Sule Tinaz, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of NeurologyCards
Appointments
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Neurology
Biography
Dr. Tinaz attended medical school at the University of Istanbul Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. As a clinical research fellow at the Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Division at the Department of Neurology, Istanbul University, she was an associate investigator and member of the clinical team of the first epidemiological study on Alzheimer's disease in Turkey. She expanded her skills to include neuroimaging as a graduate student of the Program in Neuroscience and Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory at Boston University. She completed her residency training in Neurology at the Boston University Medical Center. During her fellowship in the Human Motor Control Section at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, she was involved in the clinical evaluation and care of patients with the full spectrum of movement disorders including Parkinson's disease, dystonia, Tourette's syndrome, essential tremor, and psychogenic movement disorders. She was also the lead investigator of several multimodal neuroimaging projects using functional and structural MRI, and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.
Dr. Tinaz is a board-certified neurologist and treats patients with various movement disorders with a particular interest in Parkinson's disease. She also conducts multimodal neuroimaging research in movement disorders.
Appointments
Neurology
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Botulinum Program
- Center for Brain & Mind Health
- Clinical Neurosciences Imaging Center (CNIC)
- Movement Disorders
- MR Center
- Neurology
- NeuroPET Imaging Program
- Psychiatric Symptoms in Neurology Research Program
- Tinaz Lab
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Human Motor Control Section (2015)
- Residency
- Boston University Medical Center (2010)
- Internship
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center (2007)
- PhD
- Boston University Program in Neuroscience (2007)
- Fellowship
- Department of Neurology, Behavioral Neurology and Movement Disorders Division, Istanbul University (2000)
- MD
- Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine (1998)
Research
Overview
My lab investigates the brain changes in movement disorders, especially in Parkinson’s disease using imaging tools including magnetic resonance imaging, dopamine transporter scans, and positron emission tomography. We are particularly interested in investigating the brain plasticity changes in response to mental training and physical exercise in Parkinson’s disease.
Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCID
0000-0003-2220-8278- View Lab Website
Tinaz Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
David Matuskey, MD
Nabeel Nabulsi, PhD
Jean-Dominique Gallezot, PhD
Mark Dias
Shannan Henry
Adam Mecca, MD, PhD
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Parkinson Disease
Publications
2024
Clinical correlates of dopamine transporter availability in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies with [18F]FE-PE2I PET: independent validation with new insights
Honhar P, Sadabad F, Tinaz S, Gallezot J, Dias M, Naganawa M, Yang Y, Henry S, Hillmer A, Gao H, Najafzadeh S, Comley R, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Finnema S, Carson R, Matuskey D. Clinical correlates of dopamine transporter availability in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies with [18F]FE-PE2I PET: independent validation with new insights. Brain Communications 2024, 6: fcae345. PMID: 39429243, PMCID: PMC11487911, DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae345.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDAT availabilityMotor severitySubstantia nigraDopamine transporter availabilityClinical trials of Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's diseaseLongitudinal studyTracking longitudinal changesClinical correlatesVentral striatumTransporter availabilityNigrostriatal regionParkinson's disease patientsPutamenMotor severity scoresAssociated with increasesSubstantiaDATLongitudinal changesTremor scoreNegative associationNigraSubstantia nigra of Parkinson's disease patientsTremor severityPET biomarkersAuthor Correction: Synaptic loss and its association with symptom severity in Parkinson’s disease
Holmes S, Honhar P, Tinaz S, Naganawa M, Hilmer A, Gallezot J, Dias M, Yang Y, Toyonaga T, Esterlis I, Mecca A, Van Dyck C, Henry S, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Louis E, Comley R, Finnema S, Carson R, Matuskey D. Author Correction: Synaptic loss and its association with symptom severity in Parkinson’s disease. Npj Parkinson's Disease 2024, 10: 55. PMID: 38472206, PMCID: PMC10933370, DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00674-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSynaptic loss and its association with symptom severity in Parkinson’s disease
Holmes S, Honhar P, Tinaz S, Naganawa M, Hilmer A, Gallezot J, Dias M, Yang Y, Toyonaga T, Esterlis I, Mecca A, Van Dyck C, Henry S, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Louis E, Comley R, Finnema S, Carson R, Matuskey D. Synaptic loss and its association with symptom severity in Parkinson’s disease. Npj Parkinson's Disease 2024, 10: 42. PMID: 38402233, PMCID: PMC10894197, DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00655-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSynaptic density lossPositron emission tomographyBinds to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAssociated with symptom severityParkinson's diseaseHigh-resolution positron emission tomographySynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ADuration of illnessPositron emission tomography scanBrain perfusionIllness durationSymptom severitySeverity of symptomsHC groupSubstantia nigraSynaptic densityLiving brainPD individualsClinical insightsDensity lossPD patientsEmission tomographyBrainSynaptic lossSynapse lossIntense exercise increases dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease
de Laat B, Hoye J, Stanley G, Hespeler M, Ligi J, Mohan V, Wooten D, Zhang X, Nguyen T, Key J, Colonna G, Huang Y, Nabulsi N, Patel A, Matuskey D, Morris E, Tinaz S. Intense exercise increases dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. Npj Parkinson's Disease 2024, 10: 34. PMID: 38336768, PMCID: PMC10858031, DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00641-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsDopamine transporterSubstantia nigraDopaminergic neuronsDopamine transporter availabilityNeuroprotective effects of exerciseDopaminergic systemClinical progression of PDEarly PDSubstantiaNeuromelanin contentNigraLoss of dopaminergic neuronsEffects of exerciseNM-MRIDopamineSystem of patientsProgressive loss of dopaminergic neuronsParkinson's diseaseClinical progressionProgression of PDNeuroprotective effectsClinical trialsIntensity exercisePET imagingProgressive loss
2023
Objective response to ethanol in essential tremor: results from a standardized ethanol challenge study
McGurrin P, Norato G, Thompson‐Westra J, McCrossin G, Lines E, Lungu C, Pandey S, Tinaz S, Voller B, Ramchandani V, Hallett M, Haubenberger D. Objective response to ethanol in essential tremor: results from a standardized ethanol challenge study. Annals Of Clinical And Translational Neurology 2023, 11: 156-168. PMID: 38087917, PMCID: PMC10791018, DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51943.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsObjective responseEthanol administrationEssential tremorSingle-dose challengeThird of patientsPrior ethanol exposureTremor frequencyBreath alcohol levelsMechanism of actionResponder rateEthanol doseBreath alcohol concentrationAcute ethanolEthanol exposureResponder statusAlcohol concentration levelsET patientsChallenge studiesPatientsTremor reductionAlcohol levelsOral ethanolResponse definitionsSecondary analysisTremor severityMeasuring Heart Rate Accurately in Patients With Parkinson Disease During Intense Exercise: Usability Study of Fitbit Charge 4
Colonna G, Hoye J, de Laat B, Stanley G, Ibrahimy A, Tinaz S, Morris E. Measuring Heart Rate Accurately in Patients With Parkinson Disease During Intense Exercise: Usability Study of Fitbit Charge 4. JMIR Biomedical Engineering 2023, 8: e51515. PMID: 38875680, PMCID: PMC11041416, DOI: 10.2196/51515.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsTheoretical maximum heart rateHeart rateParkinson's diseaseExercise sessionsIntense exerciseExercise programExercise intensityHigh-intensity exercise sessionsEarly-stage Parkinson's diseaseIntensive exercise programAerobic physical exerciseCohort of patientsBackground Parkinson’s diseaseRole of exerciseHigh-intensity exerciseCommon neurodegenerative diseaseMean heart rateMaximum heart rateHR monitorAverage heart rateR interval measurementRecent pilot studyPolar H10Nonmotor symptomsClinical cohortMagnetic resonance imaging modalities aid in the differential diagnosis of atypical parkinsonian syndromes
Tinaz S. Magnetic resonance imaging modalities aid in the differential diagnosis of atypical parkinsonian syndromes. Frontiers In Neurology 2023, 14: 1082060. PMID: 36816565, PMCID: PMC9932598, DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1082060.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAtypical parkinsonian syndromesParkinsonian syndromesParkinson's diseaseIdiopathic Parkinson's diseaseDisease courseClinical manifestationsDifferential diagnosisTimely diagnosisModalities aidDiagnostic criteriaClinical practiceMRI toolsMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologyNuclear imagingDiagnosisDiagnostic useSyndromeMRI modalitiesDiseaseDiagnostic purposesModalitiesStroke in Parkinson’s disease: a review of epidemiological studies and potential pathophysiological mechanisms
Elfil M, Bayoumi A, Sayed A, Aladawi M, Aboutaleb P, Grieb L, Tolba H, Tinaz S. Stroke in Parkinson’s disease: a review of epidemiological studies and potential pathophysiological mechanisms. Acta Neurologica Belgica 2023, 123: 773-783. PMID: 36710306, DOI: 10.1007/s13760-023-02202-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsParkinson's diseaseEpidemiological studiesNeurological disordersRate of PDCumulative cardiovascular riskRisk of strokePost-stroke complicationsPotential pathophysiological mechanismsRecent epidemiological studiesQuality of lifeCardiovascular riskIschemic insultPathophysiological mechanismsPD patientsNeurological causesEtiological factorsSleep disordersMotor impairmentStrokeDiseasePathological processesDisordersRiskReviewMorbidity
2022
Mental imagery content is associated with disease severity and specific brain functional connectivity changes in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Cherry J, Kamel S, Elfil M, Aravala S, Bayoumi A, Patel A, Sinha R, Tinaz S. Mental imagery content is associated with disease severity and specific brain functional connectivity changes in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Brain Imaging And Behavior 2022, 17: 161-171. PMID: 36434490, PMCID: PMC10050121, DOI: 10.1007/s11682-022-00749-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsImagery trainingFunctional connectivity changesMild Parkinson's diseaseVisual imagery trainingMental imagery trainingComplex cognitive processesConnectivity changesMotor imagery trainingBrain functional connectivity changesFunctional connectivity characteristicsExecutive processesMental imageryCognitive processesPerceptual experienceNeural correlatesBrain mechanismsImagery practiceImagery contentSensorimotor processesNeuropsychiatric patient populationsMotor functionMotor actsMotor enhancementBrain areasParkinson's diseaseCharacterization of Early Stage Parkinson's Disease From Resting-State fMRI Data Using a Long Short-Term Memory Network
Guo X, Tinaz S, Dvornek N. Characterization of Early Stage Parkinson's Disease From Resting-State fMRI Data Using a Long Short-Term Memory Network. Frontiers In Neuroimaging 2022, 1: 952084. PMID: 37555151, PMCID: PMC10406199, DOI: 10.3389/fnimg.2022.952084.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsEarly-stage Parkinson's diseaseFunctional magnetic resonance imagingParkinson's Progression Markers InitiativeParkinson's diseaseProgression Markers InitiativeDiagnosis of PDEarly-stage diseaseFunctional brain changesBrain function alterationsStage Parkinson's diseaseFunctional connectivity differencesComplex neurodegenerative disorderMagnetic resonance imagingResting-state fMRI dataStage diseaseDisease stageDisease progressionBrain changesTreatment responseMotor impairmentFC changesNew therapiesFunction alterationsResonance imagingBrain regions
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Cognitive Training in Parkinson's Disease
HIC ID2000033352RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2027Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge40+ yearsKetamine for the Treatment of Depression in Parkinson's Disease
HIC ID2000030394RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge40 years - 70 yearsCognitive Training Study in Parkinson’s Disease
HIC ID2000029032RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date10/31/2030Recruiting ParticipantsImaging the Dopamine Transporter in Parkinson's Disease
HIC ID2000023896RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2020Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge40+ years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor NINDS R21 Award: Imaging Biomarkers of Exercise-Induced Brain Changes in Parkinson's Disease
National AwardDetails08/14/2020United Stateshonor NINDS K23 Mentored Career Development Award: Problems with Sustained Motor Performance in Parkinson's Disease and Effect of Neurofeedback: A Functional MRI Investigation
National AwardDetails07/01/2019United Stateshonor KL2 Mentored Career Development Award
National AwardNIH/NCATSDetails12/01/2018United Stateshonor YCCI Scholar Award CTSA
Yale University AwardYale University CTSA NCATSDetails11/06/2017United Stateshonor NINDS Intramural Competitive Fellowship Award
National AwardNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeDetails10/11/2012United States
Clinical Care
Overview
Sule Tinaz, MD, PhD, is a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. She believes strongly in listening to patients and making them an active agent of the decision-making process for their treatment.
Dr. Tinaz is fascinated by cognitive and behavioral manifestations of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. An assistant professor of neurology at Yale School of Medicine, she conducts research using advanced neuroimaging technologies to better understand these disorders and develop novel therapies.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Pediatric Movement Disorders
Learn More on Yale MedicineParkinson's Disease
Learn More on Yale MedicineDystonia
Learn More on Yale MedicineGeneral Anesthesia
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Neurology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Latest Certification Date
- 2020
- Original Certification Date
- 2010
Yale Medicine News
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileNews
News
- July 25, 2024Source: Power Over Parkinson's
Being an Active Agent in your Parkinson's Journey
- July 17, 2024Source: Yale Medicine
Can Exercise Help People with Parkinson’s Disease? 5 Things to Know
- February 23, 2024
High-intensity Exercise May Reverse Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease
- June 01, 2023
Center for Brain and Mind Health First Annual Symposium
Get In Touch
Contacts
Administrative Support
Locations
Clinical Neuroscience Imaging Center
Academic Office
Clinic Building
789 Howard Avenue, Fl 6th floor, Rm 643K
New Haven, CT 06519
Clinical Neuroscience Imaging Center
Lab
Clinic Building
789 Howard Avenue, Fl 6th floor
New Haven, CT 06519
Patient Care Locations
Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.