Ioanna Markaki

I am a neurologist at Karolinska University Hospital and a researcher at Karolinska Institutet. My work focuses on Parkinson’s disease, exploring how glucose regulation and sex differences influence disease risk and progression. I lead studies on biomarkers, new treatment strategies, and a clinical trial of a drug originally developed for diabetes. I am passionate about advancing personalized medicine and improving care for people with Parkinson’s disease.

In my research, I study the link between glucose control, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease (PD). My studies aim to investigate the effect of dysregulated glucose control on the progression of motor and non-motor symptoms in PD, to identify markers of glucometabolic derangement that may define subgroups of patients with targetable disease mechanisms, and to test the hypothesis that agents that improve insulin sensitivity may modify the disease course in PD.

Additionally, I lead epidemiological studies on hormonal risk factors and sex-related differences in PD mechanisms and disease progression. I am also co-founder of the EMPOWER-PD network, promoting equity and sex-informed research in PD.

I supervise doctoral students, post-doctoral fellows, and undergraduate students in their research theses on clinical and translational projects.

Since Sept 2025, I have been co-director of the Neurology course (T9) of the undergraduate program of Medicine at Karolinska Institutet.