November 27-29, 2019
More than 500 neurologists and other physicians from Moscow and more than 25 regions of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan attended the international conference “Multidisciplinary strategies to prevent and combat brain diseases” in Moscow. The Conference was organized by the All-Russian Society of Neurologists – its President professor Y.I. Gusev and Secretary Professor Alla Guekht with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow Healthcare Department, Buyanov’s city hospital and the Moscow research and clinical center for neuropsychiatry.
The conference was devoted to the 105-th anniversary of the last one. Moscow Research and clinical center for neuropsychiatry was founded in 1914 as a private psychiatry hospital. Professor of psychiatry Nikolai Bazhenov and Doctor Samuel Tsetlin created a comprehensive clinic for psychiatric patients, which later became the university clinic for the Higher Women’s Courses (later Pirogov Medical University). Over years the hospital made a long way of therapeutic, educational and scientific activities and became one of the leading Moscow research centers in the field of brain diseases. In early XX century in Russia neurology and psychiatry represented one discipline, than they separated. However the progress of neurosciences is forming the new background for their integration. Since the beginning of the XXI century the trend of merging of these two disciplines is becoming more obvious. The effective model of integration of translational neurosciences and clinical medicine is implemented in the Moscow Research and clinical center for neuropsychiatry; this notion was well presented at the conference. The multidisciplinary approach, team work of neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, radiologists, laboratory and many other specialists are the key to effective strategies in diagnostics and treatment of brain diseases and reducing of their global burden.
In the spirit of international collaboration and scientific exchange of ideas and solutions the conference was supported by the representatives from major international neurological organizations: World Federation of Neurology, European Academy of Neurology, International League Against Epilepsy. The Conference focused on the most recent developments in cardiovascular diseases, epilepsy, cognitive impairments, pain, mental disorders and so on. The Conference book containing extended abstract of all the talks was published in English and Russian, and the participants received it for free.
The congress got off to a great start, with the programme for the day including talks about the historical aspects of neurology and psychiatry at the beginning of the XX century. The life and achievements of famous Russian doctors as Bekhterev, Korsakov, Rot, Kandinskiy and many others were described. After that the talks on neurooncology, autoimmune diseases, cognitive impairments and others were presented. Professor Max Hilz (Germany) gave a detailed overview of autonomic dysfunction in diseases requiring neurological intensive medicine. Professor Dafin Muresanu (Romania) highlighted the role of biomarkers as prognostic factors for neurorehabilitation in stroke. Professor Natan Borstein (Israel) gave a powerful talk on the post-stroke depressions. The afternoon sessions included updates on current standards in Autoimmune and demyelinating diseases: achievements and unresolved issues.
On the second day the scientific program was continued with the excellent talks by international and Russian speakers during the session about epilepsy. It was opened by the lecture by Prof. V.V. Krylov and Dr. I.S. Trifonov about the development of neurosurgery of epilepsy in Moscow. Professor N. Gulyaeva (Russia) presented the translational issues on the epilepsy and chronic stress. The differential diagnostics of epilepsy and paroxysmal nonepileptic seizures, the strategies of treatment of such conditions were discussed by professor W. Curt LaFrance (USA). Professor W. Allen Hauser (USA) presented methodological aspects and novel data in epidemiology of epilepsy. N.Specchio (Italy) described special issues of epilepsy surgery in children.
The epilepsy session was followed by a series of expert talks by Russian colleagues, covering a wide variety of issues on cerebrovascular pathology and neurodegenerative disorders, current issues of clinical neurology and psychiatry. The interactive video session concluded the conference with presentation of interesting cases in different aspects of neurology and with a lot of discussion. After the conference there was a meeting of International advisory board in the Moscow Research and clinical center for neuropsychiatry.
This is an excellent tradition which is very much appreciated by the leading international and Russian experts. A number of ongoing cutting-edge collaborative projects have been presented and discussed. The members of advisory board were impressed by rapidly developing research and clinical facilities of the Moscow research and clinical center for neuropsychiatry and high professional level of the staff, which made it possible to implement these projects. The young researchers of the center gave an update of their work in the fields of epidemiology and comorbidities epilepsy, suicides and self-harm, autonomic dysfunctions and others. There was an interesting discussion on the presented topics.
The meeting closed with warm thanks from the organizing committee to the conference faculty and participants. The conference strengthens the international collaborative efforts to combat brain disorders.
