The 20th congress of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (IPDMS) was recently held at the City Cube in Berlin, Germany.
The 5-day congress started on Sunday the 19th of June 2016 with excellent therapeutic plenary sessions updating the delegates about current treatment options as well as experimental and non-pharmacological strategies for Parkinson’s disease, Dystonia, Ataxia and Chorea. In the evening, the delegates from all around the world were welcomed at the opening ceremony. As part of the ceremony, all IPMDS faculty members were introduced to the delegates with pictures projected onto big screens with classical music as background.
In the following days, several educational sessions delivered in form of teaching courses, workshops, video sessions, and therapeutic sessions expanded our knowledge about the wide and complex spectrum of movement disorders.
On the last day, after an excellent plenary session on restless legs syndrome, REM sleep behaviour disorders and new approaches to sleep in movement disorders, the session on controversies in movement disorders captured the attention of the delegates with passionate discussions. Four key-opinion leaders in the field of movement disorders discussed the pros and cons on the influence of genotypes for treatment decision, and the possible differences between dopamine agonists.
To note, more than 2,000 abstracts were overall presented during lunch and coffee breaks. Some abstracts were selected to be presented during guided poster tours, which are always important appointments to discuss topics with experts of different fields.
The IPMDS congress is an ideal forum for health professionals, clinical and basic researchers at any stage of their careers to discuss the current state of movement disorders, build new collaborations and friendships, and enhance their professional knowledge.
DEU, Deutschland, Germany, Berlin, 19.06.2016: 20th International Congress of Parkinson´s Disease and Movement Disorders, CityCube Berlin. photo: © Jens Jeske/www.jens-jeske.de.
DEU, Deutschland, Germany, Berlin, 23.06.2016: 20th International Congress of Parkinson´s Disease and Movement Disorders, CityCube Berlin. photo: © Jens Jeske/www.jens-jeske.de.
The next and 21st IPMDS congress will be held in June 4th-8th, 2017, in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
by Anna Sauerbier (UK) and Antonella Macerollo (UK), RRFS
