Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS) is widely used as an outcome measure in MSA trials, but it has limitations for clinical trial use. To address these, we developed the Multiple System Atrophy Combined Outcome Assessment (MuSyCA), a comprehensive multimodal tool for disease-modifying MSA trials. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the development and validation plan for MuSyCA, with emphasis on its structure, intended use, and assessment of reliability, validity, and sensitivity in tracking disease progression. METHODS:The development of MuSyCA followed a multistep process. Candidate outcome assessments were identified through systematic literature review and analysis of longitudinal data from large MSA cohorts. Content was refined through multiple Delphi-like consensus rounds involving MSA experts, patient advocacy groups representatives, and industry stakeholders. Cognitive interviews conducted in 20  patients with MSA evaluated the clarity and clinical relevance of patient- and clinician-reported outcomes; feedback was incorporated into a subsequent version of the MuSyCA. Validation is ongoing and includes assessment of construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and responsiveness. Longitudinal analyses to determine sensitivity to change over time are ongoing. RESULTS:MuSyCA combines patient- and clinician-reported outcomes, biomarkers (neurofilament light chain, neuroimaging), and performance-based measures to capture subjective and objective aspects of MSA progression, enhancing its utility  to detect treatment effects in clinical trials. MuSyCa is not intended to be used in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS:MuSyCA offers a multidimensional approach to MSA assessment, supporting precise, disease-relevant evaluations in trials of putative disease-modifying therapies. Its validation will provide a standardized multimodal outcome measure, advancing MSA therapeutic development.

BACKGROUND:Pain affects up to 87% of people with multiple system atrophy (MSA), but it remains unclear which types of pain contribute most to the overall burden. OBJECTIVE:To estimate the frequency of different types of pain in MSA individuals. METHODS:In 2023, individuals with MSA completed a web-based survey that included the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Questionnaire (KPPQ) and additional questions addressing pain related to MSA core features (eg, coat-hanger pain, pain due to bladder-issues, cold extremities, bruises, and pressure sores). Respondents were matched by age, gender, and disease duration with historical cohorts of individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy controls (n = 96 each) who had previously completed the KPPQ. RESULTS:One hundred and fifty-seven MSA individuals with pain completed the survey. The most frequently reported KPPQ types of pain were nocturnal pain (73%), musculoskeletal pain (63%), and fluctuation-related pain (62%). Common additional pain sources included coat-hanger pain (59%), cold extremities (48%), and bruises (44%). All KPPQ pain types were significantly more frequent in MSA than in healthy controls, except for musculoskeletal pain (63% vs. 66%, P = 0.722). Compared with PD, MSA individuals reported less musculoskeletal (63% vs. 78%, P = 0.023), but more orofacial pain (32% vs. 12%, P < 0.001) on the KPPQ. CONCLUSIONS:MSA is associated with both non-specific and disease-related pain types, which may be neuropathic, nociceptive, nociplastic, or mixed in nature. These findings inform the development of tailored tools for identifying distinct pain sources in MSA, as each may require a specific therapeutic approach, including targeted treatment of motor and non-motor symptoms. © 2026 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. © 2026 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the test performance of cutaneous phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (P-SYN) in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), individuals with reduced Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and healthy controls. METHODS:This is the first subgroup analysis of the Synuclein-One study, a prospective, blinded study evaluating P-SYN detection from skin biopsies in 218 subjects with a referral diagnosis of control (N = 151) and DLB (N = 67). All subjects completed detailed examinations, questionnaires, and had skin biopsies for detection of P-SYN. DLB patients were included if meeting the 4th DLB consensus probable criteria. Control subjects, aged 40-99, had no history, examination findings, or symptoms suggestive of a synucleinopathy or neurodegenerative disease. An expert review panel, blinded to pathological data, determined the final diagnosis. Controls with reduced MoCA (MoCA < 26, N = 26) at screening were analyzed separately. RESULTS:After expert panel review, only 50/67 patients met consensus criteria for DLB, 26/151 controls had a reduced MoCA, and 120/151 controls had a normal MoCA. The proportions of subjects with cutaneous P-SYN detected by skin biopsy were 96.0% (48 of 50) of the DLB group, 31% (8 of 26) of the controls with reduced MoCA, and 3.3% (4 of 120) of the controls with normal MoCA. INTERPRETATION/CONCLUSIONS:In this prospective, blinded, cross-sectional study, a high proportion of subjects meeting clinical consensus criteria for DLB had P-SYN detected in skin biopsies. Almost 1/3 of subjects with reduced MoCA testing also had P-SYN detected. These results support a role for skin biopsy detection of P-SYN in patients with DLB. TRIAL REGISTRATION/BACKGROUND:NCT04700722.

BACKGROUND:Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a hereditary neurodevelopmental disorder caused by aberrant splicing of the ELP1 gene, leading to a tissue-specific reduction in ELP1 protein expression. Preclinical models indicate that increasing ELP1 levels can mitigate disease manifestations. A blood-based ELP-1 protein assay may provide a reliable way to monitor gene target engagement. DESIGN AND METHODS/METHODS:Using a newly developed radioimmunoassay, we quantified ELP1 protein levels in peripheral blood samples collected from 59 homozygous FD patients carrying the IVS20 + 6T>C mutation and 66 heterozygous carriers. To assess the reproducibility of the measurement, replicate samples were collected in 43 participants. Longitudinal variability was evaluated in 22 participants who underwent repeat sampling 1 year later. RESULTS: = 0.827, p < 0.001). An ELP1 threshold of 492 pg/mL yielded a sensitivity of 80.2% (CI of 70.6 to 87.2%) and a specificity of 98.2% (95% CI of 90%-99%) with a positive likelihood ratio of 46.5, indicating that individuals with FD were over 46 times more likely to have ELP1 levels below this threshold compared to non-affected carriers. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Blood ELP1 levels are robust and reproducible, with concentrations below 492 pg/mL strongly indicative of disease. Moreover, given their longitudinal stability, ELP1 can serve as a marker of target engagement to evaluate the efficacy of gene-targeted therapies aimed at correcting ELP1 gene splicing and protein production.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:Establish the minimally clinically important difference (MCID) for the Orthostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ). BACKGROUND:Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) causes disabling symptoms that impair daily function and quality of life. The OHQ is a validated patient-reported outcome with a symptom assessment (OHSA) and daily activity scale (OHDAS), widely used in clinical trials, despite the MCID being unestablished. METHODS:We analyzed data from two phase 3, randomized placebo-controlled trials (SEQUOIA and REDWOOD), evaluating ampreloxetine for symptomatic nOH in patients with Parkinson disease, multiple system atrophy, and pure autonomic failure. Using anchor-based and distribution-based methods, we calculated the MCID for the total OHQ score, OHSA and OHDAS composite subscales, and for the single dizziness/lightheadedness question (OHSA1). RESULTS:The analysis included 184 subjects from SEQUOIA and 128 from REDWOOD. The total OHQ MCID for improvement was a reduction of 0.9-1.2 points and for worsening was an increase of 0.7-1.1 points. The MCID for the OHSA composite ranged from a reduction of 0.9-1.3 points for improvement and an increase of 0.7-1.1 points for worsening. For the single-item OHSA1, the MCID was a reduction of 2.0-3.0 points for improvement and an increase of 1.0 point for worsening. Owing to poor correlation with the symptom-based anchors, a reliable MCID for the OHDAS component was not established. CONCLUSIONS:These MCID thresholds for the OHQ, OHSA and OHSA item 1 alone, enhance the interpretability of scores and support their use in evaluating clinical benefit.

INTRODUCTION/UNASSIGNED:. AREAS COVERED/UNASSIGNED:The authors searched PubMed, GoogleScholar, and clinicaltrials.gov for all types of studies regarding the genetic basis of FD and recent advances in the development of disease-modifying therapies, including publications available through November 2025. EXPERT OPINION/UNASSIGNED:Experimental evidence indicates that boosting ELP1 protein levels could halt disease progression. Several small molecules and genetic therapies have shown the ability to enhance wild-type ELP1 mRNA and protein expression in animal models. An ongoing N-of-1 clinical trial is evaluating the intrathecal administration of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) designed to correct the splicing defect in an individual with FD. Combining small molecules, such as optimized potent oral kinetin derivatives, with intrathecal antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and intravitreal gene therapy using viral vectors presents a synergistic therapeutic approach to elevate ELP1 levels. Assessing the efficacy and safety of these targeted strategies will require innovative, well-designed clinical trials.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:Pyridostigmine bromide is a short-acting carbamate acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that has been shown to acutely augment parasympathetic signaling in cardiovascular disease populations. OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:This study was undertaken to characterize pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of pyridostigmine during repeated dosing in patients with heart failure. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:A prospective ascending-dose, forced titration, double-blind Phase II randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare the effects of pyridostigmine bromide (15, 30, and 60 mg TID over 8 weeks) versus matching placebo on red blood cell (RBC) acetylcholinesterase activity, cholinergic side effects, and physiologic measures of parasympathetic heart rate modulation and sympathovagal balance in ambulatory patients with chronic systolic heart failure. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:< 0.001 vs placebo). Physiologic measures of parasympathetic heart rate modulation and sympathovagal balance did not differ between treatment groups. In the pyridostigmine bromide group, RBC acetylcholinesterase activity was not significantly associated with postexercise parasympathetic heart modulation. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:Pyridostigmine bromide administered over 8 weeks was associated with a significant reduction of RBC acetylcholinesterase activity and relatively mild symptoms of cholinergic excess, but changes in parasympathetic signaling in the sinoatrial node previously reported after acute administration were not observed. Further investigations are needed to delineate pharmacodynamic and pathobiological factors contributing to these findings. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01415921.