Silke Appel-Cresswell

Dr. Silke Appel-Cresswell is a movement disorder neurologist, Associate Professor and Marg Meikle Professor in Parkinson’s disease at the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health and the UBC Movement Disorder Clinic/Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre at the University of British Columbia.

With a strong athletic background, her clinical and research work focusses on a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to the treatment and prevention of brain disorders. Complementary to typical medical treatments, interventions target physical and emotional wellbeing through active engagement in exercise, art, mindfulness, nutrition, enjoying nature and community building. With an extensive interdisciplinary research program, she is investigating the role of the gut microbiome with the goal to find new approaches to neurodegenerative disorders. She has founded iCAPTURE PD, a movement disorder registry following nearly 2,000 participants. In addition to Parkinson’s disease, dystonia is a particular interest of her work, especially ultrasound guidance for injection treatment with botulinum toxin.

She serves as president of the Canadian Movement Disorder Group, as the director of the annual National Canadian Neurology Residents Course for Movement Disorders, and is co-founder and director of the BC Brain Wellness Program as well as co-director of the Canadian Course for Ultrasound Guidance of injection therapy in dystonia. She serves on the Educational Committee of the Pan-American Section of the Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society and is a recipient of the UBC/Medicine Master Teacher Award.