Bloem’s research line aims at studying human motor control in health and disease, in particular patients with neurological movement disorders. Patients with focal lesions are studied to recognize pathological brain alterations (as a basis for new treatment strategies), and to identify areas involved in adaptive cerebral compensation. Special emphasis is placed on the evaluation of gait and balance control, using both clinical epidemiological approaches (clinical trials, diagnostic studies, case reports) as well as pathophysiology studies using advanced electrophysiological techniques (dynamic posturography, automated gait analysis with motorized treadmills) and functional imaging techniques (fMRI, TMS). Finally, this research group values the publishing of well-documented illustrative clinical case reports.
Selected publications
- The clinical approach to movement disorders. Abdo WF, van de Warrenburg BP, Burn DJ, Quinn NP, Bloem BR. Nat Rev Neurol 2010.
- A gait disorder with an unexpected twist. Dorresteijn LD, Portegies P, van Kasteren M, Bloem BR. Lancet 2003.
- Increased dependence of action selection on recent motor history in Parkinson's disease. Helmich RC, Aarts E, de Lange FP, Bloem BR, Toni I. J Neurosci 2009.
- Spatial remapping of cortico-striatal connectivity in Parkinson's disease. Helmich RC, Derikx LC, Bakker M, Scheeringa R, Bloem BR, Toni I. Cereb Cortex 2010.
- The ParkinsonNet concept: development, implementation and initial experience. Nijkrake MJ, Keus SH, Overeem S et al. Mov Disord 2010.
- Directional sensitivity of "first trial" reactions in human balance control. Oude Nijhuis LB, Allum JH, Borm GF, Honegger F, Overeem S, Bloem BR. J Neurophysiol 2009.
- Images in clinical medicine. Cycling for freezing of gait. Snijders AH, Bloem BR. N Engl J Med 2010.
- Neurological gait disorders in elderly people: clinical approach and classification. Snijders AH, van de Warrenburg BP, Giladi N, Bloem BR. Lancet Neurol 2007.
The main interest here is in health care innovation, aiming to develop and scientifically evaluate patient-centered collaborative care. Examples include the development of new therapeutic strategies (mainly allied health care interventions), the development and implementation of guidelines, diagnostic studies (including analyses of cerebrospinal fluid for early diagnosis) and clinical trials.
Selected publications
- Evidence-based analysis of physical therapy in Parkinson's disease with recommendations for practice and research. Keus SH, Bloem BR, Hendriks EJ, Bredero-Cohen AB, Munneke M. Mov Disord 2007.
- Physical therapy in Parkinson's disease: evolution and future challenges. Keus SH, Munneke M, Nijkrake MJ, Kwakkel G, Bloem BR. Mov Disord 2009.
- Efficacy of community-based physiotherapy networks for patients with Parkinson's disease: a cluster-randomised trial. Munneke M, Nijkrake MJ, Keus SH et al. Lancet Neurol 2010.
- Multidisciplinary care for patients with Parkinson's disease. Van der Marck MA, Kalf JG, Sturkenboom IH, Nijkrake M, Munneke M, Bloem BR. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders 2009.
Van de Warrenburg’s research focuses on the complex physiology and genetics of neurological movement disorders. This is done firstly by attempts to identify new genes for ataxia, Parkinson’s disease (PD), dystonia and spastic paraplegia and by studying clinicogenetic correlations in these diseases. For PD, this also includes more complex genetic studies (associated with disease risk, disease modulating factors). He then moves on to use patients with mutations in genes that lead to these movement disorders, both in the presymptomatic and symptomatic stages, to unravel the brain mechanisms that underlie these motor disorders and to explore the potential compensatory mechanisms. As tools, functional MRI is applied in combination with neuromodulatory interventions (TMS).
Selected publications
- The clinical approach to movement disorders. Abdo WF, van de Warrenburg BP, Burn DJ, Quinn NP, Bloem BR. Nat Rev Neurol 2010.
- Identification of a novel SCA14 mutation in Dutch autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) families. Van de Warrenburg BP, Verbeek DS, Peirsma SJ, Hennekam FA, Pearson PL, Knoers NV, Kremer HP, Sinke RJ. Neurology 2003.
- Age at onset variance analysis in spinocerebellar ataxias: a study in a large Dutch-French cohort. Van de Warrenburg BP, Hendriks H, Dürr A, van Zuijlen MC, Stevanin G, Camuzat A, Sinke RJ, Brice A, Kremer HP. Ann Neurol 2005.
- Mapping of the SCA23 locus involved in Autosomal Dominant Cerebellar Ataxia to chromosome region 20p13-12.3. Verbeek DS, van de Warrenburg BP, Wesseling P, Pearson PL, Kremer HP, Sinke RJ. Brain 2004.
Esselink’s research focuses on effects of Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson’s disease (PD). More recently it moved on to non-motor aspects of Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism, specifically cognitive and neuropsychiatric aspects. Within the latter topic current and future research will focus on clinical aspects, unraveling the complex relation between cognition and gait and balance disorders, and the genetic background of cognitive and neuropsychiatric aspects.
Selected publications
- Unilateral pallidotomy versus bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation in Parkinson’s disease: a randomized, observer-blind, multi-center trial. Esselink RAJ, de Bie RMA, de Haan RJ, Lenders MWPM, Nijssen PCG,Staal MJ, Smeding HMM, Schuurman PR, Bosch DA, Speelman JD. Neurology 2004.
- Long-term superiority of subthalamic nucleus stimulation over pallidotomy in Parkinson’s disease. Esselink RAJ, de Bie RMA, de Haan RJ, Lenders MWPM, Nijssen PCG, van Laar T, Schuurman PR, Bosch DA, Speelman JD. Neurology 2009.
- Qualitative study on the impact of falling in frail older persons and family caregivers: foundations for an intervention to prevent falls. Faes MC, Reelick MF, Joosten-Weyn Banningh LW, Gier MD, Esselink RA, Olde Rikkert MG. Aging Ment Health 2010.
- The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale in Parkinson’s Disease. International Validation Study. Martinez-Martin P, Rodriguez-Blazquez C, Abe K, Bhattacharyya KB, Bloem B, Carod-Artal FJ, Dill B, Esselink R, Falup-Pecurariu C, Gallardo M, Mir P, Naidu Y, Nicoletti A, Sethi K, Tsuboi Y, van Hilten JJ, Visser M, Zappia M, Chaudhuri KR. Neurology 2009.
- Unilateral pallidotomy versus bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation in PD - a comparison of neuropsychological effects. Smeding HM, Esselink RA, Schmand B, Koning-Haanstra M, Nijhuis I, Wijnalda EM, Speelman JD. J Neurol 2005.
Post’s research focuses on progression, prognosis and clinimetrics of early Parkinson’s disease. Future research will address important clinical questions by the use of clinical trials and prospective cohort studies. This research will be done in close collaborations with other members of our group.
Selected publications
- Cognitive profile of incident Parkinson’s disease. Muslimovic D, Post B, Speelman JD, and Schmand B. Neurology 2005.
- Motor procedural learning in Parkinson’s disease. Muslimovic D, Post B, Speelman JD, Schmand B. Brain 2007.
- The Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale motor examination: Are ratings of nurses, residents in neurology, and movement disorders specialists interchangeable? Post B, Merkus MP, de Bie RMA, de Haan RJ, Speelman JD. Movement Disorders 2005.
- Prognostic factors for the progression of Parkinson’s disease; a systematic review of literature. Post B, Merkus MP, de Haan RJ, Speelman JD. Movement Disorders 2007.
- Clinical heterogeneity in newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease. Post B, de Haan RJ, Speelman JD. J Neurol 2008.
- Determinants of disability and quality of life in mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. Post B, Muslimovic D, Speelman JD, Schmand B, de Haan RJ. Neurology 2008.
- Juvenile rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism due to a de novo mutation in the ATP1A3 gene. Post B, Ozelius LJ, Tijssen MAJ. J Pediatr Neurol 2009.
- Transient parkinsonism in isolated extrapontine myelinolysis. Post B, van Gool WA, Tijssen MAJ. Neurol Sci 2009.
- Clinimetric evaluation of the AMC Linear Disability Score (ALDS) in Parkinson’s disease. Weisscher N, Post B, Holman R, Glas CAW, de Haan RJ, Speelman JD, Vermeulen M. Neurology 2007.
Sleep disorders are strikingly prevalent in neurodegenerative disorders and in neurological movement disorders in particular. Overeem's research uses the knowledge obtained in primary neurogical sleep disorders such as narcolepsy to further understand and treat sleep disturbances in movement disorders. As an example, hypocretin defects -the primary culprit in narcolepsy- are shown to be one of the factors leading to excessive daytime sleepiness in PD. Interestingly, sleep can also benefit PD patients: after sleep, about half of patients experience a clear improvement in motor functioning. Understanding and harnessing this 'sleep benefit' may lead to fundamentally new treatment strategies.
Selected publications
- Hypocretin (orexin) loss in Parkinson's disease. Fronczek R, Overeem S, Lee SY, Hegeman IM, van Pelt J, van Duinen SG, Lammers GJ, Swaab DF. Brain 2008.
- Hypocretin/orexin disturbances in neurological disorders. Fronczek R, Baumann CR, Lammers GJ, Bassetti CL, Overeem S. Sleep Med Rev 2009.
- Normal hypocretin-1 levels in Parkinson's disease patients with excessive daytime sleepiness. Overeem S, van Hilten JJ, Ripley B, Mignot E, Nishino S, Lammers GJ. Neurology 2002.
- The hypothalamus in episodic brain disorders. Overeem S, van Vliet JA, Lammers GJ, Zitman FG, Swaab DF, Ferrari MD. Lancet Neurol 2002.
- Narcolepsy and familial advanced sleep-phase syndrome: molecular genetics of sleep disorders. Tafti M, Dauvilliers Y, Overeem S. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2007.
Praamstra’s main research focus is the role of the basal ganglia (and basal ganglia-cortical circuits) in higher level motor control. Research methods are EEG/MEG and TMS. Recent work includes investigations of response selection deficits in Parkinson’s disease, timing and the basal ganglia, abnormal oscillatory synchrony, and neural correlates of reach movement decisions.
Selected publications