Anna Ignatavicius

Neuroimaging, Network Neuroscience and Neurodegeneration 〰️ PhD Candidate at USYD

[Michael Okun @MichaelOkun]

This important new study in Movement Disorders looked at folks w/ REM sleep behavior disorder, a common early sign of Parkinson’s. The results suggest that fMRI may reveal changes in brain networks long before symptoms of Parkinson’s or dementia w/ Lewy bodies fully emerge.
Key Points:
- fMRI showed progressive disruption of functional brain networks in prodromal Parkinson.
- Changes were especially observed in visual, attentional and motor networks, predicting who later developed Parkinson’s or dementia.
- Altered connectivity in regions rich in cholinergic and noradrenergic systems may signal early neurochemical dysfunction.
My take: It is nice to see MRI technologies entering the discussion for potential markers and biomarkers in Parkinson's. 1- Early detection matters for Parkinson’s and related conditions. 2- REM sleep behavior disorder can be an early warning sign. 3- fMRI may provide sensitive brain markers before clinical symptoms appear. 4- Network changes in the brain are definitely linked to memory, movement and attention. 5- These findings raise hope for earlier intervention and better monitoring in the future.
https://t.co/V0WG4QncZq @ParkinsonDotOrg @FixelInstitute @SfNtweets @movedisorder @MDJ_Journal @movedisorder

[Anna Ignatavicius @a_ignatavicius]

@AnnieGBryant @bendfulcher @jmacshine Congrats Annie!!!

[Anna Ignatavicius @a_ignatavicius]

Disrupted amygdala functional connectivity is mediated by the nucleus basalis of Meynert in Parkinson’s disease patients with hallucinations https://t.co/YiDKERRr4i

[Imaging Neuroscience @ImagingNeurosci]

New paper in Imaging Neuroscience by Isabella F. Orlando, Claire O’Callaghan, et al:

Dopamine alters functional gradients in Parkinson’s disease

https://t.co/A7eXqhBYRj

[Nat Rev Neurology @NatRevNeurol]

New online! Dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson disease dementia — the same or different and is it important? https://t.co/WqiaMOwaDc

[Simon Lewis @profsimonlewis]

Great to see this first publication from Chris Coppin exploring the phenotype of start hesitation in Parkinson's patients with #Freezing of #Gait
Potentially more brainstem correlates... future studies will look at fMRI and neurophysiology. Need to improve treatment options!

[Annie G. Bryant @AnnieGBryant]

x-less Chris Whyte and I introduce a novel data-driven framework to evaluate >200 connectivity-based neural correlates of consciousness! Results are used to quantitatively compare outputs from neurodynamical models tailored to theoretic predictions.
https://t.co/cwQqXtdbGh

[MDS @movedisorder]

Congratulations to Anna Ignatavicius and Tzi Shin Toh for receiving Junior Awards at the #AOPMC. @a_ignatavicius

[Simon Lewis @profsimonlewis]

So proud to see @a_ignatavicius collecting the Young Investgator Award at #AOPMC 2025 for her work in #hallucinations
@DrElieMatar @movedisorder

[Simon Lewis @profsimonlewis]

Very proud moment when you see your own paper shown at an international meeting #AOPMC for the first time. Well done @a_ignatavicius

https://t.co/w9YYTxOkWt

[Simon Lewis @profsimonlewis]

Hope that people enjoy this review about the potential for adaptive DBS to treat #Freezing of Gait (#FOG) in #Parkinson's Disease
https://t.co/LUNfYHVC0F

[Josh Tan @JoshTan19]

Happy to share our preprint looking at cerebellar and subcortical contributions to working memory. Thanks to all the co-authors for their help and guidance during this project!

https://t.co/gULCbyjGpD

[Brandon Munn @DrBMunn]

I am absolutely stoked to share our new study on multiscale neural dynamics across species and behaviour + network simulations exploring their benefits! The best lab going around! Captained by THE @jmacshine 🙌

[Simon Lewis @profsimonlewis]

Very proud of @mattjgeorgiades representing 🇭🇲 at the #MDSCongress Video Challenge
@DrElieMatar @lachychurchill @a_ignatavicius @jackx_anderson @JoelMaamary @JP_neurology

[Lachlan Churchill @lachychurchill]

Enjoyed presenting my poster on longitudinal and structural changes in isolated RBD patients longitudinally. Excited to dive deeper into this research to find more biomarkers of synucleinopathy progression 🧠 @a_ignatavicius @jackx_anderson @profsimonlewis @DrElieMatar

[Lachlan Churchill @lachychurchill]

Day 1 at the International Congress of a Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders conference in Philadelphia! @jackx_anderson @a_ignatavicius @profsimonlewis @DrElieMatar

[Simon Lewis @profsimonlewis]

Full house for a great presentation by @DrElieMatar in the Neuropsychiatry and Cognition session at #MDSCongress
@JenGoldmanMD
@movedisorder

[Lachlan Churchill @lachychurchill]

Having a great time checking out jacks poster! @jackx_anderson @a_ignatavicius

[Nature Neuroscience @NatureNeuro]

During moderate tonic locus coeruleus activation in mice, noradrenaline release engages cortical regions related to associative processing, while burst-like stimulation biases the brain toward sensory processing

https://t.co/UkRCPJsqHv

[Michael Okun @MichaelOkun]

Should we talk more about visual hallucinations in Parkinson's disease and central cholinergic dysfunction? Should we be developing more therapies aimed at cholinergic dysfunction. Ignatavicius, Lewis and colleagues @Brain1878 have a GREAT article on the topic which is a comprehensive review.
Key Points:
- The authors point out that visual hallucinations are common in Parkinson’s disease.
- They are associated w/ cognitive decline, increased mortality and early institutionalization.
- Their main point is that convergent evidence suggests 'degeneration within the central cholinergic system' is important to the development of visual hallucinations.
- Could cholinergic dysfunction serve as a 'unifying neurobiological substrate.'
Key Points: This concept makes sense because cholinergic neurotransmission has such a large effect on cognitive processes it would follow logically that hallucinations would be part of this pathway. Should we be using more cholinesterase inhibitors and developing more and 'better' therapies which operate on this network?
https://t.co/eEt4aeWPJg #parkinson #psychosis #hallucinations