Faculty
Joseph Friedman
Clin Professor of Neurology:
BIO MED NEUROLOGY
Phone: +1 401 921 4203
Joseph_Friedman@Brown.EDU
Read Joseph Friedman's full Faculty Research Profile.
Research Interests
I am interested in all aspects of movement disorders. I spend most of my time seeing patients with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders and have research interests in behavioral aspects of Parkinson's disease, particularly drug induced psychosis and fatigue. I am also interested in Huntington's disease, Machado-Joseph disease (spino cerebellar ataxia type 3), episodic ataxia type 2, as well as drug induced movement disorders.
Biography
I obtained my bachelor's degree at the University of Chicago in mathematics, master's degree in math from Washington University, MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Neurology Residency at the Neurological Institute of New York, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and then moved to R.I. in 1982. I pursue clincal research related to movement disorders, primarily Parksinon's disease, but also Huntington's disease, drug induced movement disorders, Machado-Joseph disease, etc.
Interests
I have been involved in studying behavioral aspects of Parkinson's disease as my main focus. I am also interested in drug induced movement disorders, particularly those induced by antipsychotic drugs. I have been evaluating the atypical antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of drug induced psychosis in PD since 1984 and am involved, as PI of one multi center trial and as consultant in another. I have also been trying to better understand fatigue in PD, an area that has been little explored. I collaborate extensively, and am currently involved in a study of a cholinesterase inhibiting drug to improve cognitive function in non-demented PD patients. We are hoping to explore the role, if any, of diminished smell in PD patients with weight loss. We are participating in multicenter NIH funded studies evaluating the role of genetics in PD, and will be involved in clinical trials funded by the NIH of neuroprotective agents in PD, and in Huntington's disease.
Teaching
I supervise Neurology residents rotating through the Movement Disorders Center. I also teach medical students in NS 262. Geriatric Internal Medicine fellows also rotate through our PD and movement disorders clinic. Brown medical students may rotate with us on their longitudinal rotation. I have been the director of Neurology Grand Rounds at Brown since their inception.