants: Prof...

The risks of "bariatric tourism", and photophobia with a pustular rash - Case Reports June 2025

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Gastric sleeve surgery is the key feature of a pair of recent cases from the journal, which start this episode (1:17). Both cases feature 25-yo women ...

New, complicated and evolving: IgG4-related disease

06 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A neuroinflammatory disorder with the potential to affect virtually any organ in the body, IgG4-related disease is a challenge on many fronts. The lat...

Nutritional perils, the immunoglobulin paradox, and a flickering candle - Editors' Highlights June 2025

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This episode’s theme is new diseases, whether they are newly described, or old diseases back in a new form. We start off with IgG4-related disease, ...

Fragmented sleep with delusions of theft, and falls after eye shingles - Case Reports April 2025

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two wide open cases from the latest issue of the journal. Starting with a case from Italy (1:18), of a 63-yo man having a history of behavioural and c...

How do new cancer drugs affect our brains? A practical guide to immune checkpoint inhibitors

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Immune checkpoint inhibitors can significantly improve cancer survival rates. But resulting immune-related toxicities are common, requiring multidisci...

Guidelines on disease-modifying treatment in MS: a decade-long update

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The latest guidelines on disease-modifying treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) from the Association of British Neurologists is discussed in this inte...

Localisation myths, brain fog, and small fibre neuropathies - Editors' Highlights April 2025

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's a podcast of pairs this time, for the latest issue of the journal. There's two hosts, two halves of the brain, two sides to a clinical debate, an...

Intestinal obstruction, and new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) - Case Reports February 2025

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A puzzling pair of Case Reports from the most recent issue of the journal. First up (1:35) is a man in his mid-fifties, presenting with lumbar spine f...

Stiff-person syndrome

22 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Intermittent painful spasms, stiffness and rigidity of the proximal and truncal muscles are only a few symptoms of the relatively uncommon Stiff-perso...

Posterior cortical atrophy, mascara staining, and careers in stroke - Editors' Highlights February 2025

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The practice of neurology is constantly changing, and the papers in this issue exemplify that trend. On this episode, journal editors Dr. Geraint Full...

Episodic headaches after travel, and declining cognition with treated HIV - Case Reports

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two more fascinating Case Reports from the latest issue of the journal. The first case (1:15) is of a 57-yo woman, with an intermittent posterior head...

Championing general neurology

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the Christmas Special for 2024! Joining Amy in the studio is Dr. Steven Lewis. Current secretary general of the World Federation of Neurology, ...

Diagnosing neuromuscular junction disorders: red flags and atypical presentations

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The often challenging diagnosis of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) disorders can be explained by suspicious red flags for the key differential diagnoses ...

Upward tingling, racing glaucoma and the toppling tower of frailty - Editors’ Highlights December 2024

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Neuromuscular junction disorders can present in a variety of challenging ways, with the potential to mislead neurologists. Journal editors Prof. Phili...

Postpartum paraesthesia, and myasthenia with melanoma - Case Reports

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The immune system is a recurring feature in the cases discussed in this edition of the Case Reports podcast. The first paper details the cases of two ...

Neurotoxicology’s top offenders

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

"Could this presenting syndrome be caused by a neurotoxin?" Oftentimes neurologists will pass over toxins when diagnosing. Yet disease caused by neuro...

Oligoclonal bands, methotrexate use, and inconclusive cases - Editors’ Highlights October 2024

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The surgical sieve and Occam's razor may sound like familiar diagnostic metaphors, but what about Crabtree's bludgeon? These are just a few of the too...

Midnight tetraparesis, and morning dysarthria - Case Reports

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This month's cases both feature sudden onset neurological syndromes. The first case (1:23) is that of a 26-yo Brazilian man who awoke from sleep with ...

Lessons and pitfalls of whole genome sequencing

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Genetic testing is a useful tool for any practising neurologist, but they must know how to interpret the results. This Editors' Choice podcast feature...

Charcot-Marie-Tooth, steroid safety, and dusting off the old optokinetic drum - Editors’ Highlights June 2024

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller discuss the August 2024 issue of Practical Neurology, with room for mystery, history and pra...

Vacant spells, and bodybuilding hazards - Case Reports

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Two highly unusual cases in this edition of Case Reports. The first case describes a 64-yo woman presenting to the emergency department with a five da...

Why are brain banks so important, and what can they tell us?

27 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Neurodegenerative disease is the subject of this month's Editors' Choice podcast, with Dr. Patrick Cullinane¹ and Dr. Zane Jaunmuktane.¹ They join t...

Valproate restriction, sexual dysfunction, and neuropathology - Editors’ Highlights June 2024

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller discuss the June 2024 issue of Practical Neurology, covering some of the interesting arti...

Ptosis with paroxysmal cough, and ”just another kinase” - Case Reports

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The first of this episode's two case reports features a 62-yo man, referred from ophthalmology with a drooping eyelid, chronic coughing, and excess sw...

A new guideline for spontaneous intracranial hypotension

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The first multidisciplinary consensus guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) has recently been pub...

An underappreciated vitamin, eponymous syndromes, and drop attacks - Editors’ Highlights April 2024

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller discuss the April 2024 issue of Practical Neurology, covering some of the interesting articl...

Tonic-clonic seizures, and persistent abdominal pain - Case Reports

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The first case for this issue's discussion is one of a young man with a history of involuntary jerks and photosensitivity (1:20). Several more seizure...

Making the most of electroencephalography, with Dr. Nick Kane

16 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Neurophysiologists may "lock ourselves away in rooms looking at screens with wiggly lines on", but what are the applications in a clinical context for...

Gait analysis, CBT, and neurology book clubs - Editors’ Highlights February 2024

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller discuss the February 2024 issue of Practical Neurology, covering some of the interesting art...

Periocular pain, and sciatic nerve thickening - Case Reports

12 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the first case this episode, a 69-yo woman has developed severe pain around her right eye with blurring to the vision on that side (1:08), which pr...

Artificial intelligence for neurologists, with Prof. James Teo

29 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With artificial intelligence (AI) being declared the solution to many of the challenges faced in our personal and professional lives, Prof. James Teo ...

Climate change and the brain, with Prof. Sanjay Sisodiya

01 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this extra episode of the PN podcast, recorded to coincide with the COP28 summit, podcast editor Dr. Amy Ross-Russell (1) speaks to Prof. Sanjay Si...

Editors’ Highlights of the December 2023 issue

24 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the December 2023 issue of the journal - https://pn.bmj.c...

Case Reports: Right side weakness, and progressive confusion

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prof. Martin Turner (1) hosts Dr. Ruth Wood (2) and Dr. Xin You Tai (3), as they puzzle through two Case Reports from the latest issue of the Practi...

Behçet’s syndrome, with Dr. Desmond Kidd

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell (1) is joined by Dr. Desmond Kidd (2) to discuss the paper “Neurological involvement by Behçet’s syndrome: clinical features...

Editors’ Highlights of the October 2023 issue

02 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the October 2023 issue of the journal (https://pn.bmj.com...

Case Reports: Slurring of speech, and swimming with Parkinson’s

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the third episode of this new series of the Practical Neurology podcast, Prof. Martin Turner (1) hosts Dr. Ruth Wood (2) and Dr. Xin You Tai (3) in...

First-line immunosuppression in neuromuscular diseases

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell (1) is joined by the authors of the paper “First-line immunosuppression in neuromuscular diseases”, Dr Michael Foster, Prof M...

Editors’ Highlights of the August 2023 issue

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the August 2023 issue of the journal (https://pn.bmj.com/...

Case Reports: Transient global amnesia, and a MOG-associated disease presentation

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the second episode of this new series of the Practical Neurology podcast, Prof. Martin Turner (1) hosts Dr. Ruth Wood (2) and Dr. Xin You Tai (3) a...

Multiple system atrophy, with Dr. Yee Yen Goh and Dr. Viorica Chelban

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell (1) is joined by the authors of "Multiple system atrophy", a review recently published in Practical Neurology. The guests, Dr. Ye...

Editors’ Highlights of the June 2023 issue

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the June 2023 issue of the journal (https://pn.bmj.com/co...

Case Reports: Aciclovir neurotoxicity, and a rare posterior spinal artery infarct

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this new series of the Practical Neurology podcast, Professor Martin Turner (1) invites Dr Ruth Wood (2) and Dr Xin You Tai (3) to discuss the nitt...

Toxic neuropathies: a practical approach

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell(1) is joined by a selection of the authors of "Toxic neuropathies; a practical approach", a review recently published in Practica...

Editors’ Highlights of the April 2023 issue

14 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the April 2023 issue of the journal (https://pn.bmj.com/c...

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a contemporary guide

28 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell(1) discusses a recently published review by Dr. Christopher Carswell(2) on the historical context of normal pressure hydrocephalu...

Editors’ Highlights of the February 2023 issue

17 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the February 2023 issue of the journal (https://pn.bmj.co...

Radiation and the nervous system

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell(1) discusses a recently published review by Dr. Jeremy Rees(2) and Dr. Michael Kosmin(3) on the subject of radiation therapy on t...

Editors’ Highlights of the December 2022 issue

14 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the December 2022 issue of the journal (https://pn.bmj.co...

Weakness in the ICU

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell(1), interviews Dr. Jon Walters(2) about his recent review of approaches to weakness in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Read this ...

Editors’ Highlights of the October 2022 issue

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the October 2022 issue of the journal. Read the highlight...

Orthoses for Neurological Ankles

14 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell(1), interviews Dr. Stephen Kirker(2) about his recent paper detailing the use of appropriate orthoses for patients with weakness ...

Editors’ Highlights of the August 2022 issue

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the August 2022 issue of the journal. Read more on the PN...

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES): diagnosis and management

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Amy Ross Russell(1), interviews Assoc. Prof. Todd Hardy(2) and Dr. James Triplett(3), about their recent paper detailing the clinical approach to ...

Editors’ Highlights of the June 2022 issue

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the June 2022 issue of the journal. Read more on the PN w...

Autoinflammatory syndromes in neurology: when our first line of defence misbehaves

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Amy Ross Russell, Neurology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, interviews Dr William Diprose, Dept. of Neurology, Auckland City...

Editors’ Highlights of the April 2022 issue

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the April 2022 issue of the journal. Read more on the PN ...

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes: a practical approach to diagnosis and management

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Amy Ross Russell, Neurology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, interviews Dr Sophie Binks and Professor Sarosh Irani, from the ...

Editors’ Highlights of the February 2022 issue

11 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the February 2022 issue of the journal. Read more on the ...

Localisation in focal epilepsies

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Amy Ross Russell, Neurology, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, interviews Dr Fahmida Chowdhury and Dr Matthew Walker, both from...

Editors Highlights of the December 2021 issue

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the October issue of the journal. Read more on the PN web...

Autoimmune encephalitis: clinical spectrum and management

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Autoimmune encephalitis comprises a group of disorders in which the host immune system targets self-antigens expressed in the central nervous system (...

Editors Highlights of the October 2021 issue

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the October issue of the journal. Read more on the PN web...

Suspecting dementia: canaries, chameleons and zebras

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As the number of people with dementia worldwide approaches 50 million, the need for early and accurate diagnosis is more urgent than ever. However, th...

Editors Highlights of the August 2021 issue

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the August issue of the journal. Read more on the PN webs...

Editors Highlights of the June 2021 issue

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the June issue of the journal. Read more on the PN websit...

Editors Highlights of the April 2021 issue

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the April issue of the journal. Read more on the PN websi...

Editors Highlights of the February 2021 issue

21 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the February issue of the journal. Read more on the PN we...

Peripheral nerve blocks for headache disorders

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Tom Hughes, Department of Neurology, Cardiff, interviews Dr Luis Idrovo, Department of Neurology, Leeds, about one of the most prevalent, disabling...

Editors Highlights of the December 2020 issue

09 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Practical Neurology Editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller talk you through the highlights of the December issue of the journal. Read more on the PN we...

Vaccine in Multiple Sclerosis

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the return of the Practical Neurology Podcast, Dr Tom Hughes interviews Dr Saúl Reyes, Consultant Neurologist at the Blizard Institute, and The Lo...

Essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease and dystonia: distinguishing the clinical features

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Essential tremor is the most common form of tremor in humans. In this podcast, Dr Tom Hughes, Practical Neurology Associate Editor, interviews Dr Ela...

Infectious encephalitis: mimics and chameleons

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

‘Query encephalitis’ is a common neurological consultation in hospitalised patients. Identifying the syndrome is only part of the puzzle. Although...

A guide for investigating patients with complex neurology and epilepsy of unknown cause

30 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A framework to guide general neurologists in the diagnostic reassessment of people with epilepsy and complex neurological problems of unknown cause is...

Rituximab in neuroinflammatory conditions: the evidence available and prescribing advice

15 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The basic principles of B-cell depletion with therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, the available evidence for using rituximab in neurological diseases a...

Cannabis licensing and epilepsy: addressing the challenges for doctors and patients

14 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What do adult neurologists need to know ahead of the likely licensing of Epidiolex for epilepsy in the UK in 2019? It is quite possible that cannabidi...

Valproate contraindicated in pregnancy: new regulations and advice for neurologists

19 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Valproate is now contraindicated in pregnancy and women of child-bearing potential. The new stipulations from the Coordination Group for Mutual Recogn...

Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy - from gene discovery to treatment

21 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Michael Hanna, Senior Consultant Neurologist at Queen Square, UCL, London, discusses the developments in genetics in neuromuscular diseases ...

Nodding syndrome: a public health issue in children of South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania

19 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Nodding syndrome affects children from 5 to 15 years old in some parts of the African continent. In this podcast, David Nicholl, Department of Neurolo...

ABN Annual Meeting: Professor Andrew Schwartz and the high-performance neural prosthetics

11 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Andrew Schwartz (University of Pittsburgh, USA) discusses the latest progress toward high-performance neural prosthetics with Practical Neur...

ABN Annual Meeting 2017: Interview with Kevin Talbot

09 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

At the ABN annual meeting 2017, David Burn interviews Kevin Talbot on the his talk on Antisense treatments in spinal muscular atrophy. The ABN Autumn...

ABN Autumn Lecture: Antisense treatments in neurological disease

21 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Based on the ABN's Autumn Meeting, Martin Turner interviews Matthew Wood on the his lecture Antisense treatments in neurological disease. The ABN Aut...

ABN Autumn Lecture: Treatable hereditary neuropathies

21 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Based on the ABN's Autumn Meeting, David Nicholl interviews Mary Reilly on the her lecture Treatable Hereditary Neuropathies. The ABN Autumn Meeting ...