NeuroVoices: Sushma Kola, MD, on Integrative Approaches and Research Developments for Neurology Care in 2025

Sushma Kola, MD

(Credit: Allegheny Health Network)

As the clinical community moves further into 2025, the field of neurology is preparing for substantial advancements that have the potential to reshape patient care. The integration of new technologies and therapies is bringing renewed hope for those affected by a wide range of neurological conditions. These developments promise to enhance both treatment options and outcomes, offering patients greater opportunities for improved quality of life. As clinicians look ahead, they are fueled by the excitement of what lies on the horizon, from groundbreaking medical devices to innovative approaches that go beyond traditional treatments.

At the same time, a deeper understanding of neurological conditions is driving the field forward. Clinicians are gaining more insight into complex diseases such as movement disorders, migraine, epilepsy, neuromuscular diseases, sleep disorders, and multiple sclerosis (MS). This evolving knowledge is helping to create more personalized and effective treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs. The combination of novel therapies, emerging technologies, and this broader understanding of neurological diseases marks an exciting time for both healthcare professionals and the patients they serve.

As the field continues to evolve, experts like Sushma Kola, MD, a movement disorder specialist and director of Integrative Neurosciences at Allegheny Health Network, are at the forefront of shaping the future of neurology care. In a new iteration of NeuroVoices, Kola shared her insights on the advancements that are poised to make the most significant impact in the field in 2025. She discussed the integration of new diagnostic tools, the rise of personalized medicine, and the growing potential of wearable devices and biomarkers in clinical practice. Kola also highlighted her optimism for innovations in clinical research, particularly within the movement disorder realm, and emphasized the importance of embracing a holistic approach to patient care.

NeurologyLive: What kind of advancements and innovations in this field do you anticipate will have some of the biggest impacts on care this year?

Sushma Kola, MD: I think the biggest impact for 2025 is going to come from the expansion of integrative neurology and multidisciplinary care teams. Specifically, a lot of neurology focuses on treating patients with chronic neurologic illnesses—things like Parkinson disease, MS, migraine, epilepsy—and right now we certainly don’t have good cures for those conditions. Many of our patients really struggle on a day-to-day basis just trying to optimize their quality of life. I think, with the addition of more places truly adopting integrative medicine, we’ll see a focus on what matters to the patient specifically, and really addressing things beyond medication management. In addition to medications, procedures, and surgeries, what can we do to optimize exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress—all of those things that go hand in hand for the patient but also impact the caregiver as well.

Are there any new diagnostic tools, techniques, or approaches that you're excited about integrating into clinical practice?

I think the advances in personalized medicine are really blossoming. When we think about treating the whole person, and not just applying the same management plan to every patient with Parkinson disease, personalized medicine is making great strides. There are wearable devices that can tell us about patients’ symptoms or whether they’re at risk for something. There are biomarkers now that are really exciting, especially for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer and Parkinson. I think AI is also making great progress, both by providing more clinical guideline support and helping with documentation to alleviate some of the burden that we all face, allowing us to spend more time with our patients.

Is there anything you're looking forward to hearing more about this year in terms of clinical research?

I think, specifically in the Parkinson landscape, which is my specialty, we’ve recently seen the release of the subcutaneous pump, which many of us have been looking forward to for a long time. I’ve started a few patients on it, and I think it’s a really good option for patients with Parkinson who may not be good candidates for deep brain stimulation or who want something before, or in place of, brain surgery. That’s definitely been an exciting development. Additionally, there are now “liquid biopsies,” where we can look at blood-based biomarkers for conditions like Parkinson and Alzheimer. The data on these are still coming out, but I think anything that can help predict neurodegenerative conditions earlier is going to be huge and groundbreaking. If we can reach out to patients before they have symptoms, rather than chasing our tails and treating them after the fact, that will make a significant difference.

Are there any areas of neurology research, specifically in the movement disorder realm, that you are optimistic about for delivering meaningful outcomes for patients in 2025?

I think the biggest thing for 2025 is really people starting to understand and embrace what integrative neurology is. I know a lot of people, probably like myself, had no idea what that meant until I did a fellowship in it. To briefly explain, integrative neurology is about combining conventional medicine—things like procedures, medications, and surgeries—with complementary approaches, such as mind-body therapies, exercise, healthy eating, and socialization. Social connection is huge, because we know isolation makes almost all of these conditions worse. I think focusing on that, and really emphasizing the research (which already shows these approaches are helpful and can reduce morbidity and improve quality of life), is key. It’s also important for people to realize that all of this is evidence-based, based on randomized controlled trials.

Something I’m interested in is working on building a one-stop-shop integrative neuroscience clinic for my patients, where they’ll see a physician like myself who has integrative training, but will also have the support of a rehab team with physical therapists, occupational and speech therapists, a dietitian, a behavioral health counselor, and palliative care support—things like that which our patients all need. Right now, care is so fragmented, and patients often face delays in getting appointments or have to drive around to access all the different parts of their care team. I’m working on building that as the director of integrative neurosciences. I’m also focused on making sure that our patients have community support. When they leave the doctor’s office, are there support groups, exercise classes, or healthy cooking sessions that they can access? These resources are important not just for the patient, but also for their caregiver, so we can help improve their overall well-being.

Transcript edited for clarity. Click here to view more NeuroVoices.