Practical Neurology Podcast
Health, Fitness & Longevity
About
The Practical Neurology Podcast is the essential guide for the everyday life of all neurologists. Just like our journal Practical Neurology, this podcast is useful for everyone who sees neurological patients and who wants to keep up-to-date and safe in managing them. In other words, this is a podcast for jobbing neurologists who plough through the tension headaches and funny turns week in and week out. Subscribe to enjoy deep dives into each journal issue with editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller, discussions on recent case reports with Prof. Martin Turner, and Editor’s Choice article discussions between authors and Dr. Amy Ross Russell. Practical Neurology - pn.bmj.com - is included as part of a subscription to JNNP and provided in print to all members of the Association of British Neurologists.* The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. The content of this podcast does not constitute medical advice and it is not intended to function as a substitute for
Episodes
- Perplexing keladophilia and post-surgical symptoms - Case Reports April 2026
Practical Neurology Podcast reviews two patient cases: one involving a 68-year-old man with behavioral changes and an unusual interest in engine sounds, and another concerning a 47-year-old woman experiencing abnormal movements after cardi…
- Radiologically isolated syndrome: managing the preclinical phase of MS
Dr. Audrey Reynolds and Dr. Amy Ross Russell discuss the clinical diagnosis and management of radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS). They cover updated diagnostic criteria, advanced imaging markers, and risk stratification to identify pat…
- Bone health in Neurology: managing the fracture risk
Host Alasdair Coles discusses bone health in neurology with Dr. Ashley Paul and Dr. Lata Vadlamudi. They cover identifying osteoporosis in patients using steroids or anti-seizure medications, evaluating FRAX tools for neurological populati…
- Head knocks in athletes, the clock drawing test, and generic medications - Editors' Highlights April 2026
This episode of the Practical Neurology Podcast features co-editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller discussing several neurological topics, including the reversed clock phenomenon, a study on retired athletes' brain problems, biosimilar drug…
- Recurring migraine, and unintentional weight loss - Case Reports February 2026
This episode of the Practical Neurology Podcast reviews two neurological case reports. The first involves an 88-year-old woman initially diagnosed with migraine who later experiences progressive visual loss. The second case features a 62-y…
- A face in the hedge: Dementia with Lewy bodies
Many patients will affirm seeing clouds shaped like animals or other similar phenomena, which is why confirming pareidolia (seeing meaningful images in meaningless visual stimuli) is such a tricky symptom in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)…
- Mind the gap, passage hallucinations, and conducting on cue - Editors' Highlights February 2026
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 a critical part of neurological practice. In this podcast for the February 2026 issue of…
- The eye as a snowglobe: Uveitis for neurologists
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 pain, in many presentations of the condition it is a feature. In this Editors' Choice podc…
- Unusual emboli, and software versus hardware - Case Reports December 2025
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 acutely with reduced consciousness, following 3 days of right-sided headache. His mother rep…
- Drugs of misuse: a contemporary guide
Neurology requires some detective work at times, and identifying the patterns of symptoms associated with drug misuse can be a tricky mystery indeed. For this episode, we're receiving a masterclass from Dr. Robin Howard¹ on the wide variet…
- Prudent scanning, masquerade syndromes, and spotting the tadpole - Editors' Highlights December 2025
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 - being a clinical diagnosis - doesn't suggest a need for imaging, yet one case in this iss…
- Unihemispheric atrophy, and a culinary culprit - Case Reports Oct 2025
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. In the first case (1:18), from Malaysia, a 49-yo left-handed woman develops 10 days of r…
- Rethinking Myasthenia Gravis: A global perspective on ABN's latest guidelines
In this special international episode, we explore the 2025 update of the Association of British Neurologists’ guidelines on managing autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Ten years after the previous recommendations, significant changes have been…
- The birdsong of the brain, cognitive flexibility, and a guideline update - Editors' Highlights October 2025
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 understand the rarely encountered. For the more common conditions there are guidelines, and…
- Dangers from the deep, and prolonged pituitary inflammation - Case Reports August 2025
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 first case this month is the kind that even an experienced neurologist would be nervous to en…
- Health anxiety: patient paradoxes and successful treatment
"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 Dr. Huw Green². Their paper "Health anxiety in a neurological setting" is the subject of th…
- Electrolyte abnormalities, unhelpful reassurance, and the essence of tremor - Editors' Highlights August 2025
Simplification is everything - that's the message for the latest issue of the journal. Assisted by a cast of characters including Albert Einstein and deep sea sponges, your editors Phil Smith and Geraint Fuller take on topics from hyponatr…
- An international approach to the use of immunoglobulin
In the latest bonus podcast, the practical use of intravenous immunoglobulin is discussed with perspectives from three continents. Participants: Professor Alasdair Coles is Head of Department for Clinical Neuroscience and also Co-Director…
- The risks of "bariatric tourism", and photophobia with a pustular rash - Case Reports June 2025
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 with presentations in common: paraesthesia and limb weakness, along with disordered eye m…
- New, complicated and evolving: IgG4-related disease
A neuroinflammatory disorder with the potential to affect virtually any organ in the body, IgG4-related disease is a challenge on many fronts. The latest Editors' Choice paper in the June 2025 issue takes on this systemic disease, presenti…
- Nutritional perils, the immunoglobulin paradox, and a flickering candle - Editors' Highlights June 2025
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, a chronic multisystem disorder that is still being understood. Then there is a genetics pap…
- Fragmented sleep with delusions of theft, and falls after eye shingles - Case Reports April 2025
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 cognitive problems since retiring. His many changes included low mood, significant weight…
- How do new cancer drugs affect our brains? A practical guide to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Immune checkpoint inhibitors can significantly improve cancer survival rates. But resulting immune-related toxicities are common, requiring multidisciplinary cooperation between oncology and neurology. This episode, PN's podcast editor Dr.…
- Guidelines on disease-modifying treatment in MS: a decade-long update
The latest guidelines on disease-modifying treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) from the Association of British Neurologists is discussed in this intercontinental podcast with perspectives from the UK, the USA, and Australia. Participants:…
- Localisation myths, brain fog, and small fibre neuropathies - Editors' Highlights April 2025
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, and two themes to the episode itself. Leading off is a discussion on peripheral neurology,…
- Intestinal obstruction, and new-onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) - Case Reports February 2025
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 fractures, which then developed into confusion, vomiting, and abdominal pain. An x-ray sho…
- Stiff-person syndrome
Intermittent painful spasms, stiffness and rigidity of the proximal and truncal muscles are only a few symptoms of the relatively uncommon Stiff-person syndrome (SPS). In this podcast, we delve into the characteristics and diagnosis of thi…
- Posterior cortical atrophy, mascara staining, and careers in stroke - Editors' Highlights February 2025
The practice of neurology is constantly changing, and the papers in this issue exemplify that trend. On this episode, journal editors Dr. Geraint Fuller and Prof. Philip Smith discuss their highlights from the latest issue of Practical Neu…
- Episodic headaches after travel, and declining cognition with treated HIV - Case Reports
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 headache, which had an associated bilateral pressure-like sensation. Her symptoms had begun o…
- Championing general neurology
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, Steven is based in the United States, where he works as a general neurologist. Their conver…
- Diagnosing neuromuscular junction disorders: red flags and atypical presentations
The often challenging diagnosis of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) disorders can be explained by suspicious red flags for the key differential diagnoses (mimics) and atypical presentations (chameleons). In the latest Editor's Choice paper pod…
- Upward tingling, racing glaucoma and the toppling tower of frailty - Editors’ Highlights December 2024
Neuromuscular junction disorders can present in a variety of challenging ways, with the potential to mislead neurologists. Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller begin with this subject as they talk through the latest is…
- Postpartum paraesthesia, and myasthenia with melanoma - Case Reports
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 young women, sisters, presenting with overlapping conditions but resulting in tragically…
- Neurotoxicology’s top offenders
"Could this presenting syndrome be caused by a neurotoxin?" Oftentimes neurologists will pass over toxins when diagnosing. Yet disease caused by neurotoxins is widespread, with many having quite typical syndromes. In the studio to discuss…
- Oligoclonal bands, methotrexate use, and inconclusive cases - Editors’ Highlights October 2024
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 tools touched on by journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller, as they discu…
- Midnight tetraparesis, and morning dysarthria - Case Reports
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 weakness in all four limbs. The signs suggest a possibility of Guillain-Barré syndrome or…
- Lessons and pitfalls of whole genome sequencing
Genetic testing is a useful tool for any practising neurologist, but they must know how to interpret the results. This Editors' Choice podcast features two experts on the subject, Prof. Mary Reilly¹ and Dr. Christopher Record¹. They're in…
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth, steroid safety, and dusting off the old optokinetic drum - Editors’ Highlights June 2024
Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller discuss the August 2024 issue of Practical Neurology, with room for mystery, history and practical advice. In particular, they cover topics like whole genome sequencing, foot surger…
- Vacant spells, and bodybuilding hazards - Case Reports
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 day history of bizarre behaviours (1:45). A BBC radio show prompts her, out of character, t…
- Why are brain banks so important, and what can they tell us?
Neurodegenerative disease is the subject of this month's Editors' Choice podcast, with Dr. Patrick Cullinane¹ and Dr. Zane Jaunmuktane.¹ They join the podcast for an overview of brain examination, explaining the process of protein misfoldi…
- Valproate restriction, sexual dysfunction, and neuropathology - Editors’ Highlights June 2024
Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller discuss the June 2024 issue of Practical Neurology, covering some of the interesting articles published this month. A number of difficult challenges and tradeoffs are featured, rela…
- Ptosis with paroxysmal cough, and ”just another kinase” - Case Reports
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 sweating in the face provoked by eating (1:21). An MR scan finds abnormal deposits in his b…
- A new guideline for spontaneous intracranial hypotension
The first multidisciplinary consensus guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) has recently been published by the UK SIH Specialist Interest Group. Group members Prof. Manjit Matharu (1), Dr.…
- An underappreciated vitamin, eponymous syndromes, and drop attacks - Editors’ Highlights April 2024
Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller discuss the April 2024 issue of Practical Neurology, covering some of the interesting articles published this month. Topics include inconsistencies observed in functional gait, the…
- Tonic-clonic seizures, and persistent abdominal pain - Case Reports
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 seizures followed his initial presentation with a general tonic-clonic seizure. A number of exam…
- Making the most of electroencephalography, with Dr. Nick Kane
Neurophysiologists may "lock ourselves away in rooms looking at screens with wiggly lines on", but what are the applications in a clinical context for electroencephalography (EEG)? In this deep-dive episode, podcast editor Dr. Amy Ross Rus…
- Gait analysis, CBT, and neurology book clubs - Editors’ Highlights February 2024
Journal editors Prof. Philip Smith and Dr. Geraint Fuller discuss the February 2024 issue of Practical Neurology, covering some of the interesting articles published this month. The papers discussed touch on the use of electroencephalograp…
- Periocular pain, and sciatic nerve thickening - Case Reports
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 prompts use of a "rediscovered" treatment technique by the ophthalmology department - ( htt…
- Artificial intelligence for neurologists, with Prof. James Teo
With artificial intelligence (AI) being declared the solution to many of the challenges faced in our personal and professional lives, Prof. James Teo (1) joins the podcast to set us straight on where AI tools fit into neurological practice…
- Climate change and the brain, with Prof. Sanjay Sisodiya
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 Sisodiya (2) about his paper, "The hot brain: Practical climate change advice for neurologi…