Dr. Gustavo Alva recently served as an investigator on KINECT-PRO, a newly published clinical study on tardive dyskinesia (TD), a movement disorder that can develop after long-term use of certain psychiatric medications. It causes involuntary movements, often in the face, mouth, or limbs, and can affect a person’s confidence and daily life even when the movements themselves are considered mild.
Most TD research has focused on reducing the movements. KINECT-PRO asked a different question: does treatment also improve how patients feel and function day to day?
Over 24 weeks, patients treated with valbenazine (INGREZZA®) reported improvements in quality of life, social and family functioning, and overall health, alongside the expected reduction in movement severity. Patients with milder TD saw meaningful gains too, suggesting the condition is worth treating even when it doesn’t look severe to a clinician.
TD is often under-recognized for exactly that reason: symptoms get dismissed as too minor to address. This research adds to the case that treatment matters regardless of severity.
If you or a loved one has noticed unusual movements while on antipsychotic medication, talk with your provider about screening and treatment options. Click the Book an Appointment button below to get in touch with one of our providers.
This study included investigators from multiple research institutions and was funded by Neurocrine Biosciences, the manufacturer of INGREZZA®.
Read the full study: Valbenazine improves quality of life, functionality, and movement severity in patients with tardive dyskinesia: findings from the KINECT-PRO™ study, published in CNS Spectrums (2026).
