Translational research in neurology and neuroscience 2011: movement disorders

We provide an update on the state of translational research in movement disorders, using examples of Huntington disease, Parkinson disease, and dystonia. While substantial progress in our understanding of these disorders has been achieved, development of neuroprotective treatments remains an unrealized goal. Here we highlight some of the emerging research areas that show the most promise for translational research in Huntington disease, Parkinson disease, and dystonia. Aetiology and pathogenesis, biomarker directions, and causal treatment opportunities are discussed for each disease, followed by a brief discussion drawing attention to important translational initiatives.