The Indian Academy of Neurology sponsored in-person awareness programs, online seminars, and media outreach to raise awareness about brain health.
By Chandrashekhar Meshram, Sudhir Kothari, R. Lakshminarasimhan, and U. Meenakshisundaram
Highlights from India’s celebrations of World Brain Day 2026.
Every year on World Brain Day, the Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN) promotes awareness of brain health to the masses. This is accomplished through a combination of in-person activities, virtual sessions, social media posts, and mass media publications by IAN members.
This year, IAN leadership including President-Elect Dr. Sudhir Kothari organized a virtual meeting with chairs and conveners from all 22 IAN subsections. Dr. Kothari briefed attendees about the need to conduct awareness activities in line with the theme of this year’s World Brain Day: “Brain Health: Access for All.”
Many IAN members organized in-person awareness programs for their patients. Prominent among them was a collaborative event for awareness and advocacy organized by Dr. Poornima Gauri in Pune, India. The event was called Rishton Ka Manja, where music meets brain and mind wellness.
On July 25, 2026, the Movement Disorders subsection of IAN conducted a webinar titled “Movement Disorders: Access for All.” IAN members, who are experts in the management of movement disorders, spoke on various management modalities. This was followed by a panel discussion with experts. The session was well publicized on the IAN social media feeds and was well attended by IAN members as well as patients, caregivers, and the population at large.
On social media, the IAN posted a message to promote awareness of “Brain Health: Access for All.” Some IAN subsection leaders gave short video messages. These simple messages were collated and published on the IAN social media platforms.
Many cities across the country noted active participation:
Nagpur, India
Nagpur Neuro Society (NNS), under the aegis of IAN, organized various activities over the week under guidance of Prof. Chandrashekhar Meshram.
The NNS hosted Walk for Brain on July 22. The event was flagged off by Dr. Meshram, World Federation of Neurology (WFN) trustee and Padma Shri awardee. Despite rainy weather, more than 200 people walked 4 km through the city, beginning at the Indian Medical Association auditorium. Walkers carried placards with messages such as “Our Brain, Our Future,” “It Is Your Brain, Use it or Lose it,” “Brain Health, Supreme Wealth,” “Proper Diet for Healthy Brain,” “Epilepsy Is Treatable: Don’t Hide it,” “Clean City, Healthy Brain,” “Avoid Air Pollution for Healthy Brain,” and “Stroke Is a Brain Attack — Reach Hospital Immediately.”
Dr. Meshram explained the importance of this year’s World Brain Day theme and suggested tips to preserve brain health and prevent neurological diseases. Dr. Ketan Chaturvedi, NNS secretary, Dr. Satish Lahoti, joint secretary, and other members actively participated in the event.
Beginning July 22, talks and interviews on different topics were aired twice daily for seven days on All India Radio. Topics included:
- “Brain Health: Access for All,” by Dr. Meshram
- “Epilepsy,” by Vasant Dangra
- “Stroke and Neurointervention,” by Lahoti
- “Dementia and Parkinsonism,” by Nikhil Dongre
- “Head Injury,” by Jitendra Tadghare
- “Trigeminal Neuralgia,” by Palak Jaiswal
- “Brain Tumors,” by Pramod Giri
The information reached several hundred thousand people. Similar messages also appeared in newspapers throughout the week.
There were also several educational events held throughout the city. Amrit Bansod conducted an awareness activity on “Brain Health: Access for All” at the KDK College of Pharmacy and Research Institute in Nandanwan, Nagpur.
An interactive awareness session on “Ancient Brain in the Modern AI World” was conducted at JSW Kalmeshwar by Jeevan Kinkar and Paresh Korde. Participants discussed how our ancient brain is adapting to the challenges of today’s AI-driven world, including digital overload, constant notifications, shrinking attention spans, and information overload. They also covered practical, neuroscience-based strategies to improve focus, productivity, and long-term brain health.
Vasant Dangara and Amarjeet Wagh conducted an awareness session on pediatric epilepsy in collaboration with Nagpur Epilepsy Association.
Nitin Virwani published an article in the newspaper to create awareness about World Brain Day in Akola, India.
Pune, India
Celebrating World Brain Day in Pune, India, Poornima Gauri of the NICHE Advocacy Foundation, along with DES Brijlal, of Jindal College of Physiotherapy, organized NeuroHarmony 2.0.
Aligning with World Brain Day’s theme of “Brain Health: Access for All,” NeuroHarmony 2.0 conducted various scientific sessions and advocacy programs throughout its conference July 23-26 at the NM Wadia Amphitheatre in Fergusson College in Pune, India. Interdisciplinary collaboration to improve the quality of neuro-health care was the foundation of the conference.
With the vision of redefining neuro-health care, the mission was to bridge the gaps in neuro-health care services and upgrade the knowledge, attitude, and skills of allied neuro-health care students and professionals. Through this platform, they were able to successfully connect researchers, practitioners, and students from various disciplines.
Diverse perspectives and research findings were shared. We also reached the populace through our public forum events and raised awareness and advocacy about neuro-health care. Through this conference, organizers laid the foundation for better teamwork and quality of care in neuro-health care services.
Mumbai, India
Nirmal Surya organized an awareness session on brain health through the Epilepsy Foundation on July 21. He organized a webinar on “Brain Health: Access for All.” WFN President Steven Lewis and the World Brain Day Co-Chair Tissa Wijeratne participated in the activity.
Trichy, India
To mark World Brain Day 2026, M.A. Aleem published articles in newspapers. He gave a talk on brain health for school children in a program organized by the Anna Science Centre Planetarium.
Response from IAN members as well as the public was promising, and IAN plans to continue its focus on patient and public awareness to promote brain health. •
Chandrashekhar Meshram is a WFN trustee. Sudhir Kothari is president-elect of the Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN). R. Lakshiminarasimhan is president of the IAN. U. Meenakshisundaram is secretary of the IAN.
See the online photo gallery a look at the celebrations, activities and media coverage of World Brain Day 2026 in India.
