David G. Lichter MBChB, FRACP
David G. Lichter
MBChB, FRACP
Clinical Professor of Neurology, University at Buffalo
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Children and Adults; General Neurology; Movement Disorders; Neurodegenerative disorders; Neurology; Parkinson's; Tourette's Syndrome
Professional Summary:
I received my medical degree from the University of Otago Medical School in New Zealand in 1977 and, following further advanced training in general medicine and Neurology was elected to Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1984. On completion of a Neurology residency and fellowship in Movement Disorders at the University of Rochester (1988), I joined the faculty of the Department of Neurology at the University at Buffalo. As a Clinical Professor at UB, I am engaged in patient care and the teaching of students, residents and fellows at the VA Medical Center. I also have a focused Movement Disorders clinic at the Brain and Spine Center (Williamsville, NY). My interests include not only disorders of voluntary movement but also the associated cognitive, behavioral and psychiatric dysfunction commonly accompanying such disorders. Accordingly, I conduct clinical studies in Movement Disorders not only with my Neurology and Neuroimaging colleagues at UB, but have also collaborated on clinical studies in Tourette syndrome with colleagues from the UB Department of Psychiatry, where I have a secondary appointment, and with members of the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Neurosciences. My publications include co-editing a textbook on “Frontal-Subcortical Circuits in Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders” (Guilford Press, 2001). I am an active member of the American Academy of Neurology, the Movement Disorders Society, the Tourette Syndrome Association, the American Neuropsychiatric Association, and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, General Internal Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (1984)
- Pre-Med., University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand (1977)
Employment:
- Clinical Professor, Neurology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2011–2015)
- Staff Neurologist, The Brain & Spine Center (Invision Health) (2011–2015)
- Attending Physician, Neurology, UB/Buffalo VA Medical Center Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1990–2015)
- Professor, Neurology, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2005–2011)
Awards and Honors:
- The Best Doctors in America (2011)
- New York State Assembly Citation (1995)
- Veola Kerr Fellowship (1987)
- Morrell Prize and Alexander Wilson Memorial (1971)
Research Expertise:
- Movement disorders: My particular expertise and area of interest is in Movement Disorders: the clinical management of patients with Movement Disorders, as well as clinical research, and teaching in this field. I am especially interested in the intersection of motor, neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric and behavioral symptomatology of patients with Movement disorders and the neuroanatomic and neuropharmacologic basis for such combined symptomatology. Major areas of clinical and research research interest include Parkinson‘s disease, cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson‘s disease (including Lewy Body Dementia), and Tourette‘s syndrome.
- Tourette Syndrome: I established the first Tourette Syndrome (TS) clinic in Buffalo, at Children‘s Hospital, in 1989. As my interest has expanded to include the comprehensive assessment and management of TS throughout the lifespan, I now care for children, adolescents and adults with TS at my Movement Disorders Clinic at the Brain & Spine Center (Williamsville, NY). I act as a Medical Advisor and Consultant on TS for the TS Association of Greater NY State. In 2004, I chaired the Scientific Session on TS at the International Congress of Movement Disorders, in Rome, Italy.
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- December 2012–November 2017
Dopamine Neurotransmission in Tourette Syndrome
NINDS
Role: Co-Investigator
$3,593,627 - June 2002–December 2004
A Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Study of KW-6002 in Parkinson's Disease.
Kyowa Pharmaceuticals
Role: Co-Investigator
$111,760 - April 2001–June 2004
Integration of clinical, neuropsychological and PET data in patients with Lewy Body Dementia
VA VVISN 2 Research Incentive Funds
Role: Principal Investigator
$6,400 - January 2002–January 2004
An Open-label Trial to Assess Galantamine in Patients with Dementia With Lewy Bodies
Janssen Pharmaceuticals
Role: Co-Investigator
$89,750 - January 2001–December 2003
A Multicenter Trial of Rotigotine CDS Patch in Parkinson's Disease
Schwarz Biosciences
Role: Co-Investigator
$137,580 - March 2000–December 2002
A Multicenter, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study of the Tolerability of Entacapone in Parkinson's Disease Subjects
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Role: Co-Investigator
$34,480
Journal Articles:
- Lichter DG. (2011) Substance use disorder in adult Tourette syndrome: frequency, profile and co-morbidities. Mind and Brain, The Journal of Psychiatry (Jul), 2(1): 9-15.
- Guttuso T, Andrzejewski KL, Lichter DG, Andersen JK, Guttuso, Jr. TJ. (2019) Targeting kinases in Parkinson's disease: A mechanism shared by LRRK2, neurotrophins, exenatide, urate, nilotinib and lithium. J Neurol Sci (Jul), 402: 121-130.
- Guttuso T, Bergsland N, Hagemeier J, Lichter DG, Pasternak O, Zivadinov R, Guttuso, Jr. TJ. (2018) Substantia Nigra Free Water Increases Longitudinally in Parkinson Disease. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol (Mar), 39(3): 479-484.
- Lichter DG, Finnegan SG. (2015) Influence of gender on Tourette syndrome beyond adolescence. Eur Psychiatry (Feb), 30(2): 334-340.
- Lichter DG, Finnegan SG. (2014) Influence of gender on Tourette syndrome beyond adolescence. European Psychiatry (Jan).
- Hagameier J, Heininen-Brown M, Gabelic T, Guttuso T, Silvestri N, Lichter D, et al. (2014) Phase white matter signal abnormalities in patients with clinically isolated syndrome and other neurological disorders. AJNR (Jan).
- Hershey LA, Bharucha KJ, Lichter DG. (2011) Cognitive and behavioral changes in progressive supranuclear palsy. Medlink Neurology (Aug)1-18.
- Edwards KR, Hershey L, Wray L, Bednarczyk EM, Lichter D, Farlow M, Johnson S. (2004) Efficacy and safety of galantamine in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies: a 12-week interim analysis. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord (Jan), 17(Sup 1): 40-48.
- Edwards KR, Hershey L, Wray L, Bednarczyk EM, Lichter D, Farlow M, Johnson S. (2004) Efficacy and safety of galantamine in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies: a 12-week interim analysis. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord (Jan), 17(Sup1): 40-48.
- Wood BL, Klebba K, Gbadebo O, Lichter D, Kurlan R, Miller B. (2003) Pilot study of effect of emotional stimuli on tic severity in children with Tourette‘s syndrome. Movement Disorders (Nov), 18(11): 1392-1395.
- David Lichter, Jacek Dmochowski, Jackson LA, Kimberly Trinidad. (1999) Influence of family history on clinical expression of Tourette‘s syndrome. Neurology (Jan), 52(2): 308-316.
- Shucard DW, Benedict RH, Tekok-Kilic A, Lichter DG. (1997) Slowed reaction time during a continuous performance test in children with Tourette's syndrome. Neuropsychology (Jan), 11(1): 147-155.
- Shucard DW, Benedict RH, Tekok-Kilic A, Lichter DG. (1997) Slowed reaction time during a continuous performance test in children with Tourette‘s syndrome. Neuropsychology (Jan), 11(1): 147-155.
- Lichter DG. (1996) Predictors of clonidine response in Tourette syndrome: implications and inferences. J. Child Neurol. (Nov), 11: 93-97.
- Leo RJ, Lichter DG, Hershey LA. (1995) Parkinsonism associated with fluoxetine and cimetidine: a case report. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol (Oct), 8(4): 231-233.
- Lichter DG. (1995) Clinical evidence of genomic imprinting in Tourette's syndrome. Neurology (Jan), 45: 924-928.
- Pullicino P, Lichter DG, Benedict R. (1994) Micrographia with cognitive dysfunction: "Minimal" sequelae of a putaminal infarct. Movement Disorders (Sep), 9: 371-373.
- Kurlan R, Tanneer CM, Goetz C, Sutton J, Lichter D, et al. (1994) Levodopa drug holiday versus drug dosage reduction in Parkinson's disease?. Clinical Neuropharmacology (Jan), 17: 117-127.
- Hershey LA, Feldman BJ, Kim KY, Lein C, Lichter DG. (1991) Tremor at onset: predictor of cognitive and motor outcome in Parkinson's disease. Arch Neurol (Jan), 48: 1049-1051.
- Kurlan R, Lichter D, Hewitt D. (1989) Sensory tics in Tourette's syndrome. Neurology (Jan), 39: 731-734.
- Kurlan R, Kersun J, Behr J, Leibovici A, Tariot P, Lichter D, Shoulson I. (1989) Carbamazepine-induce tics. Clinical Neuropharmacology (Jan), 12: 298-302.
- Lichter DG, Majumdar L, Kurlan R. (1988) Opiate withdrawal unmasks Tourette's syndrome. Clinical Neuropharmacology (Nov), 11: 559-564.
- Lichter DG, Corbett AJ, Fitzgibbon GN, et al. (1988) Cognitive and motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: clinical, performance and CT correlations. Arch Neurol (Jan), 45: 854-960.
- Kurlan R, Nutt JG, Woodward WR, Rothfield K, Lichter D, Miller C, Carter JH, Shoulson I. (1988) Duodenal and gastric delivery of levodopa in Parkinsonism. Annals of Neurology (Jan), 23: 589-595.
- Kurlan R, Rothfield K, Woodward W, Nutt J, Miller C, Lichter D, Shoulson I. (1988) Erratic gastric emptying of levodopa may cause "random" oscillations of Parkinsonian mobility. Neurology (Jan), 38: 419-421.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Lichter DG, Cummings JL (Eds). (2001) Frontal-Subcortical Circuits in Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. Guilford Press.
- Lichter DG. (2014) The Central Catecholaminergic System: Anatomy, Functions and Disorders. In: Catecholamines and Tourette Syndrome: Frontal-Subcortical Circuits and their Neurochemical Modulation. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 241-256.
- Lichter DG. (2001) Frontal-Subcortical Circuits in Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. In: Movement Disorders. Guilford Press, 260-313.
- Lichter DG, Cummings JL, Mega M. (2001) Frontal-Subcortical Circuits in Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. In: Introduction and Overview. Guilford Press, 1-43.
- Capote HA, Flaherty L, Lichter DG. (2001) Frontal-Subcortical Circuits in Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders. In: Addictions and Frontal-Subcortical Circuits. Guilford Press, 231-259.
- Kingston W, Goodman A, Moss A, Lichter DG. (1989) Clinical Neurology (Vol. 1). In: Current Therapy. Harper and Row, 1-35.
- Lichter DG. (1988) Practice of Geriatrics (3rd Edition). In: Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonian syndromes. W.B. Saunders Co., 336-349.
Professional Memberships:
- American Neuropsychiatric Association; Member (1998–2012)
- Movement Disorder Society; Member (1992–2012)
- Tourette Syndrome Association; Member (1990–2012)
- American Academy of Neurology; Member (1986–2012)
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians; Fellowship (1984–2012)
Presentations:
- "Correlating OCT changes with disease severity and cognitive status in Parkinson's disease." Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology; AAN (2014)
- "Parkinson's disease patients with mild cognitive impairment do not have increased brain iron concentrations compared to patients without cognitive impairment" Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology; AAN (2014)
- "Female Gender and Adult Tourette Syndrome" 17th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders; Movement Disorder Society (2013)
- "Diagnostic and prognostic issues in adolescents with psychogenic tics" 16th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders; Movement Disorder Society (2012)
- "Paroxysmal non-kinesigenic dyskinesia, dystonia and gait disorder secondary to mild GLUT1 deficiency" 15th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders; Movement Disorder Society (2011)
- "Major determinants of psychosocial and occupational disability in adult Tourette syndrome" 14th International Congress of Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders; Movement Disorder Society (2010)
- "Low-dose naltrexone's tolerability and effects in fatigued patients with Parkinson's disease: an open-label study." Annual Meeting of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics; American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics (2010)
- "Substance use disorder in adult Tourette syndrome" 13th International Congress of Parkinson‘s disease and Movement Disorders; Movement Disorder Society (2009)
- "Female gender is an independent predictor of tic severity in adult Tourette syndrome" 60th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology; AAN (2008)
- "Memantine may alleviate psychosis and cognitive dysfunction in dementia with Lewy bodies" World Parkinson Congress (2006)
- "Tourette Syndrome: Current and Experimental Therapy" 9th International Conference of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders; Movement Disorder Society (2005)
- "Tourette Syndrome: Neurobiology and Management" 8th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders; Movement Disorder Society (2004)
Service Activities:
- Neurology Consultant, Best Doctors, Inc. (Boston, MA); Consultant (2008–2022)
- Core Reviewer, Neurology Section, Internal Medicine Board Review Core Curriculum (MedStudy Corporation); External Reviewer (2007–2014)
- NIH/NCCAM (National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine) Review Committee (Study Section); Ad Hoc Reviewer for Program Grants (2005)
- Mini Medical School Instructor; Guest Lecturer (1998–2000)
- Medical consultant, National Tourette Syndrome Association; Consultant (1994–2022)
- Add-Hoc Reviewer for "Neurology" journal; Ad Hoc Reviewer (1992–2022)
- Medical Advisor, Tourette Syndrome Association of Greater NY State; Advisor (1990–2022)
- Medical Advisor, Western NY Parkinson's Support Group; Guest Lecturer (1989–2022)