Covid-19 has affected over 500,000 people and caused over 21,000 deaths. People from all over the world are making great sacrifices, from social distancing to sustaining economic loss. Healthcare workers are on the frontline, and neurologists are increasingly involved as well.

In these troubled times, our Paper of the Month for April is: Grasselli G, Pesenti A, Cecconi M. Critical care utilization for the Covid-19 outbreak in Lombardy, Italy: Early experience and forecast during an emergency response.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the majority of European Countries, including Italy, neurologists should prepare to manage these cases. As already known, preparation has been challenged by rapidly changing guidelines, inconsistent directives, and a lack of testing capability.

In a marathon debate of the European Council on 20-21 February, where the heads of state and government European Member States meet, representatives failed to agree on the EU budget for 2021-2027. This budget includes Horizon Europe, the next funding programme for research and innovation. Long term budget negotiations are known to be difficult, but this time around the departure of the UK, a major budget contributor, intensified the discussions. It is likely that more European summits will be needed to come to conclusion on this topic.

The former co-chairs of the Scientific Panel on Higher Cortical Functions Masud Husain & Lüder Deecke explain the work and aims of the panel.

Being an EAN Research Fellow gave me the privilege to work in Prof. Tara Spires-Jones’ Lab in The University of Edinburgh, who is a pioneer in the field of synaptic degeneration in neurodegenerative conditions and healthy aging. I worked in the lab for more than a year, carrying out the research project entitled ‘Investigating degeneration of inhibitory circuits in Alzheimer’s disease brain’. It has been an exceptional scientific and personal experience that will have a profound influence on my future career.

Find out which sessions not to miss at EAN 2020 in Paris

EAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding withISNA – International Society for Neuro-Immunology joining forces to promote optimal cooperation in Europe between both societies.

EAN signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EPA – European Psychiatric Association joining forces to promote optimal cooperation in Europe between both societies.

The BioMed Alliance started 2020 well, with a new President, President-Elect and a new Board Member. We look forward to working with them on the many interesting activities that we are planning this year.

The global momentum to deliver a more coordinated response to the threat posed by neurological disorders is increasing.

On 18 February, at a European Parliament lunch debate hosted by Christophe Hansen MEP (Luxembourg), Alzheimer Europe launched a new report presenting the findings of its collaborative analysis of recent prevalence studies and setting out updated prevalence rates for dementia in Europe.

Dr. Tom Jenkins, Chair of the EAN e-Communication Committee interviews Prof. Didier Leys, Editor in Chief of the European Journal of Neurology

As a society aiming to promote excellence in neurology across Europe, one of the European Academy of Neurology’s greatest assets is undoubtedly the strong support from its National Neurological Society Members. As a region with a wide variety of languages, cultures, jurisdictions and needs, Europe certainly presents some challenges when it comes to coordinated action, but what we all have in common as neurologists is a strong desire to reach for excellence, ensure the best possible patient care and to work together to achieve it.