Provided by Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance

This session will explore the growing recognition of gastrointestinal factors in Parkinson's disease, appraising current evidence and speculation surrounding topics like the gut microbiome, diets, bacterial overgrowth, and pathogenic mechanisms. The presentation will evaluate therapies that can bypass gastrointestinal issues to improve medication absorption and management of motor fluctuations, applying best practices through an illustrative case study.

Estimated time to complete activity: 60 minutes

Target Audience

This course is for movement disorder specialists, neurologists, advanced practice providers, and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with a movement or related disorder.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Discuss the basis for the growing interest in the GI tract in PD
• Appraise current issues in managing GI factors and distinguish between evidence‐based and speculative practices
• Evaluate the available therapies that bypass the GI tract
• Apply best practices in managing fluctuating response to PD medications due to GI factors

Faculty

Alissa Higinbotham, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
University of Virginia in Charlottesville

Alissa Higinbotham, MD is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Movement disorder specialist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Wake Forest University graduating summa cum laude and phi beta kappa, followed by her Doctor of Medicine degree at West Virginia University School of Medicine. She trained at Case Western Reserve/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center where she was selected to serve as Chief Resident, and then stayed to complete her Movement Disorder Fellowship. She joined faculty at the University of Virginia in 2023 where she currently serves as the Associate Program Director for the Adult Neurology Residency.

Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships

Parkinson and Movement Disorder Alliance (PMD Alliance) requires faculty, planners, and others in control of educational content to disclose all their financial relationships with ineligible companies.  PMD Alliance is committed to providing its learners with high quality accredited continuing education activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of an ineligible company.

Faculty reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CME activity:

• Alissa Higinbotham, MD 
• Speakers’ Bureau, consultant, and/or advisory board member for Amneal

Planners reported the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities related to the educational content of this CME activity:

• Leslie Cloud, MD
• Site investigator for research supported by Cereval Therapeutics, Bukwang Pharmaceutical, UCB Pharma, and Intracellular Therapies
• Speakers’ Bureau, consultant, and/or advisory board member for Kyowa Kirin and AbbVie
• Britt Stone, MD
• Consultant or advisory board for Boston Scientific
• Jason Rivera, MPH
• No disclosures to report
• Clarisse Goas, NP
• Principal or site investigator for research supported by Prilenia Therapeutics
• Anissa Mitchel, LCSW
• No disclosures to report
• Kelly Papesh, DNP
• Speakers’ Bureau, consultant, and/or advisory board member for Acadia, Amneal, and Supernus 

PMD Alliance has received non-CME educational funding and support from ineligible companies.  This support is not tied to continuing medical education.  These relationships have been mitigated and do not influence CME content.

All identified relevant financial relationships are thoroughly vetted and mitigated according to PMD Alliance CME Program standard operating procedures. 

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by PMD Alliance.  PMD Alliance is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

Physician Continuing Medical Education

PMD Alliance designates this course for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA.  The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.  The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners.  Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development.  The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management.  Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient's conditions and possible contraindications and/or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer's product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Request for Credit

In order to obtain your CME certificate, please follow the directions provided at the conclusion of the course.  

If you have questions regarding the certification of this activity, please contact PMD Alliance at education@pmdalliance.org