Document Download: World Neurology - May-June 2024

Published by Ascend Integrated Media LLC, Kansas, USA

From the editors

Steven L. Lewis, MD, Editor, and Walter Struhal, MD, Co-Editor

Global Advocacy Training in the Spotlight

We'd like to welcome all readers to the June 2024 issue of World Neurology. This issue includes a call by WFN President Wolfgang Grisold and Dr. Justin Jordanfor applications for the upcoming Global Advocacy Leadership Program, co-led by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). Recognizing the important role of advocacy for improvement in neurologic care, access, outcomes, and the field of neurology worldwide, this is an innovative and exciting program for advocacy training for neurologists from low- and lower- middle-income countries. Please visit the AAN website for more information about the program and the application process! The application deadline is Aug. 14, 2024.

Continuing with the advocacy theme, Drs. Christina Briscoe Abath and Keryma Acevedo discuss the importance of collaborating for awareness, management, and education about infantile epileptic spasms syndrome, an epileptic syndrome where early diagnosis and management is critical for optimal developmental outcomes. Also in this issue, Drs. Matilde Leonardi and Alessandro Padovani report on the launch of the Italian Brain Health Strategy (2024-2031) and its One Brain, One Health Manifesto.

In the President's Column, WFN President Wolfgang Grisold provides updates on many WFN activities, including World Brain Day (WBD) 2024, the introduction of the WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) Toolkit, the upcoming World Federation of Neurology Digital Neurology Updates (WNU) 2024 (an important educational initiative planned for September 2024), as well as many other ongoing initiatives.

Drs. Morris Freedman, Surat Tanprawate, Steven Lewis, and Wolfgang Grisold, as well as Chiu Keung Man, report on the exciting launch of the WFN eLearning hub, a novel e-Learning platform that offers free access to a broad spectrum of high-level educational material in neurology for neurologists and other health care professionals across the world.

In the History Column, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the first human EEG recording, Dr. Peter Koehler provides an extensive and well-illustrated report on the origins and development of EEG recording and leading into its current and evolving role in brain-computer interfaces.

This issue also includes reports from recent national and regional congresses. Drs. Rajeev Ojha and Marianne de Visser report on the First International Congress of the Nepalese Academy of Neurology, and Dr. Aida Kondybayeva reports on the VI International Educational Forum, the Neurology Update in Kazakhstan, which took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Dr. Tissa Wijeratne also reports on the session held at the recent 65th Japanese Society of Neurology and 19th Asian Congress of Neurology (AOCN2024), where a joint WFN-AOAN session focused on the WHO IGAP and its implications and call for action in the Asian Oceanian regions. This issue also includes a photo of Dr. Vladimir Hachinski, a previous WFN president, receiving the prestigious Ryman Prize from the president of New Zealand.

Finally, this issue includes the statements from each of the six candidates brought forward by the WFN Nominations Committee for the position of WFN elected trustee, in preparation for voting prior to the upcoming Council of Delegates meeting.

In closing, thank you for your continuing interest in the WFN and World Neurology, and we look forward to sharing more details about the many activities for neurologists worldwide in upcoming issues. We encourage all of you to participate in (and initiate) many activities surrounding World Brain Day 2024 devoted to Brain Health and Prevention. We also remind our readers from low- and lower-middle- income countries to consider applying for the AAN/WFN Global Ad •

Highlights

President's Column

• Brain Health Dominates WFN Efforts
  Prof. Wolfgang Grisold provides updates on the Council of Delegates, regional societies, and global activities.

The WFN Committees and Speciaty Groups

From WFN

• WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan
  By Tissa Wijeratne

  A WFN-AOAN session provides a call for action to leaders in global neurology.

• WFN Launches e-Learning Hub
  By Morris Freedman, Surat Tanprawate, Chiu Keung Man, Steven Lewis, Wolfgang Grisold

  Visitors can get free access to global virtual education.

• WFN Elctions: Candidate Statements

  Six candidates have been recommended by WFN's Nomination Committee for the upcoming election of a trustee at the virtual Council of Delegates (COD) meeting in September and have presented their statements.

  • Fernando Cendes
  • Valery L. Feigin
  • Miguel Osorno Guerra
  • Brian Sweeney
  • Barbara Tettenborn
  • Tissa Wijeratne

• Apply Now for the AAN and WFN Advocacy Leadership Program

  A call for applications for the upcoming Global Advocacy Leadership Program co-led by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).

Around the World

• The Launch of the Italian Brain Health Strategy
  By Matilde Leonardi and Alessandro Padovani
  

  The One Brain, One Health Manifesto outlines strategy through 2031.
  The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) has launched its novel e-Learning platform, which offers free access to a broad spectrum of high- level educational material in neurology for health care professionals. Branded as the WFN e-Learning Hub, this platform has been designed as a full-access electronic library that includes WFN programs. It also features external material from centers across the globe, such as teaching rounds, seminars, webinars, lectures, master classes, and related academic activities.

• Prof. Vladimir Hachinski Awarded the 2024 Ryman Prize
  

• The First International Congress of the Nepalese Academy of Neurology
  Rajeev Ojha And Marianne De Visser

  More than 250 participants and speakers bring updates on Parkinson's disease, migraines, and more.

• Infantile Spasms: Collaborating for Awareness, Management and Education
  Christina Briscoe Abath, MD, and Edmkeryma Acevedo, MD

  Partnerships could lead to new treatments and improved patient care.
  Although it has gone by many other names, infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) has been described since 1841. It is the most common infantile-onset epilepsy syndrome, and first-line treatments are over 40 years old. There has been consensus about the initial treatment for over a decade, as well as recognition that the lead time to standard treatment affects long-term developmental outcomes. Treatment initiation of first- line therapy is considered a priority for the clinical team.

• Neurology Update in Kazakhstan
  By Aida Kondybayeva

  Neurologists from around the world converge in Almaty, Kazakhstan for the VI International Educational Forum: Neurology Update in Kazakhstan, which took place May 17-18, 2024. The forum has become an annual tradition for neurologists not only from various regions of Kazakhstan but also from Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, gathering more than 700 doctors online and in person. The forum was supported by the Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University and the Central City Clinical Hospital of Almaty.

History

• From Animal Spirits to Brain-Computer Interface
  By Peter J. Koehler

  A look back at the relationship between electricity and the brain on the 100th anniversary of the first human EEG recording. This year marks the centennial of the first registration of a human electroencephalogram (EEG). Why is it that just a few hundred years ago physicians were still thinking in terms of animal spirits (spiritus animalis) flowing through cerebral ventricles and hollow nerves, when today we can create brain- computer interfaces to help disabled persons control their wheelchairs?