Valtteri Kaasinen
MD, PhD, Professor of Neurology
valtteri.kaasinen@utu.fi ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3446-7093 |
Clinical Neurology; Movement Disorders; Parkinson's disease; Addictions; Neurotransmitters; Neuroimaging; PET; SPECT; Dopamine System
Movement disorders, neurotransmitters and addictions
Dr. Kaasinen is Professor of Neurology at the University of Turku, and Chief Physician at Neurocenter of Turku University Hospital.
He was appointed as Adjuct Professor of Neurology in 2011, received special competence in medical education in 2016, and was appointed as full Professor of Neurology in 2021.
Dr. Kaasinen is a clinical neurologist and a movement disorder specialist who received his medical degree from the University of Turku in 1996. This was followed by a PhD focusing on brain dopamine PET imaging of Parkinson's disease in 2000. He did his postdoctoral training in 2003-2004 in the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Since 2004, he has led a research group that focuses on function brain PET and SPECT neurotransmitter imaging in Parkinson's disease, other movement disorders and behavioral addictions. His group is involved in several project that aim to improve diagnostics and treatment of neurological movement disorders.
Main focus of research is brain function and dysfunction in relation to neurotransmitters, addictions and movement disorders.
Dr. Kaasinen has been involved in curriculum planning and implementation of neurology courses since 2013. He is a personal teacher mentor for medical students and has supervised of several PhD students.
- Impulse control disorders and depression in Finnish patients with Parkinson's disease (2012)
- Parkinsonism and Related Disorders
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Increased Medial Orbitofrontal (18F)fluorodopa Uptake in Parkinsonian Impulse Control Disorders (2012)
- Movement Disorders
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Mesolimbic dopamine release is linked to symptom severity in pathological gambling (2012)
- NeuroImage
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Parallel Appearance of Compulsive Behaviors and Artistic Creativity in Parkinson’s Disease (2012)
- Case Reports in Neurology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Seasonality of striatal dopamine synthesis capacity in Parkinson's disease (2012)
- Neuroscience Letters
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Extensive abnormality of brain white matter integrity in pathological gambling (2011)
- Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Acute hormonal changes following intravenous glucose challenge in lean and obese human subjects (2010)
- Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Phase II study of oral fingolimod (FTY720) in multiple sclerosis: 3-year results (2010)
- Multiple Sclerosis
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Ropinirole Diminishes Myoclonus and Improves Writing and Postural Balance in an ULD Patient (2010)
- Movement Disorders
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Ropinorole diminishes myoclonus and improves writing and postural balance in an ULD patient (2010)
- Movement Disorders
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)



