Neurology

Research group's organization

This group consists of researchers employed across various clinics in Møre and Romsdal Hospital Trust (HMR). Their research focuses on multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, Lyme disease, vertigo, and cerebrovascular disease. The goal is to secure funding for ongoing research in these areas, aiming to improve quality and robustness.

The group comprises six clinicians with a PhD and four PhD students. Two part-time researchers with PhDs also supervise PhD students, while another team member balances full-time clinical work with a role as a PhD supervisor.

Actively participating in national multicenter studies, particularly in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, cerebrovascular disease, and motor neuron disease, the group is also involved in studies led by the pharmaceutical industry. They collaborate with research groups nationally, including those from Oslo University Hospital, Haukeland University Hospital, St. Olavs Hospital, and NeuroSysmed. Group leadership is held by the head of the neurology department, who holds a formal 40% position as a researcher.

While the group has some funding for smaller projects, securing funding for PhD and postdoc positions relies heavily on external sources. Funding from multicenter studies is primarily allocated to infrastructure support, including the employment of a research nurse.

Research group's strategy

The main strategy is to establish the research group. Thereafter we will describe further goals including plans for recruitment of researchers, research projects and funding. It is also important to develop further research networks with universities and university colleges, especially the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and Molde University College, and research groups in other health trusts. Since there already are such contacts the work will focus on further development of already established contacts.

Brodtkorb E, Myren-Svelstad S, Arntsen V, Bjørnvold M, Spigset O, Nakken KO. [Nicotine as a precision treatment for epilepsy]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2022;142(7). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.22.0139

 

Brodtkorb E, Myren-Svelstad S, Knudsen-Baas KM, Nakken KO, Spigset O. Precision treatment with nicotine in autosomal dominant sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (ADSHE): An observational study of clinical outcome and serum cotinine levels in 17 patients. Epilepsy Res. 2021;178:106792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2021.106792

 

Bye HH, Solianik VV, Five M, Agai MS. Stereotypes of Women and Men Across Gender Subgroups. Front Psychol. 2022;13:881418. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.881418

 

Diaz Verdugo C, Myren-Svelstad S, Aydin E, Van Hoeymissen E, Deneubourg C, Vanderhaeghe S, et al. Glia-neuron interactions underlie state transitions to generalized seizures. Nat Commun. 2019;10(1):3830. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11739-z

 

Eid K, Torkildsen Ø F, Aarseth J, Flemmen H, Holmøy T, Lorentzen Å R, et al. Perinatal Depression and Anxiety in Women With Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-Based Cohort Study. Neurology. 2021;96(23):e2789-e800. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000012062

 

Eldøen G, Kvalheim SE, Thesen T, Mygland Å, Ljøstad U, Bakke S, et al. Web-based vestibular rehabilitation in persistent postural-perceptual dizziness. Brain Behav. 2021;11(10):e2346. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2346

 

Eldøen G, Ljøstad U, Goplen FK, Aamodt AH, Mygland Å. Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2019;139(9). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.18.0962

 

Engstrøm M, Aarrestad S, Eldøen G, Alme A, Bjørge T, Miljeteig H, et al. [New recommendations for objective investigation of sleep and sleep disorders]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2018;138(19). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.18.0741

 

Halgunset J, Myren-Svelstad S. [Urine examination throughout the ages]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2018;138(6). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.17.0322

 

Henjum K, Godang K, Quist-Paulsen E, Idland AV, Neerland BE, Sandvig H, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid catecholamines in delirium and dementia. Brain Commun. 2021;3(3):fcab121. https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcab121

 

Hotz AL, Jamali A, Rieser NN, Niklaus S, Aydin E, Myren-Svelstad S, et al. Loss of glutamate transporter eaat2a leads to aberrant neuronal excitability, recurrent epileptic seizures, and basal hypoactivity. Glia. 2022;70(1):196-214. https://doi.org/10.1002/glia.24106

 

Hustad E, Myklebust T, Gulati S, Aasly JO. Increased Mortality in Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease. J Mov Disord. 2021;14(3):214-20. https://doi.org/10.14802/jmd.21029

 

Hustad E, Skogholt AH, Hveem K, Aasly JO. The accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of Parkinson disease. The HUNT study. J Neurol. 2018;265(9):2120-4. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-018-8969-6

 

Hustad E, Aasly JO. Clinical and Imaging Markers of Prodromal Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurol. 2020;11:395. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2020.00395

 

Ichinose H, Inoue KI, Arakawa S, Watanabe Y, Kurosaki H, Koshiba S, et al. Alterations in the reduced pteridine contents in the cerebrospinal fluids of LRRK2 mutation carriers and patients with Parkinson's disease. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2018;125(1):45-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-017-1784-x

 

Ildstad F, Ellekjær H, Wethal T, Lydersen S, Sund JK, Fjærtoft H, et al. Stroke risk after transient ischemic attack in a Norwegian prospective cohort. BMC Neurol. 2019;19(1):2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-018-1225-y

 

Ljøstad U, Eldøen G, Goplen FK, Aamodt AH, Mygland Å. [Assessment in cases of acute dizziness]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2019;139(9). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.18.0958

 

Lossius K, de Saint Martin A, Myren-Svelstad S, Bjørnvold M, Minken G, Seegmuller C, et al. Remarkable effect of transdermal nicotine in children with CHRNA4-related autosomal dominant sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2020;105:106944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.106944

 

Majbour NK, Aasly JO, Hustad E, Thomas MA, Vaikath NN, Elkum N, et al. CSF total and oligomeric α-Synuclein along with TNF-α as risk biomarkers for Parkinson's disease: a study in LRRK2 mutation carriers. Transl Neurodegener. 2020;9(1):15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-020-00192-4

 

Morsund Å H, Ellekjaer H, Gramstad A, Reiestad MT, Midgard R, Sando SB, et al. The development of cognitive and emotional impairment after a minor stroke: A longitudinal study. Acta Neurol Scand. 2019;140(4):281-9. https://doi.org/10.1111/ane.13143

 

Morsund Å H, Ellekjær H, Gramstad A, Reiestad MT, Midgard R, Sando SB, et al. Cognitive and Emotional Impairment after Minor Stroke and Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI): A Prevalence Study. Stroke Res Treat. 2019;2019:2527384. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2527384

 

Morsund Å H, Ellekjær H, Gramstad A, Reiestad MT, Midgard R, Sando SB, et al. Factors influencing employment after minor stroke and NSTEMI. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2020;29(9):105036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.105036

 

Myren-Svelstad S, Fjær R. [We suggest ‘antiseizure epileptic drug’]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2020;140(14). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.20.0746

 

Myren-Svelstad S, Jamali A, Ophus SS, D'Gama P P, Ostenrath AM, Mutlu AK, et al. Elevated photic response is followed by a rapid decay and depressed state in ictogenic networks. Epilepsia. 2022;63(10):2543-60. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.17380

 

Olsen CG, Busk Ø L, Aanjesen TN, Alstadhaug KB, Bjørnå IK, Braathen GJ, et al. Genetic Epidemiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Norway: A 2-Year Population-Based Study. Neuroepidemiology. 2022;56(4):271-82. https://doi.org/10.1159/000525091

 

Pedersen RA, Petursson H, Hetlevik I. Stroke follow-up in primary care: a prospective cohort study on guideline adherence. BMC Fam Pract. 2018;19(1):179. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-018-0872-9

 

Pedersen RA, Petursson H, Hetlevik I. Stroke follow-up in primary care: a Norwegian modelling study on the implications of multimorbidity for guideline adherence. BMC Fam Pract. 2019;20(1):138. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-019-1021-9

 

Pedersen RA, Petursson H, Hetlevik I, Thune H. Stroke follow-up in primary care: a discourse study on the discharge summary as a tool for knowledge transfer and collaboration. BMC Health Serv Res. 2021;21(1):41. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-06021-8

 

Ratajczak-Tretel B, Lambert AT, Johansen H, Halvorsen B, Bjerkeli V, Russell D, et al. Atrial fibrillation in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischaemic attack - The Nordic Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke (NOR-FIB) Study: Rationale and design. Eur Stroke J. 2019;4(2):172-80. https://doi.org/10.1177/2396987319837089

 

Solheim AM, Lorentzen Å R, Dahlberg AO, Flemmen H, Brune S, Forselv KJN, et al. Six versus 2 weeks treatment with doxycycline in European Lyme neuroborreliosis: a multicentre, non-inferiority, double-blinded, randomised and placebo-controlled trial. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022;93(11):1222-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2022-329724

 

Villagrán A, Eldøen G, Duncan R, Aaberg KM, Hofoss D, Lossius MI. Incidence and prevalence of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in a Norwegian county: A 10-year population-based study. Epilepsia. 2021;62(7):1528-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.16949

 

Willumsen JS, Flusund AH, Blomkvist GEG. When intracranial pressure is low. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2021;141(2021-17). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.21.0447

 

Willumsen JS, Grytten N, Aarseth J, Myklebust T, Myhr KM, Midgard R. Mortality and cause of death in multiple sclerosis in western Norway 1950-2021: a registry-based linkage study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022;93(11):1154-61. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2022-329169

 

Willumsen JS, Aarseth JH, Myhr KM, Midgard R. High incidence and prevalence of MS in Møre and Romsdal County, Norway, 1950-2018. Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm. 2020;7(3). https://doi.org/10.1212/nxi.0000000000000713

 

Aamodt AH, Bjørk MH, Alstadhaug KB, Eldøen G, Dueland AN, Poole T, et al. Practical management of headache. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2019;139(7). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.18.0837

 

Aamodt AH, Flinstad Harbo H, Eldøen G, Barratt-Due A, Aukrust P. How does COVID-19 affect the brain? Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2020;140(10). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.20.0444

 

Project 1: "Cognitive Impairment of Minor Stroke. An Observational Study of the Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment and Emotional Symptoms and Consequences for Social Function", (2013-2020), NTNU. Cognitive and emotional consequences of a minor stroke. PhD thesis https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2688786  

Project 2: "Parkinson's Disease. From Basic Mechanisms to Illness Progression", (2018-2022), NTNU. The overall aim of this PhD project was to increase knowledge on and deepen understanding of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in Parkinson’s that are needed in clinical trials and patient care. The thesis demonstrates the importance of quality assurance of ICD codes entered into health registers before biological material obtained from these populations can be used to search for new biomarkers for Parkinson's disease.
 https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3005685 

Project 3: "Multiple Sclerosis in Western Norway, Epidemiological Studies of Prevalence, Incidence, Mortality and Age at Disease Onset", NTNU. This study uses 60 years of population-based data on multiple sclerosis MS in Møre og Romsdal county to describe trends in incidence and prevalence of the disease, and to examine prognostic factors for disability and premature death.  

Project 4: "Chronic Lyme Disease - an Approach to Gain a Better Understanding of the Phenomenon", NTNU. The PhD project covers two work packages: In work package 1 we will assess the prevalence of chronic Lyme disease in Norway, record clinical characteristics and assess laboratory signs of previous or ongoing infection with Borrelia burgdorferi or other tick-borne microbes in patients with this diagnosis. Work package two is a randomized penta-blinded placebo controlled clinical trial concerning antibiotic treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis.  Project #602026 - Kronisk Lyme borreliose: En tilnærming mot bedre forståelse av fenomenet. - Cristin 

Project 5: "Challenges in the Follow-Up of Patients with Stroke in General Practice", NTNU. This dissertation consists of two studies with a total of three papers that explore adherence to the guideline in general practice and some of the conditions for adherence to the guideline in general practice. Data were obtained from general practitioners’ (GPs’) offices and from hospitals. The analysis showed that considerable effort was necessary in order to adhere to the overall recommendations in the different guidelines. For a patient with an average number of chronic conditions, 10 to 11 consultations annually were required to check the conditions in the stable phase. More consultations would be necessary in the event of deviating findings, exacerbation of one or more diseases or in the case of intercurrent illness during the period. The discharge summaries from hospitals did not invite to collaboration on patients after discharge and had an untapped potential in knowledge transfer from specialist to primary health care. PhD thesis at: NTNU Open: Challenges in the follow-up of patients with stroke in general practice

Project 6: "Impact of Inflammation on Cognitive Functioning and Brain Pathology in Stroke Survivors"l NTNU. The aim of this study is to investigate possible associations between the properties of the acute and the chronic low-grade inflammatory responses and changes in cognitive function and neuroimaging after stroke, and to explore if the intensity and duration of the inflammatory response is predictive of post-stroke cognitive impairment and progression of neurodegeneration and small vessel disease. Project #549712 - Nor-COAST, Kognitiv svikt etter hjerneslag - Cristin 

 

NB! The Cristin links redirect to the Norwegian version of the page. In order to read the information in English, click "English" in the upper right corner of the Cristin page.

Members with a doctorate degree

Åse Hagen Morsund (Cristin)

Guttorm Eldøen (Cristin)

Magnus Reiestad Tallaksen (Cristin)

Eldbjørg Hustad (Cristin)

Rune Aakvik Pedersen (Cristin)

Sverre Myren Svelstad (Cristin)

PhD candidates

Johannes Willumsen (Cristin)

Audun Olav Dahlberg (Cristin)

Heidi Vihovde Sandvig (Cristin, NTNU)

New PhD candidates in 2023

Vera Solianik (Cristin)