Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases

Thank you to the incredible community who came out for Moving Day at The Villages! Moving Day brings people together to celebrate movement, raise awareness and support the nearly one million Americans living with Parkinson’s disease.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be life-changing for people living with Parkinson’s disease, yet women are still less likely to receive this treatment. In a recent Oprah Daily feature, Dr. Okun explains how DBS works and why it can improve symptoms. 🔗ow.ly/Z4Rr50YveH7

How do social determinants of health shape healthy aging? A new study in PLOS ONE analyzed data from nearly 100,000 adults and found health insurance and employment status were among the strongest predictors of healthy aging. 🔗 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41790796/

After a crash on the slopes, Team USA Paralympian Spencer Wood was diagnosed with a concussion at UF Health, but it didn’t keep him off the mountain. A reminder during #TBIAwarenessMonth to recognize concussion signs and seek care. 🧠 Learn more: youtube.com/watch?v=wCR1ge…

March is MS Awareness Month. MS is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when the immune system damages the myelin, disrupting communication between the brain and body. Learn about our MS & Neuroimmunology Disorders Clinic: fixel.ufhealth.org/ms-neuroimmuno…

The 13th Annual DBS Think Tank was held Sept 2–4, 2025 at the UF Fixel Institute—and the proceedings are now live! This year’s theme, “The Evolving Landscape,” explored the latest advances and future directions in DBS research and care. Read more: frontiersin.org/journals/human…

Cooking should be simple, healthy, and accessible. For National Nutrition Month, Fixel registered dietitian Kaylyn is sharing an easy sheet pan meal plus practical kitchen tips that can help people living with movement disorders cook with more confidence.

In honor of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, join us April 10 (6–7 PM) at The Lynx Bookstore for a conversation with Dr. Michael Okun about his book The Parkinson’s Plan, moderated by UF journalism student Kairi Lowery. • Free event! Learn more: thelynxbooks.com/events/4781020…

March is Essential Tremor Awareness Month. Researchers at the Fixel Institute are working to better understand ET and improve treatments for people living with the condition. Read a recent study on how VIM DBS may affect movement retention in ET: ufh-fixel-a2.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/2026/03/09/new…

This Women’s History Month, we honor trailblazers in Neurology and Neurosurgery whose work still influences how we understand memory, neurodegeneration, movement disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation today. 🧠✨

🥗 March is National Nutrition Month! Small lifestyle habits, like prioritizing protein, getting enough calcium and vitamin D and staying active, can help support strong bones and muscles as we age. 🔗 Learn more in our new blog post: ufh-fixel-a2.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/2026/03/06/foo…

Today we’re incredibly grateful for our Fixel Institute fellows. Your dedication and impact make everything we do possible. Thank you!🧡 Pictured: movement disorders fellows Drs. Anastasia Barnes, Pooja Gupta, and Patricia Grease with Dr. McFarland.

Neurosurgery and neuroscience/neurology research at UF were each ranked No. 2 nationally in National Institutes of Health funding for 2025, according to newly released rankings from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research. Learn more: ufh-fixel-a2.sites.medinfo.ufl.edu/2026/02/27/uf-…

New research co-led by Fixel member Dr. Breton Asken finds higher inflammation is linked to brain white matter changes in former football players — offering insight into memory and behavior changes. Read the news release + full study: ufhealth.org/news/2026/infl…

Presented by the UF Office of Community Relations, Dr. Gregory Pontone will give a talk titled “A New Dawn in Dementia: The Role of Biomarkers in Early Diagnosis” on March 11 at the UF Hilton. To learn more or purchase tickets, please visit the link below ow.ly/k1UI50YkYny

A study by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine suggests frequent diet soda may raise dementia risk. >1 diet soda/day linked to higher risk; regular soda showed no clear link. More research needed on obesity, diabetes, and other factors. 🔗: ow.ly/N26u50Yepqc

This National Caregivers Day, we honor the strength behind every diagnosis. In our new story, Lourdes “Lou” Dosal shares how her caregivers, physicians, social worker and family helped restore her quality of life after Parkinson’s. 🔗 ow.ly/YvPW50YhgRx↗

New research from the Fixel Institute found that in 320K+ Parkinson’s hospitalizations, 18.9% involved a UTI, linked to delirium and longer stays. This highlights the need for early risk ID and careful catheter management. 🔗 …mentdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/md…

We were excited to welcome Dr. Catherine Price to our latest Start & Spark for an engaging discussion on brain health around surgery and anesthesia, and what it means for people with dementia or Parkinson’s disease. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation!

On April 11, 2026, landmarks around the world will light up blue for Spark the Night, a global World Parkinson’s Day initiative led by PD Avengers. 💙 Learn more or register a landmark: worldparkinsonsnight.com