What if Parkinson’s disease could be detected years before a tremor ever appears, perhaps with a simple genetic test? The PINK1 gene can cause people as young as their teens to develop Parkinson’s disease. Join neurologist and Neurological Foundation VJ Chapman Fellow Dr Joseph Donnelly for a fascinating look into the emerging science of early Parkinson’s detection in our Pacific community, and what it could mean for the future.

Fresh from his recent research trip to Samoa, Joe will share what he observed and learned from local communities and doctors as he worked to recruit patients for a groundbreaking PINK1 Parkinson’s research project. You’ll hear about the challenges of working in a nation that has no neurologist to serve its population of 220,000 people. Joe will also share the story of the difference he was able to make in one young man’s life. 

Joseph’s project aims to answer important questions: What does this early‑onset Parkinson’s look like? How does it respond to treatment? And what might it teach us about Parkinson’s disease in older adults?

Watch memory expert Distinguished Professor Cliff Abraham as he shares his extraordinary story at a once-in-a-lifetime event in Auckland. He’ll be joined onstage by young PhD researcher Jim Davies and the Neurological Foundation’s Head of Research, Sarah Schonberger, for a truly special evening. RNZ’s Anna Thomas will host with her trademark warmth and curiosity. You’ll hear about these incredible researchers’ personal journeys, learn what motivates them, and discover what you can do to keep your own memory safe. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a living legend while learning how memory, and memories, make us who we are.

Spinal cord injuries and TBI are often treated as two separate things. However, in Aotearoa, research shows that many people admitted with spinal cord injuries also have a traumatic brain injury which is often overlooked. These hidden injuries can affect recovery, rehabilitation, and daily life.
In Part 3 of our Digital Discovery Series on head impacts, join Associate Professor Debbie Snell from the University of Otago as she shares the latest research on how brain injuries can be missed, what symptoms to look out for and why early recognition matters.

Learn all about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) from Dr Viswas Dayal, a neurologist with special expertise in this life-changing procedure. What the video shows:

• A description of DBS
• What to expect before, during and after the surgery
• Possible side-effects
• A chat with one of Dr Dayal's patients, Stephen Goodman, who demonstrates the dramatic effect it has had on his quality of life 

In 2016, Dr Dayal carried out research into DBS and Parkinson’s disease at University College London on a $107,000 Neurological Foundation Chapman Fellowship, and later brought his expertise back to New Zealand. 

In this engaging presentation by Dr Erin Cawston, one of the lead investigators at the Dementia Prevention Research Clinic in Auckland, along with PhD candidate Harriet Spoelstra, they discussed their groundbreaking research on the brain's early biological signals detected in blood. They shared insights on how this knowledge could help identify individuals at risk of developing dementia.