Articles – Page 3

A first-time attendee presents at the European Epilepsy Congress

By Bermet Nurbekova

Bermet Nurbekova at the European Epilepsy Congress.

I am deeply grateful for the Junior Traveling Fellowship Grant provided by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), which enabled me to attend the 15th European Epilepsy Congress. There, I presented my abstract, titled “Convulsive Syndrome First Aid: A Comparative Analysis of Dental and General Medicine Faculty Students’ Knowledge.”

This research was instrumental in identifying significant gaps in the understanding of first aid for convulsive syndromes between students from dental and general medicine faculties. The findings prompted revisions to the student curriculum, ensuring a more comprehensive and practical education on epilepsy and seizure management.

I was honored to represent Kyrgyzstan as the sole participant from my country. Attending the event, Sept. 7-11 in Rome, Italy, allowed me to connect with neurologists and epilepsy specialists from around the globe. Although I established connections with many professionals, I particularly strengthened ties with colleagues from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. These connections have laid the groundwork for potential regional collaborations on research and educational initiatives.

The conference sessions provided me with invaluable insights into the latest advancements in epilepsy research, diagnostics, and treatment approaches. Several key takeaways have already informed my clinical practice and ongoing research projects, enhancing the quality of care I provide to my patients. The event also served as a source of great inspiration, motivating me to participate in future international conferences to continue broadening my knowledge and professional network.

Upon my return to Bishkek, I delivered a presentation to the Neurological Association of Bishkek, sharing the key findings and innovative practices I learned at the conference. The presentation sparked meaningful discussions and encouraged the integration of updated approaches in our local practice.

Once again, I deeply appreciate this incredible opportunity and your support, which has significantly contributed to my professional growth. •

Bermet Nurbekova is an assistant in the neurology and clinical genetics department at I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Prof. Raad Shakir Appointed JNC President

Raad Shakir

Prof. Raad Shakir, past president of the WFN, has been appointed president of the Joint Neurosciences Council (JNC) UK, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The JNC is the umbrella organization for 18 neurosciences specialty associations in the UK, including neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, neurophysiology, neuroradiology, neuropsychology, and neuropathology. It also includes patient organizations, such as Dementia UK, Stroke UK, and Epilepsy, among others. The JNC UK is an independent society, not associated with the WFN.

“All this would not have been possible if it was not for the experience and work for the WFN,” Prof. Shakir said.

The WFN congratulates Prof. Shakir on this important appointment. •

An Exchange of Neurological Ideas

Report of a department visit to Dusseldorf, Germany.

By Aïssata S. Touré

Dr. Aïssata S. Touré visits with staff members at the University Hospital of Dusseldorf.

I had the opportunity to visit the University Hospital of Dusseldorf Nov. 11-Dec. 5, 2024, thanks to a training grant provided by the German Neurological Society and the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).

This was a unique training opportunity, which allowed me to experience the neurology field in a high-level setting with well-trained physicians. I have seen several patients with different neurologists, allowing me to learn from different views and angles.

Over a period of one month, I saw approximately 50 patients presenting with different neurological conditions including dystonia, encephalitis, epilepsy, meningitis, migraine, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia, myelitis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke.

I attended a botulinum toxin injection session, and I saw the apomorphine pump — a second line treatment for Parkinson’s disease management — for the first time.

This training allowed me to enhance my clinical approach and management skills in terms of epilepsy, neurovascular diseases, and movement disorders.

During my stay in Dusseldorf, I attended sessions featuring electroencephalograms, nerve conduction studies and transcranial doppler (TCD) ultrasound for patients suffering from atherosclerosis, epilepsy, and neuropathy. These sessions allowed me to recognize the basic patterns of those conditions.

I also spent time in the laboratory and participated in activities, such as functional studies using cell and animal models.

Dr. Aïssata S. Touré (second from right) enjoys some time outside of the hospital in Dusseldorf during her visit.

After returning home, I will apply what I have learned in my daily activities. I would like to continue working to establish a strong collaboration involving my mentors and the neurology team in Dusseldorf.

I will use the acquired knowledge by regularly giving talks and participating in the training process of medical students. I will assist my young fellow residents who want to apply to the WFN Department Visit program to help increase their chances of being selected among their peers. I will inform and encourage those who are not aware of the program to apply.

My main interests are in the clinical and genetic features of inherited neurological conditions, including familial epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, and movement disorders. Those conditions are not rare in Mali due to a high rate of consanguineous and intraethnic marriage. Mali also has a high birth rate, which creates a unique opportunity to conduct genetic and genomic studies, unlike developed countries.

I will continue to seek expertise from the neurology team in Dusseldorf for atypical cases. •

Dr. Aïssata S. Touré is a resident in clinical neurology and research assistant in neurogenetics from Bamako, Mali.

Impact Through Insight

An introduction to the Society for Equity Neuroscience (SEQUINS).

By Raelle Tagge, Lilyana Amezcua, and Bruce Ovbiagele

Lilyana Amezcua, Bruce Ovbiagele and Raelle Tagge

Neurological conditions are now the most prominent cause of ill health and infirmity worldwide.¹ This sobering development occurs in a setting where the global burden of neurological disease is unevenly distributed, disproportionately impacting certain minority ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as those from lower socioeconomic groups or residing in medically underserved regions. These neurological disparities are anticipated to get worse with time. Bending the neurological disparities curve successfully and sustainably will require a sense of urgency, focus, commitment, community, and rigor.²

Founded in 2024, the Society for Equity Neuroscience (SEQUINS) is dedicated to enhancing equitable neurological care and outcomes via research.³ SEQUINS aims to establish an enduring multidisciplinary academic community focused on advancing the emerging field of equity neuroscience. It also:

explores the multifaceted basis for various neurological inequities and disparities
tests promising interventions
fosters the careers of equity neuroscientists across all stages
partners with aligned organizations for universal impact.³

SEQUINS is led by a board comprised of a multidisciplinary, multisectoral, multinational, and multicultural group of seasoned scientists and leaders covering neurology, psychiatry, basic/translational neuroscience, epidemiology, and health services research. With a mission to advance brain health equity through science, SEQUINS has a number of key goals. (See Table 1.)

On May 15, 2025, SEQUINS will hold its inaugural annual scientific meeting in Charleston, South Carolina. The meeting will be a one-day multidisciplinary forum, which will include state-of-the-art scientific lectures, early career presentations, early career development sessions, recognition of excellence in equity neuroscience (Hall of Fame) and mentoring of scientists (awards). There will also be celebrations of graduates from training programs, briefings by research funding agencies, and opportunities to network.

SEQUINS 2025 will offer a hybrid format with in-person and virtual options. In 2025, SEQUINS will also launch its own journal, Equity Neuroscience (EQN), published by Elsevier. It will be a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to publishing research that seeks to understand and address neurological inequities and disparities based on sex, race/ethnicity, geography, socioeconomic status, and other social determinants of health. SEQUINS also plans to establish a podcast titled “No Brain Behind” which will interview key scientists, leaders, and policy makers.

By seeking to narrow the differences between the world’s brain health haves and have-nots, SEQUINS looks forward to being a part of the solution to improving brain health globally.^4,5 Clearly, SEQUINS cannot do this alone. As such, we are already members of the World Health Organization Civil Society Commission, International Brain Research Organization, and World Hypertension League.

SEQUINS is also establishing partnerships with the International Science Council, American Neurological Association, American Brain Foundation, Society for Neuroscience, Association of University Professors of Neurology, Clinical Neurological Society of America, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and Global Brain Health Institute. We plan to identify and partner with more organizations and institutions to help deliver high-quality scientific evidence to guide the implementation and dissemination of communications, policies, and programs toward the elimination of brain health inequities.

To learn more about SEQUINS and how you can contribute to the mission of promoting brain health equity through science, visit the SEQUINS website or contact them at info@s-equi-ns.org. Together, we can create a future where optimal neurological health is accessible to and equitable for all. •

Table 1. Key goals of SEQUINS.

Raelle Tagge is chief program officer of the Society for Equity Neuroscience as well as a research manager at the Northern California Institute for Research and Education. Lilyana Amezcua is vice president of the Society for Equity Neuroscience and associate professor of neurology and division chief for neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis at the University of Southern California. Bruce Ovbiagele is president of the Society for Equity Neuroscience as well as professor of neurology and associate dean at the University of California, San Francisco.

Editors’ Note: SEQUINS is a newly founded U.S.-based society. It has no formal links with the WFN.

References:

1. GBD 2021 Nervous System Disorders Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Neurol. 2024;23(4):344-381.

2. The Lancet Neurology. Improving access to medicines for neurological disorders. Lancet Neurol. 2024;23(10):951.

3. Ovbiagele B. A proposal for equity neuroscience. Lancet Neurol. 2024;23(9):862-863.

4. Winkler AS, Gupta S, Patel V, Bhebhe A, Fleury A, Aukrust CG, Dua T, Welte TM, Chakraborty S, Park KB. Global brain health-the time to act is now. Lancet Glob Health. 2024;12(5):e735-e736.

5. Grisold W, Dodick DW, Guekht A, Lewis SL, Wijeratne T. World Brain Day 2024: a focus on brain health and prevention. Lancet Neurol. 2024;23(9):863-864.

Headache and Migraine in Shakespeare’s Work

Mentions from the Bard raise questions about treatment during his time.

By Peter J. Koehler

Figure 1. William Shakespeare (1564-1616), engraving by Martin Droeshout (public domain).

Awhile ago, I was asked to collaborate on a podcast about migraine in William Shakespeare’s time. Although I had written about the history of migraine not long ago, it inspired me to delve deeper into this particular period. How was migraine defined or diagnosed, and what treatments were available? There are a number of articles and chapters in medical literature about neurology, headaches in particular, in the works of Shakespeare.^1,2,3

Shakespeare and His Son-in-Law

English playwright and poet William Shakespeare (1564-1616, see Figure 1) was born in Stratford-upon-Avon and is known as the “Bard of Avon.” He wrote a vast body of work that includes no fewer than 39 plays and 154 sonnets. He married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway (1556-1623) in 1582, when he was 18 years old. They had three children, of whom the oldest, Susanna (1583-1649) married a local physician named John Hall (1575-1635). Hall studied at Queen’s College Cambridge (BA 1593, MA 1597). However, he had no English medical degree and probably received medical training on the continent. This was possibly in France, as he was “a traveler acquainted with the French tongue.”

Hall established himself in Stratford around 1600 and is often claimed to be the source of medical information in Shakespeare’s writings, although about half of his plays were written before Hall came to Stratford. Shakespeare wrote about medical issues before meeting Hall, but he did not write about physicians. This changed after 1605. Neurologist John M.S. Pearce wondered, “Do these, taken together, represent an affectionate and admiring sketch of his son-in-law, John Hall?”⁴

Figure 2. Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893), whose bicentennial of birth is being celebrated this year. (© The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain; see [Jean Martin Charcot] – Digital Collections – National Library of Medicine.)

Charcot’s Interest in Shakespeare

There is another interesting relationship between Shakespeare and neurology. It is well known that Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893, see Figure 2) was particularly interested in Shakespeare’s work. (This year, we are celebrating the Charcot bicentennial with a special meeting of the International Society for the History of Neurology (ISHN) in Paris and with a special issue of the Journal of the History of the Neurosciences.*)

Quotes from the famous poet are referenced in several places, including in the book Charcot: Constructing Neurology and the chapter “The Influence of Shakespeare on Charcot’s Neurological Teaching.”^5,6 In the chapter, we learn about Charcot’s Anglophilia and his “incorporation of Shakespearean citations into his neurological teaching [that] served several purposes.” Charcot’s biographer Christopher Goetz, the author of the chapter, writes: “Occasionally, he drew on Shakespeare’s words to illustrate a speciﬁc neurological observation. More often, he lauded Shakespeare as an exemplary observer of human behavior and emphasized the clinical importance of careful and dispassionate documentation.” Furthermore, Charcot “used Shakespeare’s words to communicate philosophical principles related to the field of medicine and the role the physician.”⁶

An interesting aspect mentioned by Goetz is that Charcot appreciated “the particular mixture of the real and the unreal” in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. This was related to Charcot’s study of hysterics from 1878 onward and “the spectacular behaviors of the hysterics who crowded his wards, and whose symptoms were often mixtures of real and elaborated disease.” These patients “often unwittingly mimicked the witches and spirits of the Shakespearean stage.”⁶ We also find information on a tableau of Macbeth rendered by Charcot’s children Jeanne and Jean, as well as his students.⁵

Headache in Othello and Migraine in Romeo and Juliet

Figure 3. Title page of Philip Barrough’s Method of Physic (sixth edition of 1624).

Among Shakespeare’s best known tragedies are Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet. In the latter two plays, headache and migraine are mentioned. In The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice (Act III, scene 3), the protagonist, who is falsely manipulated with insinuations that his wife is unfaithful to him, says: “I have a pain upon my forehead here,” upon which his wife Desdemona answers, “Faith, that’s with watching; ‘twill away again: Let me but bind it hard, within this hour it will be well.”

In Act II, scene 5 of The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the nurse, Juliet’s personal attendant and confidante, who secretly contacted Romeo, says, “Lord, how my head aches! What a head have I! It beats as it would fall in 20 pieces.”

Philip Barrough’s Method of Physic

If we want to understand the knowledge about headaches and migraines at that time, we must realize that physicians were still thinking in terms of the humoral medicine of antiquity (Galenic medicine). Frequent references were made to Galen (129-c. 216) and Hippocrates (c. 460-c. 370 BCE). Health and disease depended on the proper balance of body fluids, including blood, phlegm, and yellow and black bile.

A good example from the period of Shakespeare would be the first edition of Method of Physic (1583, see Figure 3), by London surgeon and physician Philip Barrough, who wrote in terms of Galenic medicine. He obtained his license to practice surgery from the University of Cambridge, and in 1572, he was licensed to practice physic. He probably practiced in London.⁷ His book was dedicated to “Lord and Master the Lord Burgley, High Treasurere of England,” thereby pointing to William Cecil, first Baron of Burgley (1520-1598).

Looking at the 1624 sixth edition, the book follows the usual sequence a capite ad calcem (from head to heel) and starts with diseases of the head. The book seems to have been popular as it reached at least seven editions, with the last being published in 1652. The first 12 chapters deal with headache, and Chapter 13 deals with migraine. (See Figure 4.) The chapters on headache are typical of the period, describing headache caused by heat, cold, dryness or moistness, blood, choler, and phlegm, but also by drunkenness. After Chapter 13, some other “neurological” conditions are described, including frenzy, lethargy, “losse of memorie,” “carus or subeth” [deep sleep], paralysis, apoplexy, cramp, madness, melancholy, trembling, and shaking.⁸ These “neurological” subjects comprise 29 chapters in 48 pages.

Figure 4. Chapter 13 on migraine of Philip Barrough’s Method of Physic (sixth edition of 1624).¹²

Barrough’s book is said to be the first medical book in English. Indeed, at the time, many medical books were still published in Latin. For instance, the book De cerebri morbis (1549) by Jason Pratensis (1486-1558) is in Latin. In this book, the first seven chapters are on headache with titles similar to Barrough’s book, and Chapter 8 is on “hemicrania.”

Barrough first gave general information on headache in his 1583 book on medicine. “Cephalgia is nothing else but a laboriouse and painefull sense, and feeling newly begonne in the whole head, through some great mutation thereof, this word newly is added to make it differ from Cephalaea, which is an old paine that hath long continued: and the whole head is added to make it differ from Hemicrania, which occupieth but the one half of the head.”

This in fact is not much different from the classification given by Areataeus of Cappadocia (second century).^9,10 For migraine, Barrough used the terms hemicrania, in English migrime. “Hemicrania is a painefull evill remaining in the one halfe of the head, either on the right halfe or on the left, and is distinguished by the seame that runneth along in the skull, from the midde forehead to the hinder parte of the head, this griefe in Englishe is called the Migrime. This paine cometh often by fittes, and in some the griefe is felt without the skull, in some within deepe in the braine, and in some other nigh to the temples in the muscles ther.”

In his definition, it was localized on one side of the head. He believed this was due to the falx cerebri. He described symptoms, including pain on one side of the head, often periodic (fits), felt on the skull or deep in the brain, sometimes the temples. As for the pathophysiology, he wrote in terms of vapors rising, hot or cold, and if the meninges are involved, it can be very painful, with the patient barely able to touch the skin.

As for the treatment, he wrote, “The patient should refrain from such things as do send abundance of sharp vapors up to the head (garlicke, oynions, mustard, raddishe rootes, and such like).” The physician was expected to cure the migraine, and first consider diligently whether the patient needed bloodletting or purging. This was followed by local and external remedies depending on whether there was an abundance of cold or hot humors. The patient should rub either their own fingers or a linen cloth over the half of the forehead that is hurt, and specially over the muscles of the temples, until it is red and hot.

Of course, Shakespeare did not give much information about the symptoms of his characters’ headaches. Although it is hazardous to make a diagnosis based on so little information from the 16th century, the “pain in the forehead” of Othello, could have been a tension-type headache. The description of the headache — [the head] “beats as it would fall in 20 pieces” — of Juliet’s nurse suggests migraine. Shakespeare also gave no information about treatment, other than “Let me but bind it hard.” And the information he gave would not have required reading medical writings. •

Peter J. Koehler, PhD, is co-editor of the Journal of the History of the Neurosciences. He has won several awards, including the Lawrence C. McHenry Award of the AAN and the Lifetime Achievement Award for the International Society of the History of the Neurosciences. He is currently affiliated with the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. His recent books focus on art history (The Stone of Madness. Art and History) and on the enlightened naturalist Philippe Fermin (1730-1813).

* Information on the ISHN Charcot bicentennial (1825-2025) meeting in Paris can be found on the ISHN home page (including information about ISHN membership) and in the special issue on Charcot of the associated Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, which is not only the official journal of the ISHN, but also of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) History of the Neurosciences Specialty Group.

References:

Paciaroni M, Bogousslavsky J. William Shakespeare’s neurology. Prog Brain Res. 2013;206:3.
Gomes Mda M. Shakespeare’s: his 450th birth anniversary and his insights into neurology and cognition. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2015 Apr;73(4):359-61.
Matthews BR. Portrayal of neurological illness and physicians in the works of shakespeare. Front Neurol Neurosci. 2010;27:216-226.
Pearce JM. Dr John Hall (1575-1635) and Shakespeare’s medicine. J Med Biogr. 2006 Nov;14(4):187-91.
Goetz CG, Bonduelle M, Gelfand T. Charcot. Constructing Neurology. New York, Oxford University Press, 1995.
Goetz CG. The influence of Shakespeare on Charcot’s neurological teaching. In: Rose FC (ed). Neurology of the Arts. London, Imperial College Press, 2004, pp. 329-36.
Stephen L. Dictionary of National Biography. Barrow, Philip. Vol. 3, New York, Macmillan, 1885, p. 308.
Barrough P. The methode of phisicke conteyning the causes, signes, and cures of invvard diseases in mans body from the head to the foote. VVhereunto is added, the forme and rule of making remedies and medicines, which our phisitians commonly vse at this day, with the proportion, quantitie, & names of ech [sic] medicine London, Thomas Vautroullier, 1583.
Koehler PJ, van de Wiel TW. Aretaeus on migraine and headache. J Hist Neurosci. 2001 Dec;10(3):253-61.
Koehler PJ, Boes CJ. History of migraine. Handb Clin Neurol. 2023;198:3-21.
Shakespeare W. Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, London, Jaggard & Blount, 1623.
Barrough P. The methode of phisicke etc. 6th edition. London, Field, 1624.

Past Successes, Present Educational Opportunities, and Future Elections

Prof. Wolfgang Grisold looks back on WFN’s internal and global activities and ahead at the year to come.

By Prof. Wolfgang Grisold

Welcome to the latest edition of World Neurology, which is the last issue for 2024. I want to thank those who have published and reported for World Neurology. I encourage you to send your reports to share with our readers. And, of course, thanks to the team of editors, publishers, and all others who promote this activity.

2024 has been a successful year for the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) with a successful International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseasees (ICNMD) in Perth, Australia, two Educational Days, and the new WFN Digital Neurology Update (WNU) activities.

The e-Learning, virtual, and hybrid meetings are here to stay and are a useful tool to bring news of neurology in all parts of the world. Not only has traveling become more expensive, but visa hurdles and bureaucracy are increasing worldwide. The 2023 World Congress of Neurology in Montreal — in addition to the on-site delegates — was attended virtually by 1,400 participants from 120 countries. This participation highlights the interest in neurological updates and dissemination of neurological knowledge.

In this column, I will give a short overview of the internal aspects of the WFN, the global aspects, and education. I will finish with the announcement of the new World Brain Day 2025, which will be devoted to brain health for all ages.

WFN Internal Updates

Following the meeting of the Council of Delegates (COD) in September 2024, several decisions were made. In particular, the bylaws were changed with regard to a future president-elect and the past president. (See “WFN Digital Update and a Recap of the Council of Delegates Meeting” in the previous issue of World Neurology.) Following the meeting, we also decided to co-opt two trustees until the next COD meeting. The conditions were that all regions of the world should be represented again and our female composition of leadership should be increased.

We are glad to announce that from the North Africa, African, and Pan-Arab region, we were able to invite Dr. Imen Kacem from Tunisia, which will give us a deeper connection and understanding of African needs. Dr. Kacem is the secretary-general of the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN) and is involved with the Pan-Arab society. For Latin America, we were able to invite Dr. Briseida Feliciano from Puerto Rico who was recommended by the Pan-American Federation of Neurological Societies (PAFNS). Both of these placements will enlarge our spectrum of knowledge on the regions and will provide the WFN input on the needs of those areas.

In this issue of World Neurology, you will also find an official announcement calling for candidates for the elections in 2025. There will be a call for the new WFN president and first WFN vice president (who will take office Jan. 1, 2026), and one elected trustee (taking office immediately after the COD meeting). Only the position of the elected trustee is eligible for re-election. That position is currently held by Prof. Chandrashekhar Meshram (India).

Prof. Antonio Toscano and Prof. Elena Moro represent the European Academy of Neurology at the Italian Society of Neurology in Rome.

Global Activities

From a global standpoint, the procedures on the input and establishment of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP) are proceeding worldwide. The IGAP will mark the fourth anniversary of its establishment in 2025.

The WFN participated in the World Health Organization Mental Health Forum in October in Geneva, where we gave two extended statements on neurology and on the implementation of IGAP.

Prof. Axel Siwa, a past WFN committee chair, is honored at the Turkish Neurological Society meeting.

It is good to see so many different societies active and working together to implement the IGAP. However, it will be important to concentrate forces and to work on joint actions so we can avoid competing with one another.

See a complete overview of WHO and U.N. activities of the WFN.

The approach toward the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has been an important field of development for the WFN. This arena is different from the WHO, which is entirely dominated by health. The U.N. ECOSOC has many other stakeholders, and health is only one aspect.

That is why it is crucial to alert the ECOSOC to the importance of brain health as a general global concept. We have already introduced statements at U.N. meetings, which have led to several meetings with the current ECOSOC President and Canadian Ambassador Bob Rae. On Nov. 1, 2024, we were received by Ambassador Rae in New York and agreed on the cooperation between the U.N., ECOSOC, and the WFN for World Brain Day 2025. The topic will be brain health for all ages. The preparations for World Brain Day for all regions will begin in the coming weeks.

We are also glad to report that we were invited to the November meeting of the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN) in Rome, and the November/December conference of Turkish Neurological Society for sessions in their opening ceremonies.

Cape Town International Convention Center.

Educational Opportunities

We are advancing with our WFN teaching and Training Centers, and for the four-year position in Cape Town we had 165 applicants. Dr. Jemima Yebaoh from Ghana has been selected for the upcoming four-year WFN training position, sponsored by the WFN.

It is important to have site visits to the Training Centers, to exchange thoughts, talk to residents, and see how the education programs proceed. This year, we have already reported that we visited Cairo and Dakar, and we decided to see all Training Centers on the African continent.

The Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town.

A committee composed of the president and of the secretary-general (Prof. Steven Lewis) set out to visit the Rabat Training Center in Morocco, where they were warmly received by the faculty. We were able to see the facilities and laboratories, exchange thoughts, and have interviews with faculty and the residents. The WFN finances a four-year training program in Rabat. One year of training in neuromuscular disease and one year of training in electrophysiology are financed by the ICNMD.

From Rabat, we traveled to Cape Town and were received by Prof. Lawrence Tucker, local activities chair and acting president of AFAN. He arranged for us to see the Cape Town International Convention Center where the 2027 WCN will take place.

Prof. Jonathan Carr teaching at a resident session at Tygerberg Hospital.

This was followed by a full-day site visit to the neurology department at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. We were introduced to several other departments, including intensive care, radiology, and the neuroscience department. In addition to the traditional ward rounds, we were able to take in some of the atmosphere and the performances of the Cape Town Training Center. We met the faculty and the trainees and had interviews with Dr. Desmond Koffie, our current four-year training recipient from Ghana. The concept and work of the WFN could be presented to the faculty and trainees in a lecture.

The following day, we visited Tygerberg Hospital, which is a large hospital associated with the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University. Here, we were able to see the facilities, patient presentations, and case discussions. We were impressed with the level of communication. The continuous cooperation between Tygerberg and Cape Town will be an asset for future WFN trainees.

Neurophysiology lab in Rabat.

We visited Prof. Jo Wilmshurst, the chair of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town. Prof. Wilmshurst is a world-renowned expert on epileptic seizures in children. We toured the department with one of her residents.

The evaluations of the Training Centers will be made available in a report at a later date. We want to thank all participants who help us keep the Training Centers in such a prolific state. The Latin American Training Center in Mexico has started its training of one person this year as part of a stroke fellowship, and we intend to have a site visit to Mexico City in 2025.

The plan and offer to establish a WFN Training Center in Asia is still open. Unfortunately, a final decision has not been reached.

A trainee from Congo and Senegal with Secretary-General Steven Lewis.

The Training Centers in Africa have been going for 13 years and are a story of success, as they not only train neurologists, but also empower regions and catalyze the establishment of more training sites in Africa. (See Journal of the Neurological Sciences [JNS] Service Pages.)

The WFN four-year trainee Dr. Koffie.

We are jointly working with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) on the Global Advocacy Leadership Program (GALP). We have selected 20 candidates from low-middle and low-income countries. The program will start with a face-to-face meeting of all participants and faculty at the 2025 AAN Annual Meeting April 5-9, in San Diego, California. This will be followed by a series of virtual meetings that will explore relevant topics in global health, such as global organizations, funding, and more. It will culminate with a second face-to-face meeting at the WCN, followed by a formal graduation of the participants at the opening of the WCN. WCN is scheduled for Oct. 12-15, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea. This is a major project and emphasizes the need for global education in advocacy and leadership for the future.

Visiting Prof. Wilmshurst at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.

Development of Educational Days, or full days of topic-related lectures, is another activity the WFN is focused on. We have collaborated with AFAN and the Asian and Oceanian Association of Neurology (AOAN) in launching these Educational Days. Topics include epilepsy, movement disorders, neuropathies, and stroke. All Educational Days remain a permanent educational resource on the WFN e-Learning hub. We also had a series of joint Educational Days on Headache with the International Headache Society, American Migraine Foundation, and Global Patient Advocacy Coalition (GPAC) in the past years.

We look forward to WCN 2025 in Seoul. The preparations are ongoing, and the plenary lecture, the scientific program, and the educational program are in an advanced state of preparation. The local venue and hotel facilities in Seoul, as well as transportation and airports, are excellent, and you can expect a smooth organization of the congress. We want to thank our Korean colleagues for participating in the development of the program and the congress.

For 2026, we intend to have another WFN Digital Update (WNU) course with an update to fill the gap between the WCN 2025 and WCN 2027.

The surroundings of Cape Town invite further sightseeing. A view of the vineyards.

For 2027, we look forward to the WCN in Cape Town, which will be an important milestone for the WFN, as it is the second congress of neurology on African soil. It will definitely be a challenge in regard to funding, travel, and many aspects of organization, but we are certain we will be able to bring a great and increasingly needed opportunity to Africa.

For the WCN European Congress, which will take place in 2029, the deadline for application and interest was Nov. 30, 2024. We have six European countries that have applied: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, and Turkey. The shortlist will be provided in the coming months, along with a list of our Professional Conference Organizer (PCO) site visits. The European WCN has always been attractive to Europeans, along with significant participation from our colleagues from other continents, to help shed a light on the important role of neurology worldwide.

Virtual attendees at the 2024 Education in Headache for Healthcare Professionals in Africa.

WFN Media

Concerning our publications, the JNS, the eNeurologicalSci (eNS), and World Neurology are performing well and are substantially helping to increase the impact of neurology. We are grateful for our electronic media, the website, and our social media pages, which have been active in the past month and document, in a small way, the international activities of the WFN. You can also find additional WFN reports on the JNS Service Pages.

World Brain Day (WBD) will be the next major event for 2025. It will be organized with the global regions, and we will again use a professional American public relations agency to help us with the program development and to achieve worldwide awareness. Development takes about six months until the final World Brain Day is launched and is an important source of discussion. This year, we will start publishing interviews or podcasts a few months before the event to increase awareness. The final and formal conclusion will be at WCN 2025.

Season‘s greetings from the WFN.

I want to thank you for your cooperation and for helping the WFN with its implicit wish to increase brain health worldwide and upscale structures for neurology, particularly in countries of need. These efforts need support from all of us, and we hope for a good and successful 2025. •

From the Editors

We would like to welcome you to the December 2024 issue of World Neurology, the final issue of this calendar year. In the President’s Column, WFN President Prof. Wolfgang Grisold provides updates on several ongoing WFN activities, including operational and global developments, education, and the introduction of the new World Brain Day 2025 theme.

Also, this issue includes an important call for nominations for the three WFN positions that will be elected in 2025.

This issue includes several reports of recent national and regional meetings, including a report by Dr. Daniel Gams Massi on the hybrid Presidential Symposium of the Fourth Congress of the Cameroon Academy of Neurology, a report by Profs. Marina Alpaidze, George Chakhava, and Alex Razumovsky on the joint meeting of the WFN Neurosonology Specialty Group and the Georgian Association of Medical Specialties, and a report by Prof. Bruno Giometto on the inauguration of the first clinical neuroscience course at the University of Trento in Italy.

In the History column, Dr. Peter Koehler explores the life of the other Babinski: Ali-bab, the author of a French cookbook, and its interface with the history of neurology. This issue also includes an opinion piece from Prof. Raad Shakir regarding the current clinical status of anti-amyloid therapy, specifically lecanemab, for Alzheimer’s disease. Readers should note that opinions in World Neurology represent those of the author(s) and are not necessarily the opinions of the WFN, its trustees, or its member societies.

We also have two obituaries for prominent neurologists who we recently lost. Dr. Natalia Acosta-Baena and Dr. Ricardo Nitrini provide their heartfelt tribute to the life and legacy of Prof. Francisco Javier Lopera Restrepo, a prominent Alzheimer’s disease researcher from Latin America. Dr. Duygu Selcen and Dr. P. James B. Dyck provide their remembrance of Prof. Andrew Engel, a legend in the field of neuromuscular disease.

In closing, thank you to all neurologists and neurologic trainee readers in all regions of the world for your interest in the WFN and World Neurology over this past year. We look forward to continuing to share more details about the upcoming activities for neurologists worldwide in future issues and invite your contributions to the following email addresses: Dr. Lewis at steven.lewis@wfneurology.org or Dr. Struhal at walter.struhal@wfneurology.org.

The WFN Announces Positions up for Election by the Council of Delegates in 2025

By Wolfgang Grisold, WFN president, and Laura Druce, WFN CEO

The president of the WFN (2026-2029)
The first vice president of the WFN (2026-2029)
An elected WFN Trustee (2025-2027)

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) encourages all member societies to suggest suitable candidates for the positions of WFN president, first vice president, and elected trustee. Engagement for the WFN and neurology in a global context are expected. Availability, readiness for communication, and experience with international and global societies are required. English is the communication language of the WFN.

The President of the WFN

The term of the current president, Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, will end on Dec. 31, 2025. The office of the newly elected president will begin on Jan. 1, 2026.

The WFN president is supported by the Board of Trustees and the London WFN office structures. The president also has support from the committees and advisors on specific topics. This individual is expected to continue the structure and long-term activities of the WFN — in particular education and global activities — and add their own vision for the development of neurology worldwide.

The term for the position of president is four years. The newly elected president will also be expected to stay for one additional year to serve as an advisor to the past president on the board after the term ends.

At the last COD meeting, the delegates approved the creation of a president-elect position, to begin one year before the conclusion of the president’s 4-year term. The president-elect will be an advisor to the board. The election of the WFN first president-elect will take place in 2028.

Persons applying for the position of the president should have experience with WFN procedures and its global work and should have a global outlook. During the time served as president, no conflict of interest with other societies is expected.

WFN First Vice President

The term of the current first vice president, Prof. Guy Rouleau, will end on Dec. 31, 2025. The office of the new first vice president will begin on Jan. 1, 2026.

The first vice president is one of the four WFN officers. The first vice president is an important part of, and advisor to, the board. This individual is involved in all major decisions. Traditionally, the vice president is involved in the development of the WFN Congresses, the new Digital Neurology Update (WNU) activity, the educational portion of the World Congress of Neurology, and the WFN educational days.

The first vice president is also part ex officio in the Permanent Congress Committee (PCC), which is a permanent WFN committee to decide on future congresses and developments.

An Elected WFN Trustee

The term of elected WFN trustee, Prof. Chandrashekhar Meshram (India), ends immediately following the COD meeting and is eligible for re-election.

Elected trustees are members of the WFN trustee board and have voting rights for all decisions. Equally, co-opted trustees have the same rights.

Each trustee is a trustee under U.K. charity law and has full responsibility for the WFN. All trustees have special tasks and a personal portfolio. They are involved in short and long-term decisions and also support the WFN in their region. The present trustee participates in many activities such as communication, regional representation, and website activities, among others.

General Nomination and Election Information

All applications must be sent electronically.
Email to: elections@wfneurology.org

Nominees can only apply for one position.

A nominee must:

Be a member of an eligible WFN member society in good standing
Have a national and international reputation
Have made contributions to regional and global neurology
Be committed to the WFN
Have no conflict of interest with other societies

The Nominating Committee will consider all applicants for their suitability for the positions. Gender and geography are considered. The current elected trustees are from three of the six WFN regions. The WFN expects to have participation from as many regions as possible.

A WFN Member Society must submit the name(s) of the candidate(s), together with a signed statement by the candidate confirming their willingness to stand for election. Candidates must also provide a brief curriculum vitae (CV) no longer than a single typewritten page and letter of support from the Member Society. The deadline for sumbissions is Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

The recommendations of the Nominating Committee, along with a CV and the individual plans of the applicants, will be published in World Neurology and on the WFN website.

Nominations made after this deadline are possible. However, in addition to the criteria above, candidates with late applications must also be supported with signatures from a minimum of five WFN Member Society Delegates. An explanation for the late application is required. All documents must be received by the London office 30 days prior to the start of electronic voting. The deadline for additional nominations is 30 days prior to the start of electronic voting. Visit the WFN website for more information.

Send the nomination documents to the WFN London Secretariat office at elections@wfneurology.org. That office will scrutinize the applications for completeness and forward them to the Nomination Committee for further elaboration. All applications are handled confidentially.

The voting will be electronic, and the results of the vote will be published by the current president Oct. 12-15, 2025, at the next COD meeting in Seoul, South Korea.

Advancing Neurological Education

The University of Trento and the WFN celebrate the inaugural clinical neuroscience course at the university.

By Prof. Bruno Giometto

Bruno Giometto

In a milestone for neurological education, the University of Trento in Italy marked the launch of its inaugural clinical neuroscience course within the framework of its five-year-old master’s degree in medicine and surgery. The course inauguration was highlighted by the presence of Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, president of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), who delivered a master class on the global perspectives of teaching neurology. This event underscored the commitment of both the WFN and the University of Trento to advance education and foster collaboration in the field of neuroscience.

The course represents a pioneering step for the University of Trento, which has rapidly emerged as a hub for innovative medical education since the inception of its medical program. Prof. Bruno Giometto, course chair, hosted the event and introduced Prof. Grisold to an audience comprising faculty members, students, and representatives of the neurological community.

Prof. Giometto emphasized the course’s unique design, integrating cutting-edge research with clinical practice, and highlighted the importance of international perspectives in enriching the curriculum.

“The presence of Prof. Grisold symbolizes the alignment of our vision with global efforts to standardize and elevate neurology education,” he said.

Neurology Education on a Global Stage

Prof. Grisold’s master class, titled “Teaching Neurology: A Global Perspective,” offered a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of neurology education, including its challenges and opportunities. He stressed the critical role of the WFN in promoting high-quality training models worldwide and the importance of adapting these models to the diverse health care needs of different regions.

“The World Federation of Neurology is committed to ensuring that neurological education is not just accessible but also relevant and sustainable,” Prof. Grisold said. He outlined key WFN initiatives, such as:

Training Centers in low- and middle-income countries: The WFN has established partnerships with institutions in underserved regions to provide specialized training programs.
Standardized curriculum development: Collaborative efforts to create curricula that balance foundational knowledge with region-specific clinical priorities.
Digital learning platforms: Leveraging technology to bridge gaps in access and enable continuous professional development.

Challenges and Innovations in Neurology Education

In his address, Prof. Grisold lauded the University of Trento’s clinical neuroscience course for its emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach.

“Incorporating neuroscience into the broader framework of medicine ensures that future physicians are not only knowledgeable but also empathetic in addressing the complexities of neurological disorders,” he said.

Prof. Grisold’s visit to Trento also underscored the WFN’s mission to foster collaborations among neurological societies, academic institutions, and international organizations. Through its global reach, the WFN has established itself as a pivotal entity in shaping the future of neurology.

One of the WFN’s landmark initiatives is World Brain Day, which raises awareness about neurological conditions and the importance of brain health. The annual event exemplifies the WFN’s ability to mobilize resources and stakeholders for a common cause. Also, the WFN’s work in research advocacy, policy formulation, and the promotion of neurological services complements its educational endeavors.

A Vision for the Future

The launch of the clinical neuroscience course at the University of Trento represents more than just an academic milestone; it is a testament to the power of collaboration in advancing medical education. The partnership between the university and the WFN sets a precedent for other institutions to emulate, demonstrating that a global perspective can significantly enhance local educational initiatives.

In his concluding remarks, Prof. Grisold encouraged students to embrace their role as future leaders in neurology.

“The study of the brain and nervous system is not merely an academic pursuit; it is a calling to improve lives,” he said.

Prof. Giometto expressed his gratitude to Prof. Grisold and the WFN for their support, reiterating the university’s commitment to fostering excellence in medical education.

“We are at the beginning of a journey, but with partners like the WFN, the path ahead is bright,” he said.

The University of Trento’s medical program is rapidly gaining recognition for its innovative approach, combining rigorous academic standards with opportunities for interdisciplinary research. The addition of the clinical neuroscience course strengthens its reputation as a center for academic and clinical excellence.

The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring faculty members and students, exploring the future of neuroscience education and the potential for further collaborations with international organizations.

Looking Ahead

The successful inauguration of the clinical neuroscience course, marked by Prof. Grisold’s inspiring lecture, is a reminder of the shared commitment of institutions like the WFN and the University of Trento to advancing neurology education. It also highlights the importance of fostering connections across borders to tackle the global burden of neurological disorders.

As the University of Trento continues to develop its medical program, its collaboration with the WFN will undoubtedly serve as a model for other institutions seeking to innovate and excel in the field of neuroscience.

This landmark event is not just a celebration of academic achievement, but also a call to action for the global neurology community to work together in building a future where access to quality neurological education and care is a reality for all. •

Prof. Bruno Giometto is director of neurology at Trento and Roverto Hospitals and a professor of neurology at the Interdepartmental Center of Medical Sciences at the University of Trento.

WFN NSG Holds Joint Meeting With GAMS

The Neurosonology Specialty Group explored the use of ultrasonography as a critical care modality at the Georgian Association of Medical Specialties (GAMS) conference.

By Marina Alpaidze, MD, PhD, George Chakhava, MD, PhD, and Alex Razumovsky, PhD, FAHA, NVS

Prof. Marina Alpaidze lecture.

The Neurosonology Specialty Group (NSG) of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is dedicated to the promotion of science and research as well as education and training in the field of ultrasonic techniques and its clinical utilization. International cooperation and the dissemination of scientific information within the field of neurosonology is part of the group’s regular activities.

During the IX International Conference of the Georgian Association of Medical Specialties (GAMS) on Oct. 6-8, 2024, in Kutaisi, Georgia, the GAMS Radiology Section and the Georgian Chapter of the NSG, in cooperation with the NSG WFN, organized a joint session dedicated to ultrasound and imaging utilization.

Main auditorium of the IX GAMS Conference.

Among the faculty were Prof. Marina Alpaidze, MD, president of the Georgian Chapter of the WFN NSG at Tbilisi State Medical University, Prof. Nikoloz Sainishvili, MD, PhD, representative of GAMS in the board radiology section of the European Union of Medical Specialists, Prof. Oleg Sabelnikovs, MD, department of anesthesiology and intensive care in Riga, Latvia, Alex Razumovsky, PhD, FAHA, advisory board member of the WFN NSG, and others.

The conference focused on novel approaches in the management of personalized and evidence-based medicine. Specific topics included stroke, cognitive disorders as complications of stroke, post-stroke dementia, neuro-infections, and more.

This joint session was designed for individuals who are interested in performing and interpreting transcranial Doppler (TCD) studies specifically related to the clinical yield of neurosonology for patients in the critical care environment. Special consideration of functional TCD ultrasonography and its role in the assessment of cerebral autoregulation and vasomotor reactivity in different neurological disorders that allows early detection of cerebrovascular disease was also discussed.

A group of attendees at the IX GAMS.

Kutaisi has a rich history that dates back over 3,000 years. The city was the capital of Georgia from the eighth century BCE until the 11th century. Kutaisi features notable landmarks, including the Bagrati Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 11th century, and the Gelati Monastery, also a UNESCO site.

This conference was accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), and the joint session was guided and directed under the auspices of the NSG of the WFN. •

Marina Alpaidze is a professor at Tbilisi State Medical University in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a member of the executive committee for the WFN Neurosonology Research Group. George Chakhava is a neurologist at the Georgian-American clinic at David Tvildiani Medical University in Tbilisi, Georgia. Alex Razumovsky is president of TCD Global and secretary of the WFN NSG.