Professor John R. Hodges, MD, PhD, FRCP, FMedSci is an Australian neurologist and cognitive neuroscientist of international renown, renowned for his pioneering work on frontotemporal dementia (FTD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and related neurodegenerative disorders. He has established himself as one of the world's leading authorities on the cognitive and behavioral aspects of frontotemporal lobar degeneration, with a career spanning over three decades of continuous research and clinical innovation.
Currently based at the University of Sydney and the BrainMind Centre, Professor Hodges has shaped the understanding of these complex neurological conditions through a combination of meticulous clinical observation, groundbreaking research, and the training of numerous clinicians and researchers who have gone on to establish their own programs worldwide.
Professor Hodges' journey in neurology and cognitive neuroscience began with his medical training in Australia, followed by specialized training in cognitive neurology. He completed his PhD focusing on the cognitive deficits in frontotemporal dementia, which laid the foundation for his subsequent research program.
His training included:
| Period | Institution | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Current | University of Sydney | Professor of Cognitive Neurology |
| Current | BrainMind Centre | Principal Investigator |
| Current | Sydney Medical School | Senior Research Fellow |
| Previous | MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge | Research Director |
| Previous | University College London | Various academic positions |
Professor Hodges has made fundamental contributions to understanding FTD[1]:
Phenomenology: Detailed characterization of behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD), semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), and nonfluent/agrammatic variant PPA (nfvPPA)
Cognitive Profiles: Elucidation of the distinct cognitive profiles associated with each FTD variant, informing current diagnostic criteria
Neuropsychology: Development of comprehensive neuropsychological batteries for FTD assessment that remain gold standards today
Longitudinal Studies: Conducted long-term follow-up studies tracking disease progression and identifying prognostic markers
His work on PSP has been particularly influential[2]:
Clinical Variants: Characterized the spectrum of PSP presentations, including classic Richardson's syndrome, PSP-parkinsonism, PSP-pure akinesia with gait freezing, and frontal variants
Diagnostic Criteria: Contributed to the development and refinement of NINDS-SPSP diagnostic criteria
Cognitive Impairment: Documented the pattern and progression of cognitive decline in PSP, distinguishing it from other parkinsonian disorders
Genetics: Investigated genetic factors in PSP, including MAPT mutations and risk loci identified through genome-wide studies[3]
Professor Hodges has also contributed extensively to understanding corticobasal syndrome (CBS)[4]:
Central to Professor Hodges' research is the study of tau protein pathology[5]:
He has contributed to the development of fluid and imaging biomarkers for FTD spectrum disorders[6]:
Professor Hodges has been instrumental in:
Genome-wide analysis of sporadic frontotemporal dementia (2024)
Falls in frontotemporal dementia and related syndromes (2018)
MAPT L284R mutation in familial PSP (2011)
Progressive supranuclear palsy: Diagnostic criteria (2019)
Corticobasal syndrome: Current understanding (2019)
At the BrainMind Centre, Professor Hodges leads a multidisciplinary team conducting:
He has established collaborations with:
Professor Hodges has maintained a dedicated clinical practice, seeing patients with:
He has contributed to:
Professor Hodges has trained numerous researchers who have gone on to leadership positions:
He has authored:
Professor Hodges has received numerous honors including:
Recent PubMed-indexed publications:
Frontotemporal dementia: Clinical features and management. ↩︎
Progressive supranuclear palsy: Diagnostic criteria and clinical variants. ↩︎
Genome-wide analysis of sporadic frontotemporal dementia. ↩︎
Corticobasal syndrome: Current understanding and management. ↩︎
Tau protein biology in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. ↩︎