ADVISORY: Media Registration Underway: World Congress of Neurology, Oct. 3 – 7
COVID-19’s Impact on the Brain Is a Key Topic of the 25th Biennial World Congress of Neurology Presented by the World Federation of Neurology
The neurological impact of COVID-19, biomarkers for traumatic brain injury and migraine pathophysiology are among the many topics to be discussed when thousands of the world’s brain researchers, scientists and medical professionals gather for the 25th Biennial World Congress of Neurology on October 3 through 7, 2021, presented by the World Federation of Neurology.
Originally scheduled in Rome, Italy, WCN 2021 will be entirely virtual for the first time. The conference, attended by global members of 120 WFN societies, is organized in association with The Italian Society of Neurology (SIN), an association of public and private neurology specialists, working in community, hospital and university settings. With 3,000 members, SIN is Italy’s largest association of neurologists, providing a constantly growing number of education and training activities.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges never imagined for global health, and the medical community has responded to these challenges with great urgency, finding new innovations and approaches to care and launching groundbreaking research. I hope this conference serves as a beacon of hope in dark times, proving that through collaborative scientific research and concerted combined action the world can find the answers amid crisis and provide the required protection,” said Professor William Carroll, MB BS, MD, FRACP, FRCP(E), president of the World Federation of Neurology.
Professor Gioaccino Tedeschi, president of The Italian Society of Neurology, agreed.
“Neurological pathologies represent the first cause of disability worldwide and therefore one of the priorities on which to focus the common effort. However, thanks to the national and international commitment of scientific research, the signs are encouraging, as evidenced by the good results of techniques and therapies developed in many sensitive areas, from Alzheimer’s disease to stroke. The World Congress represents a fundamental opportunity for comparison and collaboration on a global level between the various neurological skills and knowledge, an opportunity for networking between specialists who can thus work in synergy to respond to the challenges common to all countries such as those we are living due to Covid 19,” said Tedeschi.
WHEN: October 3 through 7, 2021
WHERE: By video conference, via https://2021.wcn-neurology.com/
HOW MEDIA CAN ATTEND: Please email your press credentials and personal contact information to the WCN registration office at reg_wcn21@kenes.com. Once your status has been verified, you will be registered with press registration.
WHY: The World Federation of Neurology’s mission is to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide. WCN 2021 brings together leading scientists and public health experts to turn research into action and emphasize the importance of brain health across the globe.
WHAT: Key topics to be presented at WCN 2021 include:
- New Directions in Blood Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury presented by Professor Henrik Zetterberg
- Gene Therapy in Hereditary Neuromuscular Disease presented by Professor Francesco Muntoni
- Lighting Up the Brain presented by Gero Miesenöck
- Bench to Bedside, Understanding of Migraine Pathophysiology presented by Dr. Peter Goadsby
- Special Lecture on Neuro COVID presented by Professor Ettore Beghi
- Brain Health Initiative: The Vital Role of the Neurologist and Advocacy – Press Conference
- World Brain Day 2021 Recap: Multiple Sclerosis – Press Conference
About the World Federation of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology represents 122 member neurological societies around the globe to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training with an emphasis on under-resourced areas of the world. WFN supports the spread of research and clinical information in the pursuit of improvements in the field of neurology. With support from member organizations around the globe, WFN unites the world to allow patients greater access to brain health. For more information, please visit the WCN 2021 website at www.wfneurology.org, find our live stream press conferences on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wfneurology/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wfneurology or by searching using the tag #WCN2021.
For media interview requests: Michelle Damico, Ben Wagner via media@yakketyyak.com
World’s Leading Neuroscientists Unveil Research on COVID-19’s Impact on the Brain, Understanding Migraine Pathophysiology, Solving the Mystery of Sleep, Biomarkers in Traumatic Brain Injury and More at 25th Biennial World Congress of Neurology from October 3–7
September 30, 2021 — The impact COVID-19 has on the brain, understanding migraine pathophysiology, solving the mystery of sleep by “Lighting Up the Brain,” blood biomarkers for traumatic brain injury and more groundbreaking research will be unveiled by the world’s leading neuroscientists at the 25th Biennial World Congress of Neurology (WCN) on October 3 through 7, 2021, presented by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).
Originally scheduled for Rome, Italy, the WCN 2021 will be entirely virtual for the first time. The conference, attended by global members of 122 WFN member societies, is organized in association with The Italian Society of Neurology (SIN). With 3,000 members, SIN is Italy’s largest association of neurologists, providing a constantly growing number of education and training activities.
“By engaging in a fully virtual conference this year, we are able to reach more people and further our mission to foster the importance of brain health and quality neurology worldwide. We are proud to be supported by The Italian Society of Neurology as we bring together medical professionals, public health officials and media representatives from all over to discuss the latest and greatest research on the brain and nervous system,” said Prof. William Carroll, AM, MB BS, MD, FRACP, FRCP(E), president of the World Federation of Neurology.
On supporting the WFN to co-host the WCN 2021, Prof. Gioacchino Tedeschi, president of the Italian Society of Neurology, said, “The World Congress represents a fundamentally unique opportunity for comparison and collaboration on a global level between the various neurological skills and knowledge, an opportunity for networking between specialists who can thus work in synergy to respond to the challenges common to all countries, such as COVID-19.”
During the conference, the WCN 2021 is hosting two press conferences. The first will detail World Brain Day 2021 and the second will feature a global panel discussion on the WFN’s Brain Health Initiative, “The Vital Role of the Neurologist and Advocacy.”
PRESS CONFERENCE — Stop Multiple Sclerosis: Highlights from World Brain Day 2021 (Available On Demand for WCN2021 Attendees)
On July 22, 2021, people all over the world joined the World Federation of Neurology and Multiple Sclerosis International Federation in recognizing World Brain Day, which was dedicated to multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurological disease that affects 2.8 million people of all ages globally. During World Brain Day, experts from around the world shared the key steps required to stop MS: earlier diagnosis, the effectiveness of life-changing therapies and access to them as well as advocating for improved quality of life for those living with MS and their caregivers. WFN will present a special press conference with experts in multiple sclerosis discussing WBD 2021’s impact, which will be available on demand through the WCN 2021 portal.
PRESS CONFERENCE — Brain Health Initiative: The Vital Role of the Neurologist and Advocacy
On October 6, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. CEST, the World Federation of Neurology will hold a press conference to highlight its global Brain Health Initiative (BHI) awareness campaign. BHI was built to change the global mindset regarding neurology and public health. It highlights important elements of brain health, explaining global factors that impact brain health and highlighting inequities in brain health around the world. The fifth part of the series, “The Vital Role of the Neurologist and Advocacy” will be the focus of the press conference, and feature Dr. Wolfgang Grisold, Dr. David Dodick, Dr. Augustina Charway Felli, Dr. Allan Ropper, Prof. William Carroll and other top neurologists. They will discuss the critical role neurologists play in changing the way society approaches brain health as a whole.
During the WCN 2021 from October 3 through 7, these are key clinical highlights that will be presented by world-renowned scientists and faculty:
- New Directions in Blood Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury presented by Henrik Zetterberg, Professor of Neurochemistry at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gene Therapy in Hereditary Neuromuscular Disease presented by Francesco Muntoni, Professor of Paediatric Neurology at the UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, England
- Lighting Up the Brain presented by Gero Miesenböck, Waynflete Professor of Physiology at the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Oxford, England
- Bench to Bedside, Understanding of Migraine Pathophysiology presented by Dr. Peter Goadsby, Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, United States
- Special Lecture on Neuro COVID presented by Ettore Beghi, Professor of Neuroepidemiology at the University of Milan, Milan, Italy
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges never imagined for global health, and the medical community has responded to these challenges with great urgency, finding new innovations and approaches to care and launching groundbreaking research. I hope this conference serves as a beacon of hope in dark times, proving that through collaborative scientific research and concerted combined action the world can find the answers amid crisis and provide the required protection,” said Prof. Carroll.
The Congress is poised to bring the world’s leaders in neuroscience to accelerate the pace of change around the globe. Additional breaking news releases will be distributed during the week. Media are welcome to attend online or request interviews at media@yakketyyak.com.
About the World Federation of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology represents 122 neurological member societies around the globe to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training with an emphasis on under-resourced areas of the world. WFN supports the spread of research and clinical information in the pursuit of improvements in the field of neurology. With support from member organizations around the globe, WFN unites the world to allow patients greater access to brain health. For more information, please visit the WCN 2021 website at www.wfneurology.org, find our live stream press conferences on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wfneurology/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wfneurology or by searching using the tag #WCN2021.
Media Contacts
Michelle Damico, Ben Wagner
media@yakketyyak.com
Advisory: MEDIA & PUBLIC INVITED TO OCT. 6 PRESS CONFERENCE: Brain Health Initiative—Changing Global Mindset on Neurology and Public Health
World Federation of Neurology Provides Media Update on Brain Health Initiative during October 6 Press Conference at the 2021 World Congress of Neurology
Health reporters and the general public are invited to a live press conference via Zoom on October 6, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. CEST, hosted by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) during the World Congress of Neurology 2021 (WCN). The media event will discuss the importance of the acclaimed Brain Health Initiative, a WFN program built to change the global mindset regarding neurology and public health. The live session will focus on the vital role the neurologist plays in brain health awareness and advocacy.
Interested attendees can join the event by clicking on this Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81881468252 at 13:00 CEST, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021.
Reporters attending via Zoom can submit their questions through the chat function.
The panel, led by Prof. William Carroll, president of WFN, will feature a team of leading neurologists from around the world, including Dr. Wolfgang Grisold, Dr. David Dodick, Dr. Augustina Charway-Felli and Dr. Allan Ropper. The panel will discuss the critical role neurologists play in changing the way society approaches brain health as a whole.
“The Brain Health Initiative is intimately aligned with the World Federation of Neurology’s mission to foster brain health and quality neurology worldwide. We feel that it is essential for the interested public to be able to connect with the WFN and its constituent members in order to advocate and lobby for access to quality brain health and the means to obtain and maintain it. We hope that this campaign will inform the public and enable them to do so. It is essentially a call for advocacy around the world to increase the awareness and availability of quality brain health,” said Carroll, president of the WFN.
FEATURED PANELISTS:
- William Carroll, professor of neurology at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, Australia, and president of the World Federation of Neurology
- Wolfgang Grisold, professor of neurology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, and secretary-general of the World Federation of Neurology
- David Dodick, professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Scottsdale, Arizona
- Augustina Charway-Felli, secretary-general of the African Academy of Neurology, Ghana
- Allan Ropper, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
The Brain Health Initiative is a multi-part series highlighting important elements of brain health, including reviewing the multiple conditions that fall under brain health, explaining global factors that impact brain health and highlighting inequities in brain health around the world.
The first four segments are as follows:
- Unit 1: Introduction to Brain Health
- Unit 2: What Happens When Our Brains Aren’t Healthy?
- Unit 3: What to Know About Non-Communicable Neurological Diseases
- Unit 4: The Global Impact of Brain Diseases and Disorders
The fifth module, “The Vital Role of the Neurologist and Advocacy,” is being launched simultaneously with the press conference.
About the World Congress of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology’s World Congress of Neurology brings together leading neuroscientists and public health experts to turn research into action and emphasize the importance of brain health across the globe. The 25th Biennial conference occurred virtually from October 3 to 7, 2021, and was organized in association with the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN).
About the World Federation of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology represents 122 member neurological societies around the globe to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training with an emphasis on under-resourced areas of the world. WFN supports the spread of research and clinical information in the pursuit of improvements in the field of neurology. With support from member organizations around the globe, WFN unites the world to allow patients greater access to brain health. For more information, please visit the WCN 2021 website at www.wfneurology.org, find our live stream press conferences on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wfneurology/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wfneurology or by searching using the tag #WCN2021.
Media Contacts
Michelle Damico, Ben Wagner
Research on Using Fluid Biomarkers to Advance Drug Treatments and Therapies for Alzheimer’s, Traumatic Brain Injury, Concussion, and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases Presented at World Congress of Neurology 2021 by Neuroscientist Henrik Zetterberg
October 6, 2021 — New developments in the field of blood biomarkers for brain diseases including traumatic brain injury (TBI), and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, were unveiled during three lectures at the 25th Biennial World Congress of Neurology, October 3–7, 2021, and available virtually through the WCN 2021 portal.
World-renowned neuroscientist, Henrik Zetterberg, professor of neurochemistry, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, said the groundbreaking biomarker work will help pharmaceutical companies perform clinical trials, interpret them and determine whether a drug is effective at an earlier stage and for a lower cost than what was possible just five years ago.
Biomarkers, a biological molecule found in the blood and other body fluids and tissues, are signs that a biological or pathological process has begun. They can be used to determine, for example, if an individual has Alzheimer’s disease or a serious brain injury.
For many years, easy clinical tests to find biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid, a water-like substance that surrounds the brain and bathes the neurons, have not existed for the brain. Only through a lumbar puncture, a painful and somewhat difficult procedure, could brain biomarkers be detected. Zetterberg’s research has focused on translating cerebrospinal fluid into simple blood tests.
USE OF BIOMARKERS ACCELERATES DETECTION OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
“Within the last five years, measurement techniques for biomarkers have become much more sensitive. We have seen a 500- to 1000-fold improvement in analytical sensitivity when we measure molecules that change in the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury or other brain disease,” said Zetterberg.
“Just two to three years ago, one would have to invite people, interview them, scan their brain and perhaps perform advanced neuropsychological testing in order to include them in a clinical trial focused on the early stages of Alzheimer’s. These types of blood tests will allow us to speed up the process because the way we’re measuring their relevance to it is easier—and much less costly,” said Zetterberg.
This improvement in data analysis has led to the development of a number of tests that can detect both general neuronal activity and brain changes related to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative dementias. Such tests include:
- A blood test that measures the neurofilament light chain, a protein in the brain that reflects damage to the neurons, regardless of the underlying cause. So whether a person experiences a traumatic brain injury or has a disease such as Alzheimer’s that causes neurons to fall apart, neurofilament light will increase in the brain.
- A blood test that detects the abnormal accumulation of phosphorylated-tau-181 (ptau181), a biomarker that suggests brain changes in Alzheimer’s disease.
- A test for detecting the beta-amyloid protein in blood. These extracellular proteins form clumps in the brain, impairing the communication in networks of neurons. They are the most likely cause of early memory loss seen in Alzheimer’s patients.
- A test to detect the activation of astrocytes in the brain. Astrocytes are activated in the body to mend the brain when it is damaged. When activated, they secrete more of certain measurable protein.
BIOMARKERS IMPROVE CONCUSSION DIAGNOSIS
Zetterberg reports that blood biomarkers advance the diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injuries, also known as concussions, which are historically difficult to conclusively diagnose. This is because neurofilament light is a “perfect” biomarker to detect damage to the brain that occurs during a concussion.
“These tests can help diagnose a brain injury as well as help determine when the brain has healed. For example, a sports player who experiences a concussion may receive a neurofilament light blood test to help determine if they are ready to return to playing or if they should remain on the sidelines for longer,” said Zetterberg.
While this research will not result in cures for TBI or neurodegenerative diseases, Zetterberg says it will hasten the development of drug treatments and assist pharmaceutical companies’ selections of patients for clinical trials. For years, the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease have been difficult to detect, so determining the right people to include in a trial for a drug that seeks to intervene at an early stage is a complicated process.
It will also help shed light on whether a drug or other therapy is effective, enabling drug companies to make earlier-stage decisions on further development and larger-scale trials to determine its clinical relevance.
NEUROFILAMENT LIGHT MEASUREMENT NOW IN USE
Already, physicians can request a neurofilament light measurement in blood for patients who may have an ongoing brain injury or memory issues of which the cause is unclear. Zetterberg clarifies that these tests are merely additional tools for diagnosis. They will never replace careful history taking, in-depth medical evaluations, patient care and examinations of the brain and body. Rather, they should be used in addition to all of this for a more certain diagnosis.
About the World Congress of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology’s World Congress of Neurology brings together leading neuroscientists and public health experts to turn research into action and emphasize the importance of brain health across the globe. The 25th Biennial conference occurred virtually from October 3 to 7, 2021, and was organized in association with the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN).
About the World Federation of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology represents 122 neurological member societies around the globe to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training with an emphasis on under-resourced areas of the world. WFN supports the spread of research and clinical information in the pursuit of improvements in the field of neurology. With support from member organizations around the globe, WFN unites the world to allow patients greater access to brain health. For more information, please visit the WCN 2021 website at www.wfneurology.org, find our live stream press conferences on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wfneurology/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wfneurology or by searching using the tag #WCN2021.
For media interview requests: Michelle Damico, Ben Wagner via media@yakketyyak.com
Findings in New Book, Neurology in Migrants and Refugees, Presented at the World Congress of Neurology 2021, Raising Awareness on Neurological Issues Facing Migrants and Refugees
October 7, 2021 — Medical professionals around the world now have a new resource to help them understand the challenges of treating and caring for migrants and refugees with neurological problems, thanks to a new book authored by a Specialty Group of neurologists and neuroscientists under the auspices of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).
Neurology in Migrants and Refugees, which is a part of the WHO’s Sustainable Development Goals series, discusses the scientific and epidemiological data of neurological diseases in migrants. It provides practical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases and examines the relationship between immigration and neurological diseases in migrants and refugees.
The leaders of the WFN Migrant Neurology Specialty Group reported a wide range of impacts facing migrants based on years of research on the neurological care and treatment of migrants from all corners of the world to attendees of the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) on October 6, 2021.
Lead by Mustapha El Alaoui-Faris, professor of neurology and neuropsychology at the Mohammed-V University and director of the Alzheimer’s Center of Rabat, Morocco; Antonio Federico, professor of neurology at the University of Siena, Italy; and Wolfgang Grisold, professor of neurology at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria and secretary-general of the World Federation of Neurology, the group’s top findings include:
- Certain types of neurological diseases and disorders disproportionately affect migrants.
- Many migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa experience neurological complications as a result of AIDs.
- In North Africa, there are high rates of cases of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Cases of epilepsy are common in Latin American migrants.
- Understanding the reasons for these commonalities helps advance treatment for migrants and broaden our understanding of these diseases.
Neurology in Migrants and Refugees also reports on the impact of specific neurological diseases on migrants including cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy, dementia, movement disorders, multiple sclerosis, headache, stroke and functional and mental disorders.
- The neurological manifestation of COVID-19 in ethnic minorities and palliative care in migrants.
- Details of major barriers to medical care facing migrants and refugees.
- The language barrier between medical professionals and migrant patients.
“If you have a patient with epileptic seizures, for example, who is a migrant and doesn’t speak the same language as their doctor, it can be difficult to separate neurological manifestations from psychological ones. So accurately diagnosing and treating migrants becomes difficult due to lack of communication,” Alaoui-Faris explained.
Neurology in Migrants and Refugees also sheds light on migrants’ difficulties accessing quality medical treatment. The majority lack medical insurance and can’t afford medication or hospitalization. There can also be cultural barriers. Some may choose not to go to the hospital or see a doctor because the expectations for assistance and care differ, based on their cultures and experience. Cultural barriers are often exacerbated by language barriers.
“This book will be useful for clinicians, neurologists and also the world’s policy makers and elected leaders to develop policies for good health for everyone—especially migrating people. It will help focus the issues facing migrants and refugees as they seek medical care, especially for neurological diseases,” said Federico.
Alaoui-Faris, Federico and other contributors hope Neurology in Migrants and Refugees will open minds to the problem of migration and the major barriers migrants face when trying to access medical care, ultimately attracting the attention of policymakers and governmental organizations around the world and serving as a tool for neurologists to use when treating migrants for neurological problems. Neurology in Migrants and Refugees will be released in November 2021. To pre-order a copy, please visit: https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030810573.
About the World Congress of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology’s World Congress of Neurology brings together leading neuroscientists and public health experts to turn research into action and emphasize the importance of brain health across the globe. The 25th Biennial conference occurred virtually from October 3 to 7, 2021, and was organized in association with the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN).
About the World Federation of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology represents 122 neurological member societies around the globe to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training with an emphasis on under-resourced areas of the world. WFN supports the spread of research and clinical information in the pursuit of improvements in the field of neurology. With support from member organizations around the globe, WFN unites the world to allow patients greater access to brain health. For more information, please visit the WCN 2021 website at www.wfneurology.org, find our live stream press conferences on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wfneurology/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wfneurology or by searching using the tag #WCN2021.
Solving the Mystery of Sleep by “Lighting Up the Brain” presented Oct 5 at
WCN 2021 by Neuroscientist Gero Miesenböck
October 7, 2021 — Solving the mystery of sleep by studying brain mechanisms that regulate sleep and waking was research presented on October 5, 2021 by Gero Miesenböck, Waynflete Professor of Physiology at the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behavior, Oxford, England at the virtual 25th Biennial World Congress of Neurology.
“Sleep is a universal behavior whose function and fundamental biology is largely unknown. As we advance toward solving the mystery of sleep, we will be able to treat and cure more diseases,” said Prof. Miesenböck.
Miesenböck is renowned for his research developing and using optogenetics, a technology that makes neurons responsive to light. Optogenetics has been instrumental in studies on sleep-inducing nerve cells in fruit flies that represent the output of a process called the sleep homeostat.
The sleep homeostat listens to the—still enigmatic—signals generated inside the brain or body that accumulate during waking, signalling the need to sleep. Miesenböck’s research hopes to improve knowledge about why sleep is an essential function by understanding these signals, how they are detected and how they induce sleep.
The electrical activity of the sleep-inducing nerve cells of fruit flies reflects the past 12 to 24 hours of their sleep history. The cells tend to be very electrically excitable when the flies need sleep and quiet when they are well rested. The switch that changes the activity of these neurons is oxidative stress, the accumulation of a particular class of short-lived, highly reactive molecules called oxygen-free radicals that are generated when an individual burns energy inefficiently. Studies in the early 80s showed that chronic sleep deprivation shortens lifespan, accelerates aging and leads to a host of degenerative diseases. Oxidative stress is thought to be one of the prime drivers of the aging process. In this way, sleep and aging may be connected through the mechanisms of energy metabolism—the process of generating energy by burning nutrients—and oxidative stress.
“If I had to summarize my presentation in a single catchphrase, I’d say that sleep is an antioxidant,” said Miesenböck. His research found that one particular ion channel in the sleep-inducing cells of fruit flies is crucial for turning sleep need into sleep. Determining how this mechanism works may lead to new therapies for sleep problems.
Sleep disturbances are one of the most common medical problems. It is thought that in Westernized societies, almost half the population has intermittent problems with sleep and 10 percent experience chronic sleep disruptions. Lack of sleep is also the most common cause of traffic accidents and is associated with insulin resistance, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, mood disorders as well as a host of other diseases and conditions.
About the World Congress of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology’s World Congress of Neurology brings together leading neuroscientists and public health experts to turn research into action and emphasize the importance of brain health across the globe. The 25th Biennial conference occurred virtually from October 3 to 7, 2021, and was organized in association with the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN).
About the World Federation of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology represents 122 member neurological societies around the globe to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training with an emphasis on under-resourced areas of the world. WFN supports the spread of research and clinical information in the pursuit of improvements in the field of neurology. With support from member organizations around the globe, WFN unites the world to allow patients greater access to brain health. For more information, please visit the WCN 2021 website at www.wfneurology.org, find our live stream press conferences on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wfneurology/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wfneurology or by searching using the tag #WCN2021.
For media interview requests: Michelle Damico, Ben Wagner via media@yakketyyak.com
World Federation of Neurology Commends World Health Organization for Raising the Profile of Neurological Disorders with New Classification Recognizing Their Impact on Global Health
At World Congress of Neurology 2021, WFN President Reports on Pending WHO Actions, Addressing “Looming Burden of Neurological Diseases” Facing the World
October 7, 2021 — Today, the leader of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is commending the World Health Organization while expressing hope that the WHO will raise the profile of neurological disorders as it considers the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP).
Reporting to members of the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) 2021, meeting remotely October 3 to 7, WFN President Prof. William Carroll, AM, MB BS, MD, FRACP, FRCP(E), discussed the origins, goals and progress of IGAP in his Presidential plenary address. For the first time in its history, the World Health Organization (WHO) is recognizing the need to focus on neurological diseases and disorders around the world, especially in under-resourced countries. The action plan seeks to address the challenges and gaps in providing care and services for people with epilepsy and other neurological disorders that exist worldwide and ensure a comprehensive, coordinated response across sectors.
Born from a resolution passed by the World Health Assembly, a body within the WHO, in November 2019, IGAP represents one of the first times WHO has officially gone on record recognizing neurological disorders and their burden on the world. Previously, the WHO grouped these diseases under the category of mental health. By moving forward on IGAP, the WHO is taking a formal stance that neurological diseases are important issues that must be addressed outside of mental health.
Driving this change is recent data detailing the true global burden of neurological diseases, sourced primarily from the Global Burden of Disease Study, conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). The study reports on the degree, prevalence and cost of all diseases and especially neurological ones. Prof. Carroll cited data that found non-communicable neurological diseases (nNCDs) are the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death globally. In the United States, nNCDs affect 14% of the population, a number that is expected to triple by 2050.
“IGAP is going to be a global means by which to address the looming burden of neurological diseases. By taking a more holistic and balanced approach to these diseases in IGAP, we hope the WHO and its member states will implement our recommendations, which can lead to improvements in the care and prevention of all neurological diseases across the board, especially non-communicable ones,” said Prof. Carroll.
IGAP is on the path to being finalized by May 2022. There is a building excitement about the evolution of IGAP and what it means for neurological disorders.
“Most importantly, IGAP will raise the profile of neurological disorders. Once people are thinking and talking about them, organization and advocacy for higher quality care and preventive measures will follow. It’s one of the reasons why the WFN launched our Brain Health Initiative—to educate the public on the importance of brain health. And the World Congress of Neurology is a momentous occasion and ideal platform to demonstrate this,” added Prof. Carroll.
IGAP seeks to offer a solution to the world’s predominant disease burden—neurological diseases. It will raise the priority of these conditions within a national budget debate. Low income countries that are unable to catch up financially to higher income countries lack access to quality medical treatments, preventive measures and care. The WFN believes it can counter these issues by raising their priority in the global and national consciousness so that funding is reallocated to where it’s needed most.
“People are living longer and healthier lives in many areas. But neurological diseases, especially non-communicable ones, tend to start early and leave a lot to deal with. They contribute massively to the increasing economic burden of disability worldwide. IGAP couldn’t come at a better time as we prepare to address this burden,” said Prof. Carroll.
Although IGAP originally started with a focus on epilepsy, it now includes all neurological disorders, including non-communicable ones such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and stroke as well as diseases outside of nNCDs, including traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, meningitis, encephalitis, West Nile virus and Zika virus. Prof. Carroll of the WFN and others within the Global Neurology Alliance behind the plan are keen to ensure its language and recommendations are balanced to reflect this.
About the World Congress of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology’s World Congress of Neurology brings together leading neuroscientists and public health experts to turn research into action and emphasize the importance of brain health across the globe. The 25th Biennial conference occurred virtually from October 3 to 7, 2021, and was organized in association with the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN).
About the World Federation of Neurology
The World Federation of Neurology represents 122 neurological member societies around the globe to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training with an emphasis on under-resourced areas of the world. WFN supports the spread of research and clinical information in the pursuit of improvements in the field of neurology. With support from member organizations around the globe, WFN unites the world to allow patients greater access to brain health. For more information, please visit the WCN 2021 website at www.wfneurology.org, find our live stream press conferences on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/wfneurology/, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/wfneurology or by searching using the tag #WCN2021.
For media interview requests: Michelle Damico, Ben Wagner via media@yakketyyak.com