Dr. Jón Kristinn Júlíusson

Dr. Jón Kristinn Júlíusson is a consultant neurologist at Landspítali – The National University Hospital of Iceland, serving as one of Iceland's principal specialists in neurology. With over 20 years of clinical and research experience, he has established himself as a leading expert in multiple sclerosis (MS), neurological genetics, and epilepsy, combining a demanding clinical practice serving Iceland's entire population with a research programme that exploits Iceland's extraordinary genetic and genealogical resources.

Iceland's unique characteristics as a scientific environment — a relatively small, genetically homogeneous founder population with comprehensive genealogical records stretching back over a millennium, combined with the world-class genomics infrastructure of deCODE Genetics — make it one of the most productive places on earth for neurological disease genetics research. Dr. Júlíusson has been an active participant in this research ecosystem, contributing to studies examining the genetic determinants of multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions in the Icelandic population.

His primary clinical subspecialty is multiple sclerosis — Iceland's MS programme is centred at Landspítali, where Dr. Júlíusson leads or contributes to the management of the country's entire MS patient population. MS management has been transformed in recent decades by the emergence of increasingly effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), and Dr. Júlíusson has been at the forefront of introducing and implementing these therapies in Iceland, ensuring that Icelandic MS patients have access to the same treatment advances available in larger European countries.

Beyond MS, he manages patients with epilepsy across the spectrum from newly diagnosed seizure disorders to refractory epilepsy requiring complex polypharmacy or surgical evaluation. He also provides consultation for movement disorders including Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions affecting the Icelandic population.

Dr. Júlíusson completed his medical degree at the University of Iceland Faculty of Medicine before undertaking postgraduate training in neurology. As with many Icelandic specialist physicians, he pursued advanced subspecialty training in neurology abroad — at leading European neurology centres where he gained exposure to high-volume MS clinics, epilepsy programmes, and neurophysiology laboratories that complemented the more generalist training available within Iceland.

He completed dedicated MS subspecialty training at a recognised European MS centre, developing expertise in the diagnostic criteria for MS, neuroimaging interpretation, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and the selection and monitoring of disease-modifying therapies. He also developed skills in neurophysiology — including EEG interpretation for epilepsy evaluation — and in the neurological assessment of movement disorders.

He earned his PhD for research examining the epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Iceland — including incidence, prevalence, and clinical phenotype data from the Icelandic MS registry — and contributing to genetic studies of MS susceptibility loci in the Icelandic founder population. He holds a PhD from the University of Iceland and is a member of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) and ECTRIMS, the leading European body for MS treatment and research.

Dr. Júlíusson's primary clinical focus is the diagnosis and management of multiple sclerosis. He manages patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and primary progressive MS (PPMS) — providing individualised treatment planning that encompasses the selection, initiation, and long-term monitoring of disease-modifying therapies including interferons, glatiramer acetate, natalizumab, ocrelizumab, cladribine, and other agents.

Diagnostic procedures within his clinical practice include comprehensive MRI neuroimaging — including brain and spinal cord MRI with gadolinium enhancement for MS lesion assessment — lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid analysis (oligoclonal bands and IgG index), visual and somatosensory evoked potential testing, and neurological examination. He applies McDonald diagnostic criteria and is experienced in the differential diagnosis of MS from other white matter disorders and neurological conditions that may mimic MS.

In epilepsy management, Dr. Júlíusson performs EEG interpretation and works within a multidisciplinary epilepsy team to diagnose seizure types, initiate and optimise antiseizure medication (ASM) therapy, and identify patients who may benefit from epilepsy surgery evaluation. He also manages patients with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders and provides neurological consultation for patients with complex headache disorders including migraine and cluster headache.

Dr. Júlíusson has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed publications in journals including Brain, Multiple Sclerosis Journal, Epilepsia, and Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. While his publication output reflects the inherent research constraints of practising in a small country, his contributions — particularly in MS epidemiology and neurological genetics — are scientifically significant and have been cited internationally.

His most important research contributions include studies of MS incidence and prevalence in Iceland — population-based epidemiological investigations using Iceland's comprehensive national health registers, which provide one of the most complete national datasets for neurological disease epidemiology in the world. These studies have contributed to the understanding of how MS incidence has evolved over time in Iceland and how Icelandic MS epidemiology compares with other North Atlantic populations.

His contributions to deCODE Genetics neurological disease studies have examined the genetic architecture of MS, epilepsy, and other neurological conditions in the Icelandic founder population. Iceland's genealogical records and deCODE's genomics platform create a uniquely powerful environment for identifying rare and common genetic variants that influence neurological disease susceptibility and clinical phenotype — research with implications extending well beyond Iceland's borders.

Dr. Júlíusson consults in Icelandic and English and is accessible to international patients seeking neurological consultation at Landspítali. Iceland's EEA membership means that EU/EEA patients are entitled to medically necessary neurological treatment during visits to Iceland under European health insurance arrangements.

For elective neurological consultations, second opinions on MS treatment decisions, or epilepsy management review, international patients can arrange appointments through Landspítali's neurology department. MS consultations from international patients — particularly those from the Icelandic diaspora or individuals seeking expert opinion on specific DMT decisions — can often be facilitated by telemedicine, enabling Dr. Júlíusson to review clinical records, MRI reports, and laboratory data remotely and provide evidence-based recommendations.

For patients visiting Iceland as tourists who experience neurological emergencies — including first seizures, acute MS relapses with significant disability, or stroke — Landspítali provides 24-hour emergency neurology services with access to MRI and other neurological investigation facilities. The neurology team can manage acute presentations and liaise with the patient's home neurologist to ensure appropriate follow-up after return to their country of residence.

Dr. Júlíusson has been recognised by the Icelandic Medical Association with its Research Award for his contributions to neurological research — particularly his epidemiological studies of MS in Iceland and his contributions to neurological disease genetics through the deCODE Genetics research collaboration. Landspítali has honoured him with its Academic Prize, recognising faculty members whose research activities contribute to the hospital's academic mission and scientific standing.

He has received the EAN (European Academy of Neurology) Travel Award, which supports the participation of emerging neurologists from smaller countries in major European neurology congresses. He contributes to continuing medical education in neurology within Iceland and participates in ECTRIMS scientific activities, ensuring that his knowledge of the rapidly evolving MS treatment landscape remains current and that Icelandic MS patients benefit from the most up-to-date clinical practice guidelines. His role as one of Iceland's leading MS specialists makes him a vital point of contact for neurologists across Scandinavia seeking Icelandic perspective on MS management and genetics.