Abstract Details

Title Antonio Austregesilo: Founder Father of Brazilian Neurology and a Pioneer in Movement Disorder Research

Topic History of Neurology

Presentation(s) S35 - History of Neurology (11:51 AM-12:03 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 004

Objective To revisit Austregesilo’s pioneering contributions to neurology, highlighting his forward-thinking insights into movement disorders that preceded the dopaminergic era.

Background Antonio Austregesilo Rodrigues de Lima (1876 - 1960) is recognized as the founder of Brazilian Neurology and the spiritual father of Brazilian Neurosurgery. In 1912, he became the first Professor of Neurology at the Faculdade de Medicina do Rio de Janeiro, establishing the country’s first neurological school and shaping the foundations of neurological education and clinical reasoning in Latin America.

Design/Methods Historical narrative review integrating original bibliographic production by Austregesilo and his collaborators and contemporary evidence. PubMed and SciELO search (1912-2025) was performed addressing movement disorders, with emphasis on dystonia and antiparkinsonian treatment.

Results In 1912, Austregesilo described the Austregesilo-Esposel sign, an alternative to the Babinski reflex elicited by thigh compression: an early recognition of pyramidal–extrapyramidal interplay. In 1928, he published the first documented case of post-traumatic dystonia, anticipating the modern classification of organic dystonias.?In 1945, he advocated the use of atropine and scopolamine to relieve rigidity and tremor in Parkinsonian patients. Though developed before the dopaminergic era, this approach accurately predicted a neurochemical imbalance between dopaminergic inhibition and cholinergic overactivity within the basal ganglia. Modern antiparkinsonian therapy still employs central anticholinergic agents such as trihexyphenidyl and biperiden, following the same physiological rationale Austregesilo first proposed, decades before dopamine’s role in motor control was elucidated.

Conclusions

Austregesilo’s clinical reasoning anticipated modern neurochemical models of basal ganglia pathways. His work allowed an intersection between classical neurological semiology and emerging neurophysiology concepts, with a major contribution to what was established as the intellectual and institutional foundations of Brazilian neurology and movement disorder research.

Authors/Disclosures
Mateus D. Franco, MD PRESENTER	An immediate family member of Mr. Franco has received research support from Pfizer Brazil . Mr. Franco has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Second Lieutenant with Brazilian Army . Mr. Franco has a non-compensated relationship as a Member with Abraces - Brazilian Association for Cluster Headache and Migraine. that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.
Vitoria Acar, MD	Dr. Acar has received research support from Pfizer Brazil. Dr. Acar has a non-compensated relationship as a Volunteer/ advocacy with ABRACES that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.
Brandon Dsouza, MBBS (Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre)	Dr. Dsouza has nothing to disclose.
Devansh B. Gupta, MBBS	Dr. Gupta has nothing to disclose.
Megha Yadav, MBBS	Dr. Yadav has nothing to disclose.
Aparna M. Prabhu, MD	Dr. Prabhu has nothing to disclose.

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