MDS Milestones

“I like to think that patients all over the world have received better care because of what we've done. I like to think that we're closer to finding better treatments and cures than we would be without this Society.

— C. Warren Olanow, MD, FRCPC (1941–2024) 

The First Video Journal

The groundbreaking first video journal in the field, Movement Disorders, was published in 1986. Although it focused on a niche subspecialty, it became one of the top 15 titles in neurology by 2016, and its influence continues to grow. As the scientific discoveries mounted, MDS launched a second fully online peer-reviewed journal, Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, in 2014. 

“That's why these meetings are so important: Scientific interactions. Because if you stay alone, you are genius in isolation.”

— Richard Morimoto, PhD 

The first International Congress was in Washington, DC, USA in 1990 as a joint meeting between two organizations that later merged to become MDS.

Today, the International Congress is the premier scientific meeting in the field, drawing thousands of leading specialists from more than 100 countries every year. It is a convergence point for diverse perspectives: Professionals working across every area of movement disorders exchange ideas, collaborate on global initiatives, and share the most cutting-edge therapeutics and research. 

Setting a New Standard for Assessments

In 2001, MDS undertook an enormous international effort to review the full landscape of rating scales. Leading experts introduced innovations like non-motor domains and rigorous clinimetric testing into the widely used UPDRS. The resulting MDS-UPDRS (2008) has grown into the gold standard for measurement.

MDS now maintains 25+ high-quality scales. Each new update or translation undergoes extensive research to ensure accuracy and consistency worldwide. These reliable assessment tools:

• Provide reproducible, verifiable data for research
• Enable consistent comparison of treatment options
• Allow precise measurement and monitoring of individual patients

Evolving Clinical Guidelines for a Global Scale

MDS Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews adress the challenge of adapting treatment guidelines across different global contexts: They rigorously assess the evidence to curate the most effective clinical approaches, while empowering clinicians to apply their own knowledge of the patient and setting to determine the best course of care. 

MDS expert groups have also defined the foundational clinical criteria for several complex, difficult-to-diagnose disorders — improving recognition worldwide.

Because movement disorders are particularly complex and require specialized skills to care for, MDS makes expert-led training available worldwide. MDS's vast array of educational courses and programs:  

• Address local gaps with tailored courses that target the specific needs of that area
• Provide expertise and funding for other organizations on the ground to offer eduational programs
• Train allied health professionals to round out highly qualified care teams 
• Inspire new trainees to join the field with immersive exploratory courses
• Nurture the next generation of leaders with leadership programs and career development