2: From Diagnosis to Intervention in Disorders of Consciousness

Frontlines with Frontera is a NeurologyLive podcast hosted by Jennifer Frontera, MD, professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health. Built for clinicians, the series delivers practical, evidence-driven conversations on high-stakes decision-making in neurocritical care and acute neurology, featuring expert insights from leaders across the field.

In part 2 of this 2-part episode of Frontlines with Frontera, host Jennifer Frontera, MD, professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health, continues her conversation with Brian Edlow, MD, vice chair of research in neurology at Mass General Brigham and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, focusing on the clinical implications of diagnosing covert consciousness. The discussion explores how this diagnosis may influence treatment decisions, including the use of neurostimulants, rehabilitation strategies, and emerging neurotechnologies such as brain-computer interfaces and deep brain stimulation. Edlow also examines the challenges of patient selection, ethical considerations surrounding invasive interventions, and the limitations of current therapeutic approaches. The episode concludes with a forward-looking perspective on advances in diagnostics, personalized brain mapping, and novel neuromodulation strategies that may reshape care for patients with disorders of consciousness.

Episode Breakdown:

• 0:00–3:40 – Clinical impact of diagnosis on care decisions
• 3:40–7:20 – Rehabilitation challenges and cognitive-motor dissociation
• 7:20–11:30 – Brain-computer interfaces: noninvasive vs invasive approaches
• 11:30–15:45 – Ethical considerations and patient selection for intervention
• 15:45–19:30 – Neurostimulation strategies: DBS, TMS, and emerging data
• 19:30–23:10 – Patient experience, quality of life, and uncertainty
• 23:10–26:30 – Future directions: diagnostics, mapping, and therapeutics

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