EAN News

It is not new that human disease is imposing a burden on the sufferers and a challenge for the physician. While neurologists are having the privilege being physicians and have the single patient in our focus of attention, health economists take a different view. Their thinking is focusing on the burden of disease for the society and its economic implications. They look at the costs of disease in different terms. The classical measures for the burden of disease are the costs in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) which are defined as the sum of years of life lost due to the disease (YLLs) and years lived with the disease (YLDs) accounting for reduced life time with good quality of life due to the disability. Another important measure is the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) reflecting economic and educational development. There is big science behind all these calculations which I will not go into detail here.

Situated at the north-eastern end of the Mediterranean basin, Cyprus is the third largest island in the region, with an area of 9,251 square kilometers (3,572 square miles). Cyprus is a small island with a long history and a rich culture that spans 10,000 years, making it one of the oldest civilizations in the Mediterranean area. Situated at the crossroads of three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa - the island’s unique geographic position has played an important part in its turbulent past since antiquity. The island was divided in 1974 following the Turkish invasion.

David B. Vodušek (DBV): The Scientific Panel for Health – SPH is an official and unique panel of the EC within H2020. Can you introduce the SPH to the readers of EAN and explain its tasks? Karin Sipido (KS): The European Commission’s Scientific Panel for Health is a science-led expert group based on the provisions of the Horizon2020 Specific Programme.

For November 2017, we have selected: Mittal S, Bjørnevik K, Im DS, et al. ß2-Adrenoreceptor is a regulator of the α-synuclein gene driving risk of Parkinson’s disease. Science 2017;140:2295-2305. Disturbed proteostasis of α-synuclein is now thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Physiological functions of this protein include synaptic transport as well as involvement in the metabolism of membrane phospholipids, and in the differentiation and survival of dopaminergic neurons.

Registration for the 4th EAN Congress in Lisbon, Portugal, 16-19 June 2018, is now possible! If you are a member of EAN, you can save up to 200€ – benefit now from our reduced membership fees. Don’t forget to sign… Continue Reading

During the general assembly of the Resident and Research Fellow Section (RRFS) on June 26, 2017 it was concluded that an update of the RRFS membership criteria was needed. Many neurologists in training across Europe conduct a postgraduate degree such as Master or MD or PhD program after their residency and these people should still be eligible as RRFS members until 3 years since their latest degree as we believe the RRFS section is relevant for them during this period.

Belgium occupies a central position in Western Europe, bordered by France, the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and the North Sea. Densely populated since ancient times, its inhabitants were famously dubbed by Caesar as “the strongest of the Gauls” (Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae). In the Middle Ages this geographical area was occupied by independent fiefdoms which were later united with the northern Dutch provinces by the Dukes of Burgundy; together, they were called “The Low Countries”

Prof. Gunhild Waldemar (GW): Geriatric medicine has become very important in our fast ageing European population.I invite you to introduce the European Union Geriatric Medicine Society – EUGMS of which you are the president to the EANpages readership. Can you please explain to the readers of the EAN Pages what the EUGMS stands for and what its objectives and aims are? Prof. Stefania Maggi (SM): The European Union Geriatric Medicine Society, EUGMS, is the collaborating and co-ordinating organisation of the national geriatric medical societies of the European Union member states, but also includes Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. The EUGMS’ mission is to develop geriatric medicine in all member states as a recognised independent medical specialty, contributing to the care of all older people with age related diseases.

For October 2017, we have selected: Andersen G, Hedermann G, Witting N, Duno M, Andersen H, Vissing J. The antimyotonic effect of lamotrigine in non-dystrophic myotonias: a double-blind randomized study. Brain 2017;140:2295-2305. Patients with myotonia congenita and paramyotonia congenita can be disabled by the myotonic phenomenon in the activities of daily living, with a huge impact on their quality of life.

We are delighted to inform that our media partner touchNEUROLOGY has produced the following Interviews during the EAN congress 2017 in Amsterdam: EAN 2017 Peter Goadsby Interview about premonitory-like symptomatology in migraine, EAN 2017 Patrick Vermersch Interview on teriflunomide’s role… Continue Reading

Under the leadership of Jes Olesen, Denmark, the European Brain Council (EBC) has developed a ‘cost of brain disease’ project in the last decade, which essentially became one of the most important databases for the development of European Research policy. In 2012 the costs for neurological disease alone were estimated to be 303 billion €/year and the costs for all brain diseases added up to 798 billion €/year, which is about 6 times the budget of the European Union.

David B. Vodušek (DBV): Can you tell us about your training and how you ended up looking after neurological patients with uro-neurological symptoms? David B. Vodušek (DBV): Can you tell us about your training and how you ended up looking after neurological patients with uro-neurological symptoms? Clare J Fowler (CJF): My early training included neurology at a junior level, but when it came to choosing a career path I was advised to pursue clinical neurophysiology, on the grounds that it could be a 'suitable' job for a woman with children. Furthermore, there was a UK shortage of consultant neurophysiologists.