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      EAN News

      Plans in progress for 30th Anniversary of the European Journal of Neurology (1994-2024)

      December 6, 2023

      Advocacy

      Executive Page: European neurology united as ever heading into milestone year

      December 6, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

      December 4, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – December 2023

      December 1, 2023

      Executive Page

      Executive Page: European neurology united as ever heading into milestone year

      December 6, 2023

      Executive Page

      Executive Page: Join or renew your membership now and celebrate 10 years of the EAN

      November 6, 2023

      Executive Page

      Executive Page: Advocacy for brain health gaining momentum across the neurological landscape

      October 1, 2023

      Executive Page Dear EAN members, dear friends, It is my pleasure to give you an update on behalf of the EAN Scientific Committee following a busy year since my appointment as chair. It has been a privilege to be so deeply involved in the scientific activities of the EAN and to work closely with an amazing community of people who are so dedicated to the advancement of neurology. One of the strongest threads within that community is the EAN’s group of Scientific Panels, which are often referred to as the organisation’s ‘scientific backbone’. The panels have a hand in everything the EAN does from a scientific point of view, including coordinating clinical research, disseminating good practice, assisting in planning the EAN annual congress, supporting the EAN’s educational efforts, and producing guidelines that assist neurologists in daily practice. All of this work requires a considerable amount of oversight, and this is why each panel is run by its own Management Group, elected by the panel members. Being a part of one of these Management Groups (PDF) is an opportunity to play a direct part in determining the direction of scientific progress within Europe, and I am excited to say that the call for applications to stand for election will be announced in September. All panel members and EAN individual members are eligible to apply to be candidates, with the vote being held among the existing panel members in autumn. I would like to urge every neurologist with a passion for the scientific future of their special area of interest to consider standing for election to the relevant Management Group and to look out for the call for applications later this month. I can tell you from personal experience that fulfilling a role such as this within the structure of the EAN is a fascinating and extremely rewarding experience. The chance to take on such a unique leadership position should not be missed! The most satisfying aspect of being involved in the EAN’s organisational structure is surely seeing all the hard work and planning come to fruition when a small idea evolves into a newly launched project. One such example is the 1st EAN Science School, taking place in Salzburg next March. The idea of the Science School is to offer early career neurologists with an interest in translational research a new avenue for learning about basic pathomechanisms of neurological disorders. Application for this very first edition, on ‘Pathophysiology of disorders of the nervous system’, closed last week and we have been delighted with the level of interest. It was a pleasure to be part of the task force in charge of planning this new project and I look forward to seeing it officially transferred to the hands of the Scientific Committee after a successful event and evaluation in spring. Of our ongoing activities, one of the most significant is the EAN Neuro-covid Registry, which aims to collate epidemiological data on neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19 infection reported by neurologists in outpatient services, emergency rooms, and hospital departments. We currently have 1,542 patients entered in the database, from 35 centres across 23 countries. So far, 29 patients have been followed for 12 months and 387 have completed the 6-months follow up. This is a decent start, but I would like to strongly encourage EAN members and their institutions to get involved and contribute cases to what will become an invaluable resource for neurologists and clinicians to improve care for Covid-19 patients. Finally, I would like share a word on a forthcoming collaboration between EAN and the Human Brain Project in December, that I think will interest a lot of EAN members. The EAN-EBRAINS joint workshop on ‘The future of medical data sharing in clinical neurosciences’ will be a three-day virtual event that aims to discuss issues and challenges associated with data sharing in Europe, from ethics to data safety and privacy, including those specific to data federation, such as the development and validation of federated algorithms. The whole workshop is completely free of charge and registration is open until 25 November, so please check out the details and sign up! I wish you all a healthy and pleasant autumn and I look forward to updating you again. Best wishes Thomas Berger Chair of the EAN Scientific Committee

      Executive Page: Management Group elections are coming – run for office and help shape our future!

      September 1, 2023

      EAN News

      Plans in progress for 30th Anniversary of the European Journal of Neurology (1994-2024)

      December 6, 2023

      EAN News

      Executive Page: European neurology united as ever heading into milestone year

      December 6, 2023

      EAN News

      Research Paper of the Month: Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

      December 4, 2023

      EAN News One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – December 2023

      December 1, 2023

      EAN Congress news

      EAN 2024 – Abstract submission and registration OPEN!

      November 22, 2023

      EAN Congress news

      Burden of Sleep/Wake Disorders Project at EAN Congress 2023

      October 19, 2023

      EAN Congress news

      African Academy of Neurology features in Special Studio Session at EAN 2023

      July 25, 2023

      EAN Congress news

      Find photos, facts, figures and reports in our EAN Congress Review

      July 24, 2023

      Interviews

      Video Interview: Prof. Mary Reilly, Moritz Romberg lecturer at EAN 2023

      July 4, 2023

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      Video Interview: Mark Hallett, C. Brown-Séquard lecturer at EAN 2023

      July 3, 2023

      Interviews

      Video Interview: Josep Dalmau, Camillo Golgi Lecturer at EAN 2023

      July 2, 2023

      Interviews

      Video Interview: Dementia & Cognitive Disorders Panel Co-Chairs

      September 8, 2022

  • Research
    • All Paper of the Month Research Highlights
      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

      December 4, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – December 2023

      December 1, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Effects of oral anticoagulation in people with atrial fibrillation after spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage (COCROACH)

      November 6, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – November 2023

      November 6, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

      December 4, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Effects of oral anticoagulation in people with atrial fibrillation after spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage (COCROACH)

      November 6, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Transdermal Nicotine Treatment and Progression of Early Parkinson’s Disease

      October 1, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Soluble Nogo-Receptor-Fc decoy (AXER-204) in patients with chronic cervical spinal cord injury in the USA

      September 1, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – December 2023

      December 1, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – November 2023

      November 6, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – October 2023

      October 1, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – September 2023

      September 1, 2023

  • Education
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      eLearning

      End 2023 with highlighted content on the eanCampus!

      December 2, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      EAN Spring School 2024 – Apply NOW until 31 January 2024

      December 1, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      EAN Autumn School 2023: Report

      November 30, 2023

      eLearning

      Call for Applications: e-Learning Platform Associate Editors

      November 7, 2023

      eLearning

      End 2023 with highlighted content on the eanCampus!

      December 2, 2023

      eLearning

      Call for Applications: e-Learning Platform Associate Editors

      November 7, 2023

      eLearning

      Kick off the new season with highlights on the eanCampus

      October 13, 2023

      eLearning

      World Brain Day with the European Academy of Neurology

      July 21, 2023

      Student Corner

      Student Teaser Fellowship reports 2022 – Pisa, London, & Lausanne

      September 13, 2023

      Student Corner Illustration of a vertical pencil point on a blue background, with a yellow light bulb above it

      Student Corner: My EAN Congress experience

      September 5, 2023

      Student Corner

      Student Teaser Fellowship reports 2022 – Rotterdam, London, & Paris

      August 22, 2023

      Student Corner

      Student Teaser Fellowship winners 2023

      June 28, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      EAN Spring School 2024 – Apply NOW until 31 January 2024

      December 1, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      EAN Autumn School 2023: Report

      November 30, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group

      September 16, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne

      September 15, 2023

      Fellowship reports

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group

      September 16, 2023

      Fellowship reports

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne

      September 15, 2023

      Fellowship reports

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Department of Neuromuscular Diseases Institute, University College London

      September 14, 2023

      Fellowship reports

      Student Teaser Fellowship reports 2022 – Pisa, London, & Lausanne

      September 13, 2023

  • Other News
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      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Ulla & Piyapat

      December 1, 2023

      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Maria & Immanuel

      November 7, 2023

      Advocacy

      Brain community launches Call to Action during Brain Health & Research Day at UNGA78

      October 19, 2023

      EAN News

      Brain Innovation Days 2023: Meet the speakers!

      October 2, 2023

      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Ulla & Piyapat

      December 1, 2023

      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Maria & Immanuel

      November 7, 2023

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      EAN Head Office Profiles: Kathrin & Sasha

      August 28, 2023

      EAN Staff Anja Sander receiving flowers at the end of EAN Congress 2023

      Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: Anja Sander, EAN’s Executive Director!

      August 3, 2023

      EBC

      Brain community launches Call to Action during Brain Health & Research Day at UNGA78

      October 19, 2023

      EBC

      Brain Innovation Days 2023: Meet the speakers!

      October 2, 2023

      EBC

      Brain Innovation Days: Discover the early programme and register today!

      July 21, 2023

      EBC

      Join the community’s calls for a European Brain Research and Innovation Plan

      July 21, 2023

      News in general

      WHO’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP) published in all six UN languages

      August 3, 2023

      News in general

      WHO recognises the public health need for effective and affordable treatments for multiple sclerosis

      August 3, 2023

      News in general

      Brain Innovation Days: Discover the early programme and register today!

      July 21, 2023

      News in general

      Join the community’s calls for a European Brain Research and Innovation Plan

      July 21, 2023

      Surveys

      Neurorehabilitation Across Europe after Ischemic and Traumatic Brain Injuries: a survey to increase knowledge on brain-injury-specific neurorehabilitation

      July 14, 2023

      Surveys

      ILAE survey on genetic testing in the epilepsies

      July 14, 2023

      Surveys

      COVID-19 and neurology: a survey of previous and continued restrictions on clinical practice, professional education and neuroeconomics

      March 3, 2023

      Surveys

      Help EAN contribute towards the development of a European Pain Research strategy

      December 5, 2022

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  • EAN News
    • All Executive Page EAN News EAN Congress news Interviews
      EAN News

      Plans in progress for 30th Anniversary of the European Journal of Neurology (1994-2024)

      December 6, 2023

      Advocacy

      Executive Page: European neurology united as ever heading into milestone year

      December 6, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

      December 4, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – December 2023

      December 1, 2023

      Executive Page

      Executive Page: European neurology united as ever heading into milestone year

      December 6, 2023

      Executive Page

      Executive Page: Join or renew your membership now and celebrate 10 years of the EAN

      November 6, 2023

      Executive Page

      Executive Page: Advocacy for brain health gaining momentum across the neurological landscape

      October 1, 2023

      Executive Page Dear EAN members, dear friends, It is my pleasure to give you an update on behalf of the EAN Scientific Committee following a busy year since my appointment as chair. It has been a privilege to be so deeply involved in the scientific activities of the EAN and to work closely with an amazing community of people who are so dedicated to the advancement of neurology. One of the strongest threads within that community is the EAN’s group of Scientific Panels, which are often referred to as the organisation’s ‘scientific backbone’. The panels have a hand in everything the EAN does from a scientific point of view, including coordinating clinical research, disseminating good practice, assisting in planning the EAN annual congress, supporting the EAN’s educational efforts, and producing guidelines that assist neurologists in daily practice. All of this work requires a considerable amount of oversight, and this is why each panel is run by its own Management Group, elected by the panel members. Being a part of one of these Management Groups (PDF) is an opportunity to play a direct part in determining the direction of scientific progress within Europe, and I am excited to say that the call for applications to stand for election will be announced in September. All panel members and EAN individual members are eligible to apply to be candidates, with the vote being held among the existing panel members in autumn. I would like to urge every neurologist with a passion for the scientific future of their special area of interest to consider standing for election to the relevant Management Group and to look out for the call for applications later this month. I can tell you from personal experience that fulfilling a role such as this within the structure of the EAN is a fascinating and extremely rewarding experience. The chance to take on such a unique leadership position should not be missed! The most satisfying aspect of being involved in the EAN’s organisational structure is surely seeing all the hard work and planning come to fruition when a small idea evolves into a newly launched project. One such example is the 1st EAN Science School, taking place in Salzburg next March. The idea of the Science School is to offer early career neurologists with an interest in translational research a new avenue for learning about basic pathomechanisms of neurological disorders. Application for this very first edition, on ‘Pathophysiology of disorders of the nervous system’, closed last week and we have been delighted with the level of interest. It was a pleasure to be part of the task force in charge of planning this new project and I look forward to seeing it officially transferred to the hands of the Scientific Committee after a successful event and evaluation in spring. Of our ongoing activities, one of the most significant is the EAN Neuro-covid Registry, which aims to collate epidemiological data on neurological manifestations in patients with COVID-19 infection reported by neurologists in outpatient services, emergency rooms, and hospital departments. We currently have 1,542 patients entered in the database, from 35 centres across 23 countries. So far, 29 patients have been followed for 12 months and 387 have completed the 6-months follow up. This is a decent start, but I would like to strongly encourage EAN members and their institutions to get involved and contribute cases to what will become an invaluable resource for neurologists and clinicians to improve care for Covid-19 patients. Finally, I would like share a word on a forthcoming collaboration between EAN and the Human Brain Project in December, that I think will interest a lot of EAN members. The EAN-EBRAINS joint workshop on ‘The future of medical data sharing in clinical neurosciences’ will be a three-day virtual event that aims to discuss issues and challenges associated with data sharing in Europe, from ethics to data safety and privacy, including those specific to data federation, such as the development and validation of federated algorithms. The whole workshop is completely free of charge and registration is open until 25 November, so please check out the details and sign up! I wish you all a healthy and pleasant autumn and I look forward to updating you again. Best wishes Thomas Berger Chair of the EAN Scientific Committee

      Executive Page: Management Group elections are coming – run for office and help shape our future!

      September 1, 2023

      EAN News

      Plans in progress for 30th Anniversary of the European Journal of Neurology (1994-2024)

      December 6, 2023

      EAN News

      Executive Page: European neurology united as ever heading into milestone year

      December 6, 2023

      EAN News

      Research Paper of the Month: Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

      December 4, 2023

      EAN News One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – December 2023

      December 1, 2023

      EAN Congress news

      EAN 2024 – Abstract submission and registration OPEN!

      November 22, 2023

      EAN Congress news

      Burden of Sleep/Wake Disorders Project at EAN Congress 2023

      October 19, 2023

      EAN Congress news

      African Academy of Neurology features in Special Studio Session at EAN 2023

      July 25, 2023

      EAN Congress news

      Find photos, facts, figures and reports in our EAN Congress Review

      July 24, 2023

      Interviews

      Video Interview: Prof. Mary Reilly, Moritz Romberg lecturer at EAN 2023

      July 4, 2023

      Interviews

      Video Interview: Mark Hallett, C. Brown-Séquard lecturer at EAN 2023

      July 3, 2023

      Interviews

      Video Interview: Josep Dalmau, Camillo Golgi Lecturer at EAN 2023

      July 2, 2023

      Interviews

      Video Interview: Dementia & Cognitive Disorders Panel Co-Chairs

      September 8, 2022

  • Research
    • All Paper of the Month Research Highlights
      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

      December 4, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – December 2023

      December 1, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Effects of oral anticoagulation in people with atrial fibrillation after spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage (COCROACH)

      November 6, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – November 2023

      November 6, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

      December 4, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Effects of oral anticoagulation in people with atrial fibrillation after spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage (COCROACH)

      November 6, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Transdermal Nicotine Treatment and Progression of Early Parkinson’s Disease

      October 1, 2023

      Paper of the Month

      Research Paper of the Month: Soluble Nogo-Receptor-Fc decoy (AXER-204) in patients with chronic cervical spinal cord injury in the USA

      September 1, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – December 2023

      December 1, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – November 2023

      November 6, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – October 2023

      October 1, 2023

      Research Highlights One glowing light bulb that stands out from unlit or dim lamps on a blue background

      Research Highlights of the Month – September 2023

      September 1, 2023

  • Education
    • All eLearning Student Corner Resident and Research Fellows Fellowship reports
      eLearning

      End 2023 with highlighted content on the eanCampus!

      December 2, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      EAN Spring School 2024 – Apply NOW until 31 January 2024

      December 1, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      EAN Autumn School 2023: Report

      November 30, 2023

      eLearning

      Call for Applications: e-Learning Platform Associate Editors

      November 7, 2023

      eLearning

      End 2023 with highlighted content on the eanCampus!

      December 2, 2023

      eLearning

      Call for Applications: e-Learning Platform Associate Editors

      November 7, 2023

      eLearning

      Kick off the new season with highlights on the eanCampus

      October 13, 2023

      eLearning

      World Brain Day with the European Academy of Neurology

      July 21, 2023

      Student Corner

      Student Teaser Fellowship reports 2022 – Pisa, London, & Lausanne

      September 13, 2023

      Student Corner Illustration of a vertical pencil point on a blue background, with a yellow light bulb above it

      Student Corner: My EAN Congress experience

      September 5, 2023

      Student Corner

      Student Teaser Fellowship reports 2022 – Rotterdam, London, & Paris

      August 22, 2023

      Student Corner

      Student Teaser Fellowship winners 2023

      June 28, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      EAN Spring School 2024 – Apply NOW until 31 January 2024

      December 1, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      EAN Autumn School 2023: Report

      November 30, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group

      September 16, 2023

      Resident and Research Fellows

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne

      September 15, 2023

      Fellowship reports

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Oxford Autoimmune Neurology Group

      September 16, 2023

      Fellowship reports

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne

      September 15, 2023

      Fellowship reports

      Research Fellowship Report 2022 – Department of Neuromuscular Diseases Institute, University College London

      September 14, 2023

      Fellowship reports

      Student Teaser Fellowship reports 2022 – Pisa, London, & Lausanne

      September 13, 2023

  • Other News
    • All EAN Staff EBC News in general Surveys
      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Ulla & Piyapat

      December 1, 2023

      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Maria & Immanuel

      November 7, 2023

      Advocacy

      Brain community launches Call to Action during Brain Health & Research Day at UNGA78

      October 19, 2023

      EAN News

      Brain Innovation Days 2023: Meet the speakers!

      October 2, 2023

      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Ulla & Piyapat

      December 1, 2023

      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Maria & Immanuel

      November 7, 2023

      EAN Staff

      EAN Head Office Profiles: Kathrin & Sasha

      August 28, 2023

      EAN Staff Anja Sander receiving flowers at the end of EAN Congress 2023

      Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence: Anja Sander, EAN’s Executive Director!

      August 3, 2023

      EBC

      Brain community launches Call to Action during Brain Health & Research Day at UNGA78

      October 19, 2023

      EBC

      Brain Innovation Days 2023: Meet the speakers!

      October 2, 2023

      EBC

      Brain Innovation Days: Discover the early programme and register today!

      July 21, 2023

      EBC

      Join the community’s calls for a European Brain Research and Innovation Plan

      July 21, 2023

      News in general

      WHO’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders (IGAP) published in all six UN languages

      August 3, 2023

      News in general

      WHO recognises the public health need for effective and affordable treatments for multiple sclerosis

      August 3, 2023

      News in general

      Brain Innovation Days: Discover the early programme and register today!

      July 21, 2023

      News in general

      Join the community’s calls for a European Brain Research and Innovation Plan

      July 21, 2023

      Surveys

      Neurorehabilitation Across Europe after Ischemic and Traumatic Brain Injuries: a survey to increase knowledge on brain-injury-specific neurorehabilitation

      July 14, 2023

      Surveys

      ILAE survey on genetic testing in the epilepsies

      July 14, 2023

      Surveys

      COVID-19 and neurology: a survey of previous and continued restrictions on clinical practice, professional education and neuroeconomics

      March 3, 2023

      Surveys

      Help EAN contribute towards the development of a European Pain Research strategy

      December 5, 2022

EAN News

1st EAN Congress: Scientific Highlights

August 1, 2015

David Vodusek

 

 

by David B. Vodušek

 

The European Academy of Neurology (EAN) held its 1st Congress in Berlin, Germany, from 20 to 23 June. The EAN was set up last year following a merger between the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) and the European Neurological Society (ENS). The new society unifying all European neurologists is well placed to make major contributions to  neurological health care in Europe. This includes playing a coordinating role in education and training in neurology, in neurological practice, and in defining uniform diagnostic and therapeutic standards for patient care in Europe. The EAN also has enormous potential for promoting scientific research in neurology as well as the neurosciences in general; it is becoming more and more obvious that neurological diseases have major public health relevance. More than 220 million people in Europe (1) suffer from some form of neurological disease – a ticking time bomb for health care systems due to the sheer numbers involved. The incidence of many conditions such as Alzheimer’s and stroke will further increase in an aging society. This scale and impact of neurological disease in Europe is underestimated and often overlooked, an important health care policy message that came out of the 1st Congress of the European Academy of Neurology where 6,400 experts from all over the world gathered in the German capital city.

Scientific presentations at the congress covered the whole spectrum of neurology. There were several topical highlights; some recent trends and news in the fields of stroke, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy are presented.

Neurosurgery in epilepsy: a strong case for crossboarder cooperation

The future of patient care in Europe will increasingly call for cross-border cooperation, in particular when it comes to specialised interventions. Our clinic, for example, has been working with the University Hospital Erlangen for more than a decade in the field of epilepsy neurosurgery. A long-term follow-up study (2) we presented in Berlin shows how effective such cooperative approaches are.

Under the cross-border cooperation with the Epilepsy Centre at the University Hospital in Erlangen, more than 50 Slovenian epilepsy patients underwent surgery in Germany between 2001 and 2012. The majority of patients – 89% – felt that the surgical treatment largely fulfilled their expectations. The success rates confirm the validity of the cross-border approach: 61% of those Slowenian patients treated in Erlangen presented complete freedom from seizures, while a further 28% were free of disabling seizures.

As it is EAN’s foremost task to improve neurological patient care in Europe, it might consider developing an ‘exchange bourse’ of high quality service providers of specific evidence based  treatments relying on special expertise and equipment, in non-profit academic centres, and tertiary medical centers in small countries seeking collaboration for particular patient populations, mirroring the very successful EAN Department to Department program  facilitating exchange of young neurologists.

Stroke therapy: increased treatment options pose new demands on health care of neurological patients

Among the most important developments in acute stroke therapy that were discussed at the EAN Congress in Berlin was the increasing scientific evidence regarding thrombectomy. Recently published study results not only document the high efficacy and safety of the procedure, but for the first time, they also show its superiority to standard thrombolysis therapy in specific patient groups. Thrombectomy makes sense particularly in large thrombi which cannot be dissolved, or can only be partly dissolved with pharmacological therapy, and which occlude large brain supplying blood vessels. The challenge will be to apply the procedure specifically in those patients who can profit from it und to provide the organisational structures and workflows necessary for this complex type of treatment, as Prof Franz Fazekas (Austria) pointed out in Berlin.

The relevant European medical and scientific associations (3) are therefore preparing a joint recommendation on thrombectomy, which is intended to ensure that this innovative procedure will be utilised with the greatest possible benefit for patients. Discussions so far indicate that thrombolysis remains the main treatment for acute ischaemic strokes. In occlusions of large brain vessels, however, it should be complemented by thrombectomy. If intravenous thrombolysis is contraindicated, thrombectomy undoubtedly represents the first line treatment option in large vessel occlusions. Old age alone should not be a reason to withhold this procedure from patients. If the brain has already suffered significant previous damage, however, or in the case of large infarcts and severe damage of other organs, its use may not lead to the desired results.

Regarding technologies, efficacy data is available mainly for stent retrievers. The use of other systems depends on the respective situation and requires case-by-case assessment. The time factor is important for the outcome. Thrombectomy should be performed within a maximum of three to six hours. However, the earlier the intervention is performed, the better the treatment results.

Multidisciplinary cooperation in acute stroke therapy is a key factor for success. The decision to undertake thrombectomy should always be made by a team which includes at least a clinical and an interventional stroke specialist. In most European countries, the team is coordinated by a neurologist who is responsible for differantial diagnosis and other therapeutic steps. Aside from multidisciplinarity, specialisation is also an important factor. Thrombectomy should only be performed at specialised stroke centres. In this regard, experts call upon health policy makers to ensure comprehensive coverage with such centres so that stroke patients have timely access to thrombectomy when needed.

Despite the latest developments in the field of mechanical thrombectomy, intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) still remains a central instrument in acute stroke treatment. A Portuguese study presented at the EAN Congress (4) shows that therapeutic limits are being pushed in various directions. The results suggest that individual patients may benefit from intravenous thrombolysis even when relative contraindications such as cancer, dementia or a recent myocardial infarction exist.

Intravenous thrombolysis has meanwhile become established throughout Europe – successfully, as shown by a French-Serbian study presented at the EAN Congress (5). The outcome of IVT was investigated in around 250 stroke patients with atrial fibrillation in Lille and Belgrade. Despite the differing socio-economic prerequisites, the procedure is bringing about comparably good treatment results in both countries and centres. Patients from Belgrade were ten years younger, more likely to be male and more often smokers. It is good news that treatment quality shows comparable parameters in very different countries – a concern which we at the EAN pursue across all sectors.

Trends in MS research: New antigen-specific treatment approaches

The EAN Congress also provided an opportunity for the multiple sclerosis community to interchange research interests. We were witnessing a number of very good quality sessions and presentations which reflect the amazing evolution in MS research and therapy. Among the important developments in our dynamic field are the constant expansion of therapeutic options, focus on the potential of individually tailored therapies and new approaches towards antigen-specific immunisation, as was also underlined by the President of the European Committee for Therapy and Research in MS (ECTRIMS), Prof Xavier Montalban (Barcelona).

We do not yet have very convincing evidence in MS that would prove a dominant immune response to a specific antigen or group of antigens. However, a more specific antigen-driven disease such as neuromyelitis looks like quite a promising model for this concept of therapy. The presentation of data from the ETIMS trial at the EAN Congress was a subject of interest. In brief, coupling autologous blood cells chemically with seven myelin peptides to induce antigen-specific tolerance was tested in an open-label, single-centre, phase-I trial. The feasibility, tolerability and safety of this novel therapeutic approach were established. (6) A multicentre proof-of-concept phase-IIa trial is in preparation.

Another approach in this field might be the use of patches to administer specific myelin peptides in order to influence immune response in MS patients. A very impressive trial conducted by a research group form Lodz, Poland (7) shows the immunoregulatory potential of transdermal immunisation with myelin peptides in MS patients. In a double-blind phase-1 trial in 30 patients with RRMS a significant reduction in MRI and clinically measured disease activity was observed, opening a new window for different ways of drug administration, again based on the concept of immune tolerance.

A high-dose vitamin and a substance so far used for its antiepileptic properties might both have potential as novel treatments in MS, as shown by two trials presented at the Berlin Congress. One study using biotin in progressive MS and another using phenytoin in optic neuritis both show signs of having neuroprotective effects that warrant further studies (8).

Neurostimulation in epilepsy: New techniques, new promises

Despite the advent of new pharmacological treatments and the high success rate of many surgical treatments for epilepsy, a substantial number of patients do not become seizure-free or experience major adverse events. This fact is an important motivation to investigate and develop novel therapeutic approaches. Neurostimulation-based treatments have already been gaining considerable interest for some time, among the recent developments under investigation in this field are various less or non-invasive neurostimulation methods, deep brain stimulation techniques and closed-loop neurostimulation modalities, as was reported by Prof Paul Boon (Ghent) at the EAN Congress in Berlin (9).

Non-invasive techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are not routinely available in epilepsy centres. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) which requires the insertion of stimulation electrodes into intracerebral targets such as the anterior nucleus of the thalamus has recently become available in the EU.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an alternative treatment for patients with medically refractory epilepsy who are unsuitable candidates for conventional epilepsy surgery, or who have had such surgery without optimal outcome. It is already routinely available in epilepsy centers around the world. Through an implanted device and electrode, electrical pulses are administered to the afferent fibers of the left vagus nerve in the neck.

Long-term VNS studies show responder rates between 40 and 60 percent and long-term seizure freedom in five to ten percent of patients. Surgical complications and peri-operative morbidity are low. Research into the mechanism of action of VNS has revealed a crucial role for the thalamus and cortical areas that are important in the epileptogenic process. A VNS-based modality responsive to ictal tachycardia occurring early after seizure onset has been investigated in the EU and shows a high potential to reliably detect seizures and to provide responsive stimulation.

Several epilepsy centres around the world have initiated studies with DBS in different intracerebral structures. DBS has been shown to be efficacious in small pilot studies of patients with medically refractory epilepsy. The SANTE trial of bilateral DBS in the anterior nucleus of the thalamus for example has demostrated efficacy and safety of this technology with increasing responder rates up to 40 to 60 percent after longer follow-up up to five years. Reported long-term side effects include depression and memory deficits, which require further study.

The application of DBS in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with electrodes bilaterally implanted in the amygdalo-hippocampal region has also yielded to a significant decrease of seizure counts and interictal EEG abnormalities during long-term follow-up, without leading to clinically significant cognitive side effects. The data available from smaller studies suggests good outcome, but results from pivotal trials are still missing.

A US-based multi-center trial of responsive neurostimulation (Neuropace) has reported feasibility, safety and a significant decrease of seizure counts in treated patients versus controls, comparable with the other trials. Long-term follow-up suggests that responsive cortical and deep brain stimulation truly has added value. Electrical stimulation of white matter tracts is currently under investigation.

(1) Calculation includes EU-27 plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland; Olesen et al, The economic cost of brain disorders in Europe. European Journal of Neurology 2012, 19: 155-16;
(2) Source: EAN Abstract Vodusek et al, Benefits of European cooperation in clinical neuroscience: Outcome of epilepsy surgery in a cohort of Slovenian patients treated in collaboration between Ljubljana and Erlangen, Germany
(3) European Stroke Organisation, ESO; European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy, ESMINT; European Society of Neuroradiology, ESNR; European Academy of Neurology
(4) EAN Abstract Alves et al, Intravenous Thrombolysis in “grey areas”
(5) EAN Abstract Padjen et al, Effect of intravenous thrombolysis on stroke patients with atrial fibrillation treated in Lille (France) and Belgrade (Serbia)
(6) EAN Abstract Martin, Antigen-specific Tolerance in MS with Myelin Peptide Coupled Cells
(7) EAN Abstract Selmaj, MS Treatment with myelin skin patches
(8) EAN Abstracts Raftopoulos et al, Neuroprotection with phenytoin in acute optic neuritis: Results of a phase II randomised controlled trial; Tourbah et al, Effect of MD 1003 (high doses of biotin) in progressive multiple sclerosis: results of a pivotal phase III randomized double blind placebo controlled study
(9) EAN Abstract Boon, Neurostimulation in epilepsy.

Professor David B. Vodušek is Medical Director of the Division of Neurology at the University Medical Center, Ljubljana, and Professor of Neurology at the Medical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia. He is Chair of the EAN Liaison Committee.

1st EAN Congress: Scientific Highlights was last modified: November 15th, 2018 by Editor
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