Pankaj Agarwal

Neurotic, Obsessive-compulsive Professional Brain-picker. Lover of Travel, Adventure, Coffee, Sarcasm, and all things Wodehouse. Neurologist, Movement dis.spec.

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

I am happy to announce that I on July 1, I have started a new position as Head of the Department of Neurology at the Global Hospitals, Parel, Mumbai, an institution I have served in for more than a decade, and a place i always considered as my sacred workplace, my second ‘home’

[Michael Okun @MichaelOkun]

If someone offers to sell you stem cells to treat or cure your Parkinson's, do you know what questions to ask and what documents to collect? Two new studies in Nature this week have reignited the topic of stem cells as a treatment for Parkinson's. Spoiler alert: always ask for two documents and take them back to your primary health care team for shared decision making. We can also help you at our Parkinson's Foundation free 18004PDINFO hotline.
Key Points:
- Two new articles out this week in the journal Nature have sparked a ton of questions and interest in stem cells for Parkinson's.
- I commented on these two studies for Medscape noting that, "over the past two plus decades, stem cells have generated “tremendous interest, excitement and hope for Parkinson’s disease. These two most recent studies were small but promising.”
- I cautioned that it’s tough to "judge short- and long-term outcomes because each of the two studies included so few subjects."
- “The safety of each approach was reassuring, and one very important finding was the absence of runaway dyskinesia, which was a ‘showstopper’ for previous Parkinson’s stem cell trials.”
- It is important for patients and families to be wary of what has been referred to as “stem cell tourism.”
- These two newly published studies are both “legitimate,” and not stem cell tourism or 'stem cells for cash.'
- “We now appreciate that there are thousands of clinics around the world offering a stem cell ‘cure for cash’ deal. We are also aware of serious complications resulting from (tourism based) stem cell therapies.”
My take: “We recommend never paying for an unproven experimental treatment. We also recommend that before saying yes to anyone approaching you with 'cash for a stem cell treatment,' that you should request copies of two critical documents: 1- the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to conduct research on you as a human subject, and 2- the informed consent form for research. Bring the documents to your doctor and healthcare team for discussion and shared decision-making." Do not ever be rushed or pressured into this decision. Unfortunately https://t.co/CDbQ5ZszMU includes legitimate trials like these two in Nature, but also is mixed with listings of stem cell tourism. This can be challenging for families to sort out. I recommend petere informationes – ask for information – and include your primary health care team in shared decision making.
https://t.co/R9rfFehBbX #parkinson @ParkinsonDotOrg @FixelInstitute

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@MichaelOkun @MDJ_Journal What a man- a legend! Will always remember - rest in peace 🙏

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@AshuPJadhav Dear Ashutosh, what are the key takeaways from this article?

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@MichaelOkun @DBSThinkTank Fully agree Prof Okun

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

I am confident and excited that together with all my colleagues, we will scale new highs in Neuroscience in the times to come.

#neurology #neuroscience #teaching #mumbai #hospitals

I'm excited to start my new position! #newjob

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

I am happy to announce that I on July 1, I have started a new position as Head of the Department of Neurology at the Global Hospitals, Parel, Mumbai, an institution I have served in for more than a decade, and a place i always considered as my sacred workplace, my second ‘home’

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

I will continue to lead the Movement disorders/DBS program at Global, and my Honorary Teaching faculty position @ KEM hospitals& Seth GS medical college, Mumbai. Thankful to the management for this recognition, all my colleagues, friends, patients and family for their support 🙏

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@JackyGanguly @CurePSP @KristopheDiaz Look forward

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

Indian Agarwal megalencephalic leukodystrophy with cysts is caused by a common MLC1 mutation. https://t.co/lAu8AtY9SI

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@drmankad …by my teacher Dr Bhimsen Singhal, Indian Neurologist- when he saw Agarwal (ethnic community from north India) kids with large heads- this was the pre imaging era.

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@drmankad MLC1 - megalencephalic leukodystrophy of Singhal and vanDerKnapp .. first described from Mumbai,India in the 80s

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

Just a tiny problem - as a Neurologist - I cringed at what this doctor is telling the family. UNTRUE. Vascular dementia is not treated by brain surgery! Meet a neurologist - will do a better job than the scriptwriters for this scene! @shahidkapoor @kaykaymenon02 @PrimeVideoIN

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

Loving Farzi - the series and Shahid’s intense, brooding angst- ridden act! 5 stars!

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@AshwiniBhide @track @MumbaiMetro3 @MahaDGIPR Nice to see - we have hope, still our great city 🌃 Mumbai

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@Dr_Oubre Well said dr Oubre

[Robert Oubre, MD | The Doctor of Documentation @Dr_Oubre]

Don’t do it.

Don't lower your standards because of other’s behavior.

Some days you may not live up to your own standards. That's okay. Forgive yourself and do better tomorrow.

But a career in medicine can be brutal, and one brutal truth is this:

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@ThePunnyWorld Just Love it !

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@ShadiYaghi2 @MichaelOkun @StrokeAHA_ASA @eytanraz @shashank_agarMD @caseyalbin @MicieliA_MD Great: congratulations Shadi 👏🎉 finally

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@MichaelOkun @theneurolander @OGdukeneurosurg @AlbertoEspay Apraxia lid opg (ALO) is a focal dystonia (apraxia:misnomer) just a more restricted form vs Bleph. -only pretarsal orb.Oculi involved (of c both respond to BTX, ALO needs inj. closer to the fissure) / in addn ILPI - inappr Lev palp sup inhibition also involved in pathophys.of ALO

[Pankaj Agarwal @_PankajAg]

@MalathyIyerTOI Profound, indeed