Eugene C. Lai, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Neurology
Director, Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center (PADRECC) at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

Clinical Service Area

Neurology

Specialty

Movement Disorders
Parkinson's Disease
Neurodegenerative Diseases

Board Certification

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology

Clinic Appointments

713-798-7290

Consult

713-798-7290

Medical School

Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Internship

Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Residency

Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

Clinical Interests

Neurodegenerative diseases, movement disorders, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, gait disorders

Clinic Location

Baylor Neurology
Smith Tower
6550 Fannin, Suite 1801
Houston, TX 77030

Research Interests

Epidemiology of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders, Surgical treatments of advanced Parkinson's disease, Treatments of gait disorders, Clinical drug studies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Publications

White D, Moore S, Waring S, Cook K, Lai E. Identifying incident cases of parkinsonism among veterans using a tertiary medical center. Mov Disord 2007;22:915-23.
York MK, Lai EC, Jankovic J, Macias A, Atassi F, Levin HS, Grossman RG. Short and long-term motor and cognitive outcome of staged bilateral pallidotomy: a retrospective analysis. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2007;149:857-66.
Czaplinski A, Haverkamp LJ, Yen AA, Simpson EP, Lai EC, Appel SH. The value of database controls in pilot or futility studies in ALS. Neurology 2006;67:1827-32.
Simmons Z, Felgoise SH, Bremer BA, Walsh SM, Hufford DJ, Bromberg MB, David W, Forshew DA, Heiman-Patterson TD, Lai EC, McCluskey L. The ALSSQOL: balancing physical and nonphysical factors in assessing quality of life in ALS. Neurology 2006;67:1659-64.
Fleming A, Cook KF, Nelson ND, Lai EC. Proxy reports in Parkinson's disease: caregiver and patient self-reports of quality of life and physical activity. Mov Disord 2005;20:1462-8.
Protas EJ, Mitchell K, Williams A, Qureshy H, Caroline K, Lai EC. Gait and step training to reduce falls in Parkinson's disease. NeuroRehabilitation 2005;20:183-90.
Trail M, Fox C, Ramig LO, Sapir S, Howard J, Lai EC. Speech treatment for Parkinson's disease. NeuroRehabilitation 2005;20:205-21.
Veazey C, Aki SO, Cook KF, Lai EC, Kunik ME. Prevalence and treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2005;17:310-23.
Trail M, Nelson N, Van JN, Appel SH, Lai EC. Major stressors facing patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a survey to identify their concerns and to compare with those of their caregivers. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Other Motor Neuron Disord 2004;5:40-5.
Nelson ND, Trail M, Van JN, Appel SH, Lai EC. Quality of life in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: perceptions, coping resources, and illness characteristics. J Palliat Med 2003;6:417-24.
Trail M, Nelson ND, Van JN, Appel SH, Lai EC. A study comparing patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their caregivers on measures of quality of life, depression, and their attitudes toward treatment options. J Neurol Sci 2003;209:79-85.
York MK, Levin HS, Grossman RG, Lai EC, Krauss JK. Clustering and switching in phonemic fluency following pallidotomy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2003;25:110-21.
Doody RS, Dunn JK, Clark CM, Farlow M, Foster NL, Liao T, Gonzales N, Lai E, Massman P. Chronic donepezil treatment is associated with slowed cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2001;12:295-300.
Jankovic J, Lai EC, Ondo WG, Roberts-Warrior D, Olson SL, Krauss JK, Grossman RG. Effects of pallidotomy on gait and balance. Adv Neurol 2001;87:271-81.
Trail M, Nelson N, Van JN, Appel SH, Lai EC. Wheelchair use by patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a survey of user characteristics and selection preferences. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:98-102.
Lai EC, Jankovic J, Krauss JK, Ondo WG, Grossman RG. Long-term efficacy of posteroventral pallidotomy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Neurology 2000;55:1218-22.
Ondo WG, Ben-Aire L, Jankovic J, Lai E, Contant C, Grossman R. Weight gain following unilateral pallidotomy in Parkinson's disease. Acta Neurol Scand 2000;101:79-84.
Rettig GM, York MK, Lai EC, Jankovic J, Krauss JK, Grossman RG, Levin HS. Neuropsychological outcome after unilateral pallidotomy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000;69:326-36.
Roberts-Warrior D, Overby A, Jankovic J, Olson S, Lai EC, Krauss JK, Grossman R. Postural control in Parkinson's disease after unilateral posteroventral pallidotomy. Brain 2000;:2141-9.
Lai EC. Therapeutic developments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 1999;8:347-61.
Lange DJ, Murphy PL, Diamond B, Appel V, Lai EC, Younger DS, Appel SH. Selegiline is ineffective in a collaborative double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Arch Neurol 1998;55:93-6.
Krauss JK, Desaloms JM, Lai EC, King DE, Jankovic J, Grossman RG. Microelectrode-guided posteroventral pallidotomy for treatment of Parkinson's disease: postoperative magnetic resonance imaging analysis. J Neurosurg 1997;87:358-67.
Krauss JK, Grossman RG, Lai EC, Schwartz K, Jankovic J. [Medial posteroventral pallidotomy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease]. Zentralbl Neurochir 1997;58:153-62.
Krauss JK, Jankovic J, Lai EC, Rettig GM, Grossman RG. Posteroventral medial pallidotomy in levodopa-unresponsive parkinsonism. Arch Neurol 1997;54:1026-9.
Lai EC, Felice KJ, Festoff BW, Gawel MJ, Gelinas DF, Kratz R, Murphy MF, Natter HM, Norris FH, Rudnicki SA. Effect of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I on progression of ALS. A placebo-controlled study. The North America ALS/IGF-I Study Group. Neurology 1997;49:1621-30.
Lange DJ, Felice KJ, Festoff BW, Gawel MJ, Gelinas DF, Kratz R, Lai EC, Murphy MF, Natter HM, Norris FH, Rudnicki S. Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I in ALS: description of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. North American ALS/IGF-I Study Group. Neurology 1996;47:S93-4; discussion S94-5.

Poster Presentations

Delikanaki-Skaribas E, Trail M, Wong WW, Lai EC. Daily Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity Measured in Parkinson's Disease Patients with and without Weight Loss. American Neurological Association (ANA), 132nd Annual Meeting in Washington, DC (Oct. 7-10, 2007).
Hou JG, Lai EC. Correlations of Initial Mentation Rating in UPDRS and Progression of Motor and Cognitive Functions in Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 11th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Istanbul, Turkey (June 3-7, 2007).
Suteerawattananon M, Rintala DH, Lai EC, Hou JG, Protas EJ. Influence of Red and Green Laser Lights on Freezing of Gait (FOG) in Persons with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 11th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Istanbul, Turkey (June 3-7, 2007).
Hou JG, Lai EC. The Severity of Mentation Rating Score is Correlated with Gait / Balance Scores in UPDRS for Patients with Parkinson's Disease. American Academy of Neurology (AAN), 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts (April 28 - May 5, 2007).
Lai EC, Moore S. Parkinson's Disease and Melanoma in a Veteran Population. American Academy of Neurology (AAN), 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts (April 28 - May 5, 2007).
York MK, Jankovic J, Lai EC, Dulay M. Frontostriatal Cognitive Functioning 6 Months Following Bilateral Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation. American Academy of Neurology (AAN), 58th Annual Meeting in San Diego, California (April 1-8, 2006).
Lai EC, Moore S. Parkinson's Disease: Demographic and Geographic Distribution of Affected Veterans (1998-2002). World Parkinson Congress (WPC), Washington, DC (Feb. 22-26, 2006).
Nelson ND, Trail M, Lai EC. Identifying Educational Needs of Interdisciplinary Allied Health Professionals for Parkinson's Disease Care. Gerontological Society of America (GSA), Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida (Nov. 18-22, 2005).
Dulay MF, Levin HS, Jankovic J, Lai EC, York MK. Relationship among Psychiatric, Motor and Cognitive Functioning in Non-Demented Individuals with Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 9th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in New Orleans, Louisiana (March 5-8, 2005).
Moore S, Lai EC. Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism among US Veterans: Demographic and Geographic Distribution in FY2002. Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 9th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in New Orleans, Louisiana (March 5-8, 2005).
Nelson ND, Cook KF, Trail M, Lai EC. Do Parkinson's Disease Caregiver Proxy Reports Represent Patient Self-Reports?. Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 9th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in New Orleans, Louisiana (March 5-8, 2005).
Nelson ND, Fincher LR, Hou JG, Van JN, Lai EC. Specialty Clinic for Veterans with Parkinson's Disease Achieves High Satisfaction. Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 9th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in New Orleans, Louisiana (March 5-8, 2005).
White DL, Moore S, Lai EC. Survival among Veterans with Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 9th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in New Orleans, Louisiana (March 5-8, 2005).
Lai EC, Moore S, Hartman C. Parkinson's Disease: Demographic and Geographic Distribution of ICD-9 Code 332.0 within the VHA. VA Research Day, (June 15, 2004).
York MK, Lai EC, Soety EM, Atassi F, Grossman RG, Simpson Jr RK. Temporal Course of the Motor Effects of Subthalamic DBS after Stopping Stimulation. American Academy of Neurology (AAN), 56th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California (April 24 - May 1, 2004).
York MK, Levin HS, Soety EM, Lai EC, Jankovic J, Grossman RG. Information Processing Speed Influences the Component Processes of Verbal Working Memory in Parkinson's Disease Patients. International Neuropsychological Society (INS), 32nd Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland (Feb. 4-7, 2004).
York MK, Lai EC, Levin HS, Grossman RG. Dual-Task Functioning in Mild and Moderately Severe Parkinson's Disease Patients. American Academy of Neurology (AAN), 55th Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii (March 29 - April 5, 2003).
Lai EC, Waring S, Moore S. Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism among Harris County Veterans. Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 7th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Miami, Florida (Nov. 10-14, 2002).
York MK, Lai EC, Levin HS, Grossman RG. Working Memory Functioning in Mild and Moderately Severe Parkinson's Disease Patients. Movement Disorder Society (MDS), 7th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders in Miami, Florida (Nov. 10-14, 2002).
Lai EC, Waring S, Moore S, Thompson M. Parkinson's Disease among Residents of Harris County, 1998. American Neurological Association (ANA), 127th Annual Meeting in New York, NY (Oct. 12-16, 2002).

Contact Information

Eugene C. Lai, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Neurology
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, MS NB302
Houston, Texas 77030

Tel: 713-798-7290
Fax: 713-798-7686
Email: