Neurology Takes Center Stage Worldwide

Updates on WFN activities, World Brain Day celebrations, and the World Congress of Neurology.

By Prof. Wolfgang Grisold

Welcome to the current edition of World Neurology. I will provide updates on the proceedings of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), potential meeting sites for the World Congress of Neurology (WCN) in 2028, and World Brain Day (WBD) 2025 celebrations. I will also highlight our activities with the World Health Organization and United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the upcoming World Congress of Neurology in Seoul, South Korea, education, and publications. Most of this information is also on the website, and several news items are featured on social media.

WFN Matters

WFN leaders at the African Academy of Neurology in Tunis.

This year, we will hold an important Council of Delegates (COD) meeting in October at the WCN in Seoul, South Korea. The meeting will be offered in hybrid format. Delegates will receive the trustees’ report from 2024. We will also announce the results of two important elections.

The first vote is for the selection of a new WFN president (who will take office Jan. 1, 2026), a new first WFN vice president (also taking office Jan. 1, 2026), and one elected WFN trustee (office taken up immediately). Additional candidate nominations were solicited until Aug. 1, 2025, but no further applications were received.

This COD will mark the end of the term of the now coopted trustees and all committees and subcommittees. The incoming president and administration will decide on the new committee compositions beginning in 2026. We thank all current committees and subcommittees and look forward to their reports.

The WFN leadership looks forward to the election. Traditionally, the board cannot make recommendations. However, we invite you to review the candidates’ statements in World Neurology and on the website.

The second vote is for the site of the 2028 WCN, which will be held in Europe. Out of seven applicants, three remain on the shortlist: Budapest, Copenhagen, and Istanbul. All three sites were listed by Kenes Group and the WFN.

Meeting with Pan-American Federation of Neurological Societies in Asunción, Paraguay.

Even though all three locations are capable of holding the WCN 2028, the WFN has a preference for Budapest and Copenhagen. This is based on our analysis, and on the size of the exhibition halls, which are essential for WCN congresses. The facts and analysis for each location will be made available for the voting process.

For the first time, the WFN called for an extraordinary trustee meeting on July 1, 2025, to confirm the unanimous vote on establishing a president-elect and past president, as practiced in most international societies. The vote was necessary to fulfill the strict legal criteria of the U.K. charity laws.

The delegates, however, changed their minds, and the motion, although positive, did not reach the necessary 75%. Thus, the WFN will have no president-elect or past president, which will impact the continuity of the WFN and its many long-term projects and plans.

The WFN has regional societies, and we are glad to have regular exchanges and quarterly meetings with them. We had successful participation from all regions for this year’s WBD. We also attended the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in San Diego, and the 11th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Helsinki, Finland.

Opening of the Chinese Brain Health Conference in Beijing, China.

We also participated in the Pan Arab Union of Neurological Societies (PAUNS) meeting in Tunis, and the Pan American Federation of Neurological Societies (PAFNS) meeting in Paraguay. A meeting of African Federation of Neurology (AFAN) was held at the PAUNS Congress in Tunis and was co-sponsored by
the WFN.

In all meetings, we held dedicated conferences with the leadership. We have not yet had a leadership meeting this year with the Asian and Oceanian Association of Neurology (AOAN). We hope to do this at the Seoul meeting.

We also want to thank member societies for their participation in the World Health Organization’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) and brain health. In particular, I want to mention the two-day Brain Health Conference held in July in Beijing, China.

World Brain Day (WBD)

WBD: Meeting of regional presidents and discussion. (Screenshot: July 22, 2025.)

Although WBD has become an annual WFN event, every new WBD is a huge undertaking for the team. The choice of a series of WBD topics on brain health was completed this year with the theme of “Brain Health for All Ages.”

This theme underscores the importance of neurological diseases not only in individual age groups, but also in different regions of the world. As part of WBD, the WFN published a global call to action on brain health in The Lancet and the Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

In addition to the WHO, the U.N. ECOSOC participated for the first time in WBD events in July. Then current ECOSOC president, Canadian Ambassador Bob Rae, sent a video message. The WBD event was great, and we had many contributions from regions on the importance of brain health. There were also a number of esteemed specialists who explained brain health in different age groups. You will find more information and the webinar on the WFN website. Look for reports from different regions in this issue of World Neurology.

Global Advocacy: WHO and U.N. ECOSOC

Prof. Wolfgang Grisold and Prof. Alla Guekht at the U.N. ECOSOC high-level meeting in July 2025 in New York.

The WFN is proud to be a nonstate actor (NSA) of the WHO. This has not only allowed cooperation and exchange to take place, but has helped the WHO take neurology and brain health forward in all WHO regions.

The NSA status of the WFN needs to be renewed every three years. With the help of Prof. Alla Guekht, past WFN trustee, and Ksenia Pochigewa, WFN intern, we are working on this important task.

We are also increasingly engaged in the regional WHO meetings, including Europe and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Latin America. This year, we intend to participate in the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, along with AFAN. This is the first time the WFN and AFAN will attend this meeting. It will take place Aug. 25-27, 2025, in Lusaka, Zambia.

Entrance to the United Nations Building in New York.

U.N. ECOSOC is the social council of the U.N., residing in New York City. As the WFN has a special consultative status, we use this as an opportunity to participate in U.N. meetings and have been successful in making several interventions. The U.N. ECOSOC advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and is important for many medical and humanitarian issues.

We are proud that former U.N. ECOSOC president, Ambassador Rae, not only received us in New York, but also gave a statement on WBD. In September, we will attend the U.N. High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-Being in New York.

The WCN 2025

The WCN is one of this year’s highlights for the WFN. Hosted jointly with the Korean Neurological Society (KNA), the Congress will take place Oct. 12-15 in Seoul, South Korea. In addition to our excellent scientific and educational program, we have will offer brain health sessions, debates, coffee talks, interactive talks, and a large exhibition area to meet and communicate.

We are looking forward to the program, the plenary sessions, and the rich variety of general sessions, which will provide ample opportunities to inform attendees about brain health. We are also looking forward to many activities with the WHO and the U.N. ECOSOC.

There will also be several events dedicated to patients, such as a local patient day and meetings with patient organizations. One plenary session will share patient perspectives on migraine. Most importantly, a patient will open the WCN meeting, presenting his story of a remarkable and encouraging example of rehabilitation and a proof of neuroplasticity.

We are aware that financing travel to congresses can be an insurmountable burden in some countries of the world. We also recognize that time constraints may not allow travel in October. For these reasons, we will maintain the WCN hybrid congress format. Virtual participation will be at a lower cost, and all meetings can be attended at individual times chosen. There will also be EACCME CME recognition.

Education

Along with advocacy, educational activities and programs are the backbone of the WFN’s activities. They range from education at congresses and meetings to full training in the WFN Training Centers. This is a story of success, which will need to be expanded on in the future, if support and means should become available.

The Global Advocacy and Leadership Program (GALP) is a monumental attempt to promote advocacy and leadership for young neurologists in low- and middle-income countries worldwide. We have developed this program — including financing and running it — in partnership with the AAN. We had a successful live meeting in San Diego. The virtual sessions are continuing as well with two more to come.

The final part of the GALP will take place before the WCN in Seoul, South Korea. The GALP candidates will graduate in a ceremony conducted by the presidents of the AAN and the WFN at the WCN opening ceremony. This will be the first group of GALP graduates.

The educational programs in Seoul, South Korea, are attractive, and you will find the Teaching Course programs valuable. Excellent speakers will serve your need for EACCME-accredited CME.

Virtual options for the educational programs will be available as well.

You can register for both the in-person and virtual components on the website.

Publications

We are glad to have a regular solid basis of publications, including our website, social media, eNeurologicalSci, and the Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

We are in the final stages of writing a multi-author book on neurology worldwide. The title of the book is “The White Book of Neurology.” It will be published by Springer Publishing. It follows “Public Health Challenges,” our 2006 book on neurological disorders.

The purpose of the book is to explain neurological history, development, structure, and education. This may be helpful in countries where neurology is still being established.

Final Wishes

Finally, an editorial can always contain wishes. Here are a few of ours:

The first wish is that all violence and armed conflicts end, and that all victims of war can be sufficiently helped and aided.

For the international community, we hope for the further implementation of IGAP and neurology. We also wish for free and open access to neurological services for people in need.

For the WFN, we hope for a successful and communicative WCN meeting
and to meet as many of you in person at our congress reception on Sunday,
Oct. 12, 2025. It will be open for all congress participants.

We look forward to seeing you there! •

From the Editors

We’d like to welcome all readers worldwide to the August 2025 issue of World Neurology.

In this issue, Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, president of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), updates readers on some of the many important WFN activities. These include the upcoming XXVII World Congress of Neurology (WCN), October 12-15, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea, the Council of Delegates (COD) meeting, World Brain Day 2025, and several of WFN’s many ongoing advocacy and educational initiatives.

This issue features many reports from our member societies around the globe detailing their activities for July’s World Brain Day 2025 and its theme, “Brain Health for All Ages.” You can read about WBD celebrations throughout Sri Lanka, South Africa, India, and Pakistan. We plan even more reports in the next issue, including an overall summary of this globally successful event.

Dr. Peter J. Koehler follows up on his article, which appeared in the previous issue of World Neurology, regarding the First International Neurology Congress in Bern, Switzerland, the precursor to the World Congress of Neurology. In this issue’s History column, Dr. Koehler highlights the women who participated in that first international congress in 1931.

Dr. Ndonji Chiwaya, an incoming neurology resident at University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, reports on a fresh “flipped classroom” approach to teaching neurology instituted by the faculty there.  This was also recently reported in the WFN’s official journal, the Journal of the Neurologic Sciences.

Dr. Massimo Leone updates us on a pioneering and successful program that began in 2020 at primary care centers as part of the Disease Relief Through Excellent and Advanced Means (DREAM) program. Aimed at improving epilepsy care in Sub-Saharan Africa, the program was created in partnership with the C. Besta Neurologic Institute IRCCS Milan, the Italian Society of Neurology, and Global Health Telemedicine.

Dr. László Csiba provides an overview of the history and development of the field of neurology in Hungary, beginning with the establishment of the first Department of Neurology and Psychiatry at the Medical Faculty of the University of Budapest in 1882.

In closing, we again thank all neurologists and neurologic trainee readers in all regions of the world for your interest in the WFN and World Neurology. We look forward to receiving more of your illustrated reports on events and celebrations of the recent World Brain Day (WBD) 2025, “Brain Health for All Ages,” to publish in upcoming issues.

We hope to see you at WCN 2025 in Seoul this October. There is still time to register, and don’t forget to sign your team up for the Tournaments of the Minds! •

ISCSL 2025 Elevates Understanding of Stroke

One-day intensive learning event brought together 200 doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.

By Gamini Pathirana

Gamini Pathirana

The International Stroke Conference Sri Lanka was held on June 13, 2025, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event brought together a dynamic blend of national and international experts dedicated to improving stroke care in Sri Lanka and beyond.

Organized by the National Stroke Association of Sri Lanka in partnership with the Asia Pacific Stroke Organization (APSO), the conference marked a significant milestone in our country’s efforts to elevate stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery across resource-limited settings.

More than 200 doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals from across the country participated in this one-day intensive learning event. With Sri Lanka facing an increasing burden of stroke and limited access to advanced therapies in many regions, this forum provided a critical platform for education, capacity-building, and strategic planning.

Key sessions included:

  • Acute stroke thrombolysis protocols, with a special focus on updated global guidelines and practical implementation in Sri Lankan hospitals.
  • Recent clinical trials involving tenecteplase (TNK), highlighting the potential for simplified, cost-effective thrombolysis strategies in low-resource environments.
  • Development of sustainable stroke services in rural and peripheral settings, addressing infrastructure, training, and multidisciplinary care models.
  • Sleep and stroke risk, a growing area of interest with emerging evidence linking sleep disorders and cerebrovascular risk.
  • A hands-on stroke rehabilitation workshop, focused on early mobilization, neuroplasticity, and functional recovery.
  • Updates on post-stroke care, including mood disorders, cognitive rehabilitation, and community-based support systems.

The ISCSL 2025 conference exemplified how global partnerships, expert mentorship, and local leadership can converge to create meaningful change. Participants left not only with new knowledge, but with renewed motivation to transform stroke care across Sri Lanka.

As we continue to strengthen stroke services nationwide, ISCSL 2025 stands as a beacon of what’s possible through shared purpose, collaboration, and compassion. •

Gamini Pathirana, MD, FRACP, is president of the National Stroke Association of Sri Lanka, and past president of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists.

The International Stroke Conference Sri Lanka included speakers on topics ranging from acute stroke thrombolysis protocols and stroke services in rural settings to sleep and stroke risk and updates on post-stroke care.

Transforming Education in Zambia

Educators are using the flipped classroom approach for the neurology portion of the curriculum to overcome neurophobia.

By Ndonji Chiwaya

Ndonji Chiwaya

In the bustling lecture halls of Zambia’s leading medical school, the University of Zambia School of Medicine (UNZA-SOM), a quiet revolution has been underway. The subject: Neurology — a discipline infamous for sparking “neurophobia” (or fear of neurology) among students around the globe. In sub-Saharan Africa, where educational resources are limited and neurology specialists are few, this fear is more than just an academic inconvenience; it’s a barrier to critical care.

Educators in Zambia decided to challenge the status quo with a fresh approach: the flipped classroom model. No more marathon lectures with passive note-taking. Instead, students viewed neurology content before class via prerecorded online video lectures. They then spent valuable class time participating in interactive, small-group discussions focused on real clinical cases.

“It’s about putting students at the center,” said one of the lead facilitators behind the pilot program. “We wanted them to engage, not just absorb.”

To test this model’s effectiveness, a study was conducted by a group of collaborators, including:

  • Dr. Kathryn Holroyd (Columbia University, New York, New York)
  • Drs. Annie McDonough and Aaron Berkowitz (University of California San Francisco, California)
  • Drs. Melody Asukile, Ndonji Chiwaya, and Mashina Chomba (UNZA-SOM and University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia)
  • Dr. Deanna Saylor (University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

The study enrolled over 360 fifth- and seventh-year medical students at UNZA-SOM during their internal medicine clerkships. The students were split into two groups: one followed the traditional lecture-based format, while the other used the flipped classroom approach for the neurology portion of the curriculum. Before and after the course, students completed a knowledge assessment, a survey of confidence diagnosing and managing neurologic conditions, and a course satisfaction survey.

A small group learning session for neurology students at University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.

Results That Speak Volumes

In work published in June 2025 in the Journal of Neurological Sciences, the official journal of the World Federation of Neurology,1 the authors demonstrated that students enrolled in the flipped classroom had a greater increase in knowledge assessment scores following the course. The students also showed stronger confidence in diagnosing and managing neurological conditions. Fifth-year students, in particular, benefited from earlier exposure to the interactive format.

Among fifth-year students, neurophobia levels dropped significantly. By encouraging active learning and peer collaboration, the flipped model appeared to ease anxiety and foster curiosity. Seventh-year students showed less change in their neurophobia. Educators believe prior exposure to traditional methods in neurology teaching might have played a role in this finding.

Across both year groups, flipped classroom participants (compared to traditional classroom students) reported greater satisfaction with the course, improved participation, and a sense of collaboration and connection with peers.

This study offers a ray of hope for regions where resources are limited but student potential is vast. By reimagining how neurology is taught, Zambia’s educators have crafted a strategy that is not only scalable but also student-centered and impactful. With plans to expand flipped learning into other disciplines, the initiative sets a promising precedent. It is a reminder that innovation doesn’t always require expensive equipment. Sometimes, a shift in mindset makes all the difference.

The course creators have made all flipped classroom course materials, including educational training, traditional lecture PowerPoint presentations, and case materials are available online for use by other educators.

As the next generation of Zambian doctors steps forward with a clearer understanding of, and renewed confidence in, diagnosing and managing neurological disorders, the message is clear: When students are empowered, education becomes transformative. •

Ndonji Chiwaya is a resident in internal medicine at University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. He will soon be entering neurology residency.

References:

  1. Holroyd KB, McDonough A, Chomba M, Asukile M, et al. Evaluation of a flipped classroom approach to undergraduate neurology medical education in Zambia. J Neurol Sci. 2025 Aug 15;475:123580. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2025.123580. Epub 2025 Jun 11. PMID: 40543399.

World Brain Day 2025 in India

Educational activities encouraging brain health awareness took place in Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune, and other locations across the country.

By Drs. Chandrashekhar Meshram, Nirmal Surya, Sangeeta Ravat, and U. Meenakshisundaram

World Brain Day 2025 was celebrated for an entire week with great enthusiasm and commitment in India by the Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN). This year’s theme, “Brain Health for All Ages,” excited everyone. Activities focused on increasing brain health awareness among both the public and medical students. Many cities reported active participation.

Nagpur

The Nagpur Neuro Society (NNS), under the aegis of the IAN, organized various activities during the week. This was done under the guidance of Dr. Chandrashekhar Meshram, World Federation of Neurology (WFN) trustee, and Padma Shri awardee.

The Walk for Brain walkathon was organized by the NNS in collaboration with the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Indian Medical Association, the Indian Psychiatric Society, and the Indian Society of Nephrology. It took place on Sunday, July 20. The walk was flagged off by Dr. Meshram.

More than 300 people from different walks of life participated. Some carried placards that displayed messages, including:

  • 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.
  • Stroke is brain attack. Reach hospital immediately!

Dr. Meshram spoke about the importance of this year’s World Brain Day theme and suggested tips to preserve brain health and prevent neurological diseases. Drs. Prafulla Shembalkar and Pavitra Patnaik, president and secretary (respectively) of the NNS, also spoke during the event.

Media Outreach

Beginning July 22, talks and interviews on different topics were aired twice a day for seven days on All India Radio. The themes and speakers included:

  • “Brain Health for All Ages” by Dr. Meshram
  • Head injury by Dr. Pavitra Patnaik
  • Headache by Dr. Amtrit Bansod
  • Brain tumors by Dr. Vishal Babhare
  • Parkinson’s disease by Dr. Abhishek Wankar
  • Epilepsy by Dr. Jiwan Kinkar
  • Stroke by Dr. Amit Bhatti

The information reached an audience of several hundred thousand people.

Also, 48 articles appeared in multiple newspapers during the week to boost public awareness. The themes of the articles were the importance of exercise for brain health, microplastics and brain health, mosquitoes and brain health, toothpaste and brain health, pillars of brain health, and advances in treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

A webinar on “Brain Health for All Ages” was held on July 25. It kicked off with a video message from WFN President Prof. Wolfgang Grisold. WFN Secretary General Prof. Steven Lewis gave the inaugural address. Dr. Sageeta Ravat, IAN president, also shared her thoughts on this occasion.

These addresses were followed by a panel discussion and question-and-answer session moderated by Dr. Sudhir Bhave, president of the Indian Psychiatric Society’s Western Zone. The panelists included Dr. Meshram; Dr. Nirmal Surya, secretary general of the World Federation of Neurorehabilitation; Dr. Joy Desai, neurologist at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai;  and Dr. Dhruv Batra, neurologist at Viveka Hospital.

Dr. Meshram also gave interviews on seven different television channels, spreading the information about brain health to millions of viewers.

World Brain Day activities in India included a walkathon, lectures, quiz competitions, and educational outreach.

Educational Events

WBD activities in India also included outreach to schools and colleges. Dr. Jiwan Kinakr and the neurology team at Shalinitai Meghe Hospital and Research Center conducted an awareness activity on “Brain Health for All Ages” for patients at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Super Specialty Medical Institute in Nagpur. The activity highlighted the importance of brain healthy habits in daily life.

An interactive awareness session and a fun quiz on brain health was organized for students in grades 8 and 10 from School of Scholars, Wanadongri, with exciting prizes for the winners.

Prof. Jitendra Tadghare, joint secretary of the NNS, organized a Brain Health Awareness Program at KDK Nursing and Pharmacy College, while Prof. Tushar Patil interacted with MBBS students at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Sawangi.

Dr. Kaustubh Somalwar visited Dhanwate National College and interacted with students, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response. The students were curious, attentive, and asked thoughtful questions. It is truly encouraging to see such interest in brain health among college students (especially from nonbiology backgrounds). A small quiz with simple questions was conducted at the end in which the students actively participated.

And finally, Dr. Nileema Bhalerao talked with a group of patients with Parkinson’s disease about various important aspects of brain functioning. She explained how patients with Parkinson’s can face their problems with the help of medicine and physiotherapy.

Mumbai

The MET Brain Health Quiz was conducted on July 22, 2025, as part of Mumbai’s World Brain Day awareness campaign. The event was jointly organized by the Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation (IFNR) and the Epilepsy Foundation India, under the leadership of Dr. Surya, who served as quiz master. The objective was to raise awareness on the importance of brain health among students, in alignment with the global theme of “Brain Health for All Ages.”

The session began with a brief, but impactful, 10-minute awareness talk by Dr. Surya, who highlighted key aspects of brain health across the lifespan, early warning signs of neurological conditions, and the role of preventive care. His talk set the tone for the quiz and helped contextualize the importance of the subject matter for the students.

The quiz was held online, resulting in enthusiastic participation from students of the MET Institute of Management. More than 100 students submitted valid entries. The quiz consisted of 25 multiple-choice questions and was conducted within a tightly timed window, allowing for only one submission per student to maintain fairness.

Following evaluation, the top scorers were:

  • First place | Varun Kotturu
  • Second place | Harsh Pawar
  • Third place | Yash Patil

IFNR Quest on Brain Health

The IFNR organized a national level online quiz competition, titled “IFNR Quest on Brain Health.” The idea was to raise awareness and knowledge about brain health among undergraduate students from various health care and rehabilitation disciplines. The quiz was conducted virtually, aligning with this year’s theme.

The primary objective of the quiz was to foster interdisciplinary learning and ignite curiosity in young minds about the structure, function, disorders, and preventive aspects of the human brain. The competition was open to students pursuing MBBS, physiotherapy (BPTh), occupational therapy (BOT), speech and audiology (BASLP), nursing, and other allied health sciences.

The event received an overwhelming response with 758 participants from institutions across India. The quiz comprised 50 multiple-choice questions. It was attended by Prof. Lewis and Dr. Meshram.

Dr. Arun Shivaraman and Dr. Guhan Ramamurthy served as quiz masters, with technical support provided by Dr. Sanjeevani Dhote and Dr. Hitav Someshwar, under the expert guidance of Dr. Surya, IFNR president.

The top three scorers were awarded cash prizes for their exceptional performances: Disha Singh Chauhan, BMRIT (radiology), Galgotias University; Prithwiraj Dutta, bachelor of physiotherapy, Swami Vivekananda University; and Riya Gupta, bachelor of physiotherapy, The SIA College of Physiotherapy.

To encourage broader participation, five consolation prizes were also awarded. The quiz turned out to be an outstanding success.

Outreach for World Brain Day in India included media coverage of more than 48 articles in newspapers across
the country, as well as coverage on the radio and online.

Pune

The WBD event in Pune was attended by more than 350 people and featured “Rishton Ka Manja,” an infotainment musical program. It was organized by NICHE Advocacy Foundation.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Miraj Khan was the master of ceremonies for the opening, which included guests of honor Dr. Lalit Kumar, Padma Shri awardee, and the Hon. Mr. Prakash Javadekar, former member of parliament.

Dr. Kumar spoke about the activities of NICHE Advocacy Foundation. Javadekar spoke about the brain and mind and the need for harmony between them, focusing on brain and mind health for everyone.

Veteran musician Enoch Daniels, renowned artist Milind Mulick, and musician Nandu Belvalkar also honored the program with their presence.

The opening ceremony was followed by the infotainment program: “Rishton ka Manja.” This musical treat featured 15 popular Bollywood songs and expert anchoring that explained the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 10 life skills. The performing team was composed of Amar Kulkarni and Sayali Kulkarni Maste as singers. Anand Maste and Abhishek Kate handled the music while neurologist Dr. Poornima Gauri won everyone’s hearts with her lucid and informative anchoring.

Complex concepts were simplified into relatable, easy-to-understand messages. Emotional awareness, rational emotive behavior therapy, self-care, and stress management were some of the complex issues addressed. Artist Virendra Tikhe contributed to the event with a live painting.

The program inspired the audience and encouraged a fresh, broader perspective on brain and mind health.

The department of neurology at Bharati Hospital organized the program under the guidance of Prof. S.P. Gorthi.

Experts delivered talks on a number of topics, including:

  • Gynecologist Dr. Girija Wagh spoke about preserving brain health in pregnancy and preconception period.
  • Neonatologist Dr. Suprabha Patnaik addressed brain health in the postnatal period.
  • Dr. Prema Chaudhari explored brain health in early childhood and adolescence.
  • Dr. Manjari Datar, associate professor of psychiatry at Bharati Hospital, discussed substance abuse and brain health.
  • Dr. Shilpa Sule talked about screen time.
  • Dr. Swati Bhise, principal at the School of Physiotherapy at Bharati Vidyapeeth University, shared the importance of exercise.
  • Dr. Sonal Chitnis, speech language pathologist, discussed improving cognitive reserve through language.
  • Dr. Shambhavi Joshi, department of sleep medicine at Bharati Hospital, explored sleep.
  • Prof. Gorthi spoke about improving cognitive reserve.

Other WBD Activities

There were WBD activities in other locations in India as well. In Hyderabad, Dr. Chitnis, spoke about tackling stress and building emotional mental health wellness during the Neurological Society of India (NSI) Private Practitioners Forum.

To mark World Brain Day 2025 in Trichy, Dr. M.A. Aleem gave a talk on brain health in the elderly in a function organized by Tiruchirappalli Royal Lions Club at a senior center. He distributed his book on dementia to all residents at the home.

This World Brain Day campaign will contribute toward the promotion of brain health, awareness, and prevention of neurological disorders, and, in turn, improving patient care. •

Chandrashekhar Meshram is elected trustee of the WFN, Nirmal Surya is secretary general of the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation. Sangeeta Ravat is president of the Indian Academy of Neurology, and U. Meenakshisundaram is secretary of the Indian Academy of Neurology. 

World Brain Day Activities in Pakistan

Interactive programs, essay contests, and panel discussions focused on early recognition of neurological conditions.

By Prof. Abdul Malik

Pakistan joined the global celebration of World Brain Day on July 22, 2025, with a series of impactful activities held across major cities. In alignment with this year’s international theme of “Brain Health for All Ages,” neurologists, health care workers, medical students, and the public came together to emphasize the need for brain health awareness across the lifespan.

The events were spearheaded by the Pakistan Society of Neurology in collaboration with several public and private hospitals, universities, and community organizations. In Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore, neurologists led educational sessions that focused on early recognition of common neurological disorders, especially stroke, epilepsy, and dementia. Speakers emphasized practical strategies for prevention, early diagnosis, and the importance of seeking timely care.

The sessions were open to all and drew participants from various walks of life, including young students, parents, teachers, and retirees. Organizers ensured the programs were inclusive and interactive, encouraging participants to ask questions and engage in discussions. In many centers, blood pressure and glucose screenings were offered alongside brain health check-ins to promote the role of preventive care.

Young attendees took part in art and essay contests with the theme of mental well-being and brain health. Older adults were offered tailored advice on lifestyle changes to help reduce their risk of cognitive decline. Community health workers played a key role in translating medical information into local languages, ensuring wider understanding and reach.

In Rawalpindi, a panel discussion featured neurologists, psychologists, and rehabilitation experts, who discussed barriers to neurological care in low-resource settings and shared success stories from local communities. Real-life accounts from people living with neurological conditions added a personal and emotional touch to the day’s proceedings.

These activities reflect a growing commitment in Pakistan to advance brain health as a public health priority. The initiative complements ongoing efforts to strengthen neurological services and reduce stigma, especially in rural and underserved areas.

As part of the global campaign led by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), Pakistan’s contribution to World Brain Day 2025 sends a strong message: Brain health must be protected and promoted at every stage of life.

The spirit of collaboration, education, and hope shown on this day will continue to inspire efforts for a healthier future, one brain at a time. •

World Brain Day activities in Pakistan were aimed at all ages and groups, including students, parents, teachers, medical professionals, and retirees.

Prof. Abdul Malik is president of the Pakistan Stroke Society, general secretary of the Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation Pakistan, and professor in the general medicine department at Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry (LCMD) in Karachi, Pakistan.

World Brain Day Activities in South Africa

South Africa celebrates World Brain Day 2025 with a focus on dementia prevention.

By Prof. Lawrence Tucker and Dr. Patty Francis

Patty Francis

Lawrence Tucker

South Africa joined the global neurological community in commemorating World Brain Day (WBD) 2025 under the unifying global theme of “Brain Health for All Ages.” The Neurological Association of South Africa (NASA) chose to focus on dementia prevention from as early an age as possible.

In partnership with the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN), NASA proudly led a week-long awareness campaign across multiple platforms, reaching millions and championing a message tailored for the African continent: “Empowering Every Mind: Brain Health Across Africa and Across the Human Lifespan.”

Nationwide Broadcast and Media Impact

South Africa’s WBD campaign achieved remarkable visibility through extensive national media engagement. Broadcast features on eNCA, SABC News, SAFM, Radio 786, Groot FM, Channel Africa, and others brought expert voices directly to homes and communities across the country. More than a dozen television and radio segments explored key issues such as dementia prevention, youth mental health, and equitable access to neurological care.

Journalists covering the activities expressed interest in learning more about screen time, digital education, and the concept of “digital dementia.”

Print and Digital Reach

Leading news platforms such as the Cape Times, The Mercury, MSN South Africa, Jozi Gist, Smile FM, Bulletin, South Africa Today, and IOL Lifestyle featured impactful stories around the core message: More than 40% of dementia cases are preventable through early lifestyle changes. The campaign inspired public discourse and personal reflection on how small, consistent steps can protect brain health for a lifetime.

Estimates through July 29, 2025, indicate that 51 pieces of media coverage reached an audience of approximately 18.6 million people. The campaign continued through Aug. 2, 2025.

Public Health Education for All Ages

Under the guidance of NASA and AFAN, the campaign emphasized five brain-healthy habits: regular physical activity, adequate sleep, hypertension detection and treatment, social engagement, and balanced nutrition.

With culturally relevant messaging and multilingual communication, WBD 2025 brought together health care professionals, patients, caregivers, and media personnel. The goal was to gain the attention of policymakers and ignite interest in building brain capital in every community.

Conclusion and Future Directions

World Brain Day 2025 in South Africa was a resounding success and stands as a blueprint for impactful, inclusive, and sustained brain health advocacy in Africa. The partnership between NASA, AFAN, the World Federation of Neurology, and the wider neurological community demonstrates Africa’s growing leadership in neurology. We reaffirm our commitment to empowering every mind, protecting every brain, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the global movement for brain health. •

Prof. Lawrence Tucker is the president of AFAN, and Dr. Patty Francis is the president of NASA.

IFNR, Epilepsy Foundation India Celebrate WBD in India

The Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation and Epilepsy Foundation India join the world in celebrating “Brain Health for All Ages.”

By Dr. Nirmal Surya

Nirmal Surya

The Epilepsy Foundation India and the Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation (IFNR) led this year’s World Brain Day activities in several Indian regions. With a population of more than 1.4 billion, India’s commitment to brain health has never been more important or more inspiring.

Under the theme of “Brain Health for All Ages,” the campaign was marked by a series of inclusive and meaningful events that reached thousands across the country online and in person. Under the leadership of Dr. Nirmal Surya, the message was clear: Brain health matters at every stage of life, from childhood to older age, and for every Indian.

At Lotus House in Mumbai, the Epilepsy Foundation hosted a vibrant hybrid event attended by more than 160 participants on-site and more than 250 online viewers. In his opening remarks, Dr. Surya traced the evolution of World Brain Day since its inception in 2014. He called on all sectors — medical, nursing, allied health, education, and civil society — to make brain health a national priority.

Distinguished speakers inspired the audience. They included:

  • Prof. Tissa Wijeratne, co-chair, World Brain Day, speaking from Australia, reflected on the global rise of World Brain Day and the importance of lifelong brain care.
  • Dr. Chandrashekhar Meshram warned of emerging threats like environmental toxins and microplastics that may affect brain health.
  • Dr. Urvashi Shah and Dr. Mangala Kardile explained how lifestyle, learning, and early intervention can strengthen brain function and neuroplasticity.
  • Prisha Jhaveri, an Epilepsy Foundation intern, courageously addressed stigma and mental health.

Two national-level quizzes drew hundreds of students in disciplines ranging from medicine to physiotherapy, empowering the next generation with knowledge. The IFNR Quest on Brain Health welcomed 758 participants. The MET Brain Health Quiz, led by Dr. Surya, reached business students with simple, clear messages on prevention and early signs.

As the program ended with the Indian national anthem and heartfelt community blessings, the message echoed far and wide: Brain health is not a luxury. It is a necessity. And it belongs to everyone.

India’s World Brain Day 2025 campaign was more than an event; it was a movement. And in a country of 1.4 billion hearts and minds, that movement has only just begun. •

World Brain Day activities sponsored by the Indian Federation of Neurorehabilitation and Epilepsy Foundation India included a hybrid event in Mumbai and two national-level quizzes.

Dr. Nirmal Surya is secretary general of the World Federation for Neurorehabilitation, president of the Indian Federation for Neurorehabilitation, president of the Asian Oceanian Society for Neurorehabilitation, and chair of the Epilepsy Foundation India.

World Brain Day Activities in Sri Lanka

Galle National Hospital, Galle Medical Association, and the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists jointly hosted an event celebrating “Start Strong, Stay Sharp.”

By Dr. Janaka Waidyasekara, MBBS, MD, FCCP

The department of neurology at Galle National Hospital in Sri Lanka proudly hosted a landmark event on July 22 to celebrate World Brain Day 2025. The event was held in collaboration with the Galle Medical Association and the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists.

Aligned with this year’s global theme, “Brain Health for All Ages,” the event adopted the local motto “Start Strong, Stay Sharp,” to emphasize the importance of nurturing brain health from early life through to old age.

The day’s proceedings began with a welcome address by Dr. Janaka Waidyasekara, chair of the organizing committee, who highlighted the urgency of public engagement in brain health promotion. This was followed by an address from Prof. M.B. Samarawikrama, president of the Galle Medical Association, who underscored the importance of collaborative community health initiatives.

A key feature of the event was a special video message from Prof. Tissa Wijeratne, co-chair of the World Brain Day campaign. Prof. Wijeratne contextualized the global burden of brain disorders and called for urgent investment in prevention and education. This was complemented by remarks from Dr. Ajantha Keshavaraj, president of the Association of Sri Lankan Neurologists, reiterating the need for intersectoral strategies to promote brain health throughout life.

The scientific program offered a series of engaging, evidence-based presentations, including:

  • Dr. Thilina Munasinghe opened with “Nurturing the Brain From the Very Beginning,” focusing on maternal and early childhood influences on brain development.
  • Dr. Saamir Mohideen presented “Stroke Prevention Made Simple,” outlining practical interventions to reduce stroke risk in the community.
  • Dr. Janaka Waidyasekara delivered “Sleep and Brain Health,” highlighting how sleep quality shapes cognitive, emotional, and neurological outcomes.
  • Prof. K.D. Pathirana concluded with “Aging With Good Memory,” sharing strategies to maintain cognitive vitality in older adults.

More than 130 in-person attendees and 30 online participants engaged in a lively panel discussion, raising questions on sleep, stroke, dementia, and health literacy.

With robust media coverage, the campaign extended far beyond the hospital walls — uniting professionals, students, and the public in one shared goal: building a brain-healthy Sri Lanka. •

World Brain Day 2025 activities at Galle National Hospital in Sri Lanka featured several notable speakers and presentations on childhood brain development, stroke prevention, sleep, and aging.

Dr. Janaka Waidyasekara is a consultant neurologist and head of the department of neurology and stroke services at Galle National Hospital, Sri Lanka.

Women Who Participated in the First International Congress of Neurology

A look back at the contributions of these early neurology pioneers.

By Peter J. Koehler

Table 1. Women participants and speakers at the First International Congress of Neurology.

Early World Congresses of Neurology did not feature many women as participants and speakers. This article explores the females who attended the first congress. In previous articles in World Neurology, I discussed the contents and largely male participants of the First International Neurological Congress in 1931 in Bern, Switzerland. In the last issue of World Neurology, I wrote that I would investigate the female speakers and participants of the 1931 congress.

In an article on French neurologist/neuropathologist Gabrielle Lévy (1886-1934), I reported on the situation of women in neurology at the time. When Dr. Levy studied medicine in the early 20th century, women had been allowed to study medicine for several decades. Cities for early medical schools that admitted female students included Boston (1848, New England Female Medical College), Philadelphia (1850, Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania), Switzerland (Zurich and Bern in the 1860s, soon to be followed by Geneva), and Paris (late 1860s). The latter city attracted several women from abroad.

The time between World War I and World War II was not much better. Even though a growing number of women studied medicine during World War I, this trend was only temporary in some locations. Although St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London opened to women in 1916, no women were admitted in 1925. In her article, Julia S. Garner concluded that “women were admitted to St Mary’s not because it was the right thing to do, but merely because it happened to be useful at the time.”

3% Women

The Proceedings of the 1931 International Neurological Congress provide interesting material, not only about the contents of the meeting, but also about the participants. The total number of participants was 890 active members. These congresses were mainly composed of men, and only 30 (approximately 3%) were women. Conversely, there were about 220 affiliated members, mostly women, who accompanied their husbands. Of the 247 speakers, only six (2%) were women, including two Austrian, two French, and two Polish. (See Table 1.)

Mona Spiegel-Adolf (Source: Kern E [ed.]: Führende Frauen Europas, Neue Fole. Reinhardt, München 1928, p.56; public domain).

Mona Spiegel-Adolf

Two of the women speakers came from Vienna. Mona Spiegel-Adolf (1893-1983) gave a presentation on “Zur physikalischen Chemie der Lipoide (The physical chemistry of lipoids).” She had studied medicine in Vienna, during which time she became acquainted with (and later married) Ernst Adolf Spiegel (1895-1985; pioneer of the stereotaxic apparatus). In 1918, she received her MD, and in 1925, they married.

Spiegel-Adolf took an interest in colloid chemistry. She left Vienna a year after her husband and became professor at the Institute of Physical and Colloid Chemistry of Temple University of Philadelphia. She continued lecturing in Vienna until her venia legendi (authorization to teach) was revoked in 1938, and she was expelled from
the university.

She published a number of books, including Die Globuline (1930, within the series Handbuch der Kolloidwissenschaft in Einzeldarstellungen, in German) and X-Ray Diffraction Studies in Biology and Medicine (1947), co-authored by George Christian Henny (1899-1988). Although her husband was filmed at the congress by Steven Walter Ranson, his wife, Mona, was not.

Dr. Edith Klemperer and Robert Exner with their glass model of the brain (from Popular Science 1931, p. 32. Available online at Popular Science, Google Boeken).

Edith Klemperer

Edith Klemperer (1898-1987) presented on “Das Gehirnmodell, ein plastischer beleuchtbarer Unterrichtsbehelf zur Darstellung der einzelnen Funktionen (The brain model, a plastic, illuminated teaching aid to illustrate the individual functions).” She had studied medicine at the University of Vienna. Upon graduating, she worked under Julius Wagner-Jauregg (1857-1940), who received the Nobel Award (1927) for malaria treatment of dementia paralytica.

(Figure 1). Newspaper article in the Australian The Mail from Saturday July 31, 1937, p. 25.

With the cooperation of Robert Exner (1891-1960), Klemperer made a glass model of the brain that she patented at the U.S. Patent Office on March 20, 1934. The model, which had a switchboard to illuminate various fluorescent tubes representing anatomical elements inside the brain, was designed to demonstrate cerebral electrical impulses to medical students. One of the first official appearances of the model was at the Neurological Congress in Bern in 1931., It aroused quite a bit of international public interest. (See Figure 1.)

Still in Vienna, she had published articles on several subjects. Being of Jewish descent, she left Austria for New York in 1938. There, she worked at several hospitals, including Mount Sinai Hospital and Bellevue Hospital. During this time, she directed her attention to hypnosis, about which she published articles and a book, titled Past Ego States Emerging in Hypnoanalysis (1968).

Yvonne Sorrel-Dejerine

Yvonne Dejerine and her husband Etienne Sorrel (film still).

With two famous neurologists as parents — Jules Dejerine (1849-1917) and Augusta Dejerine-Klumpke (1859-1927) — it is no surprise that Yvonne Dejerine (1891-1986) also became a neurologist. After she earned a degree in natural sciences, she studied medicine and published her doctorate thesis on tuberculous paraplegia in 1925: Contribution à L’étude des Paraplegies Pottiques. Essai Sur L’évolution et le Prognostic Basé Sur 40 Observations Personnelles (Contribution to the Study of Paraplegia by Pott’s Disease. Essay on Evolution and Prognosis Based on 40 Personal Observations).

Her presentation at the congress was done in cooperation with her husband, the surgeon Étienne Sorrel (1882-1965), whom she married in 1921. Titled “Du Role de la Compression Osseuse Dans les Paraplegies Pottiques. Etudes Anatomique et Clinique (The Role of Bone Compression in Pottic Paraplegia. Anatomical and Clinical Studies),” it
was obviously associated with her doctoral studies.

Her name became eponymously associated with the obstetric lower brachial plexus lesion. This is rarer than the upper brachial plexus lesion associated with Guillaume Benjamin Duchenne (1806-1875) and Wilhelm Erb (1840-1921).

Andrée Feyeux

Andrée Feyeux (1898-1982), from the French city of Lyon, presented a paper in cooperation with Jules Froment (1878-1946) on du tonus musculaire de l’homme. Multiplicité, polymorphie et indépendance de ses réactions toniques (Human muscle tone. Multiplicity, polymorphy and independence of tonic reactions).

Jeanne Clemence Noemi Andrée Feyeux was born in Cormoranche-sur-Saône, which is about 70 km north of Lyon. She published several articles in cooperation with Froment, who is well-known from the eponym “Froment’s Sign.” She also published articles on parkinsonian rigidity. In 1941, she coauthored a book, titled Leçons de Psychologie de L’Enfant (Lessons in Child Psychology). A second edition was published in 1948.

Nathalie Zand

Nathalie Zylberlast-Zand (1883-1942), from Warsaw, presented a study on la barrière protectrice méningée et le système réticulo-endothélial (the protective meningeal barrier and the reticuloendothelial system). She studied medicine at the University of Geneva, earning her MD with a dissertation on “un cas de leucémie myéloïde chez un enfant de neuf mois (a case of myeloid leukemia in a 9-month-old child).”

She was married to the industrialist Maximillian Zand (1876-1932). Beginning in 1907, she was associated with the neurological department of the well-known neurologist Edward Flatau (1868-1932) at the Jewish Hospital in Czyste (now a part of Warsaw). After his death, she was one of the founders of the Edward Flatau Neurobiological Institute. She published many articles and a monograph on the choroid plexus, which was also published in French. During the war, she lived in the Warsaw Ghetto, where she acted as a physician. She was murdered by the Nazis in August 1942.

Stanislawa Adam-Falkiewiczowa

Stanislawa Adam-Falkiewiczowa (1900-1992), from Lwów, Poland (the present Lviv, Ukraine), presented a study on Eine ungewöhnlich Entwicklungsstörung des Occipitale-basilare mit dem klinische Bilde eines doppelseitigen Kleinhirnbrückenwinkeltumors (an unusual developmental disorder of the occipitale-basilare with the clinical picture of a bilateral cerebellopontine angle tumor).

Her coauthor was the pathologist Prof. Witold Nowicki (1878-1941). The article was published in a German journal. She later worked at the Wrocław Neurology Clinic, which she directed several times between 1946 and 1971.

Other Female Participants

Marthe Halff (1905-1974) was interne des hôpitaux in Strasbourg, where she received her MD in 1931. She survived the holocaust in southern France.

Marthe Henry graduated in Paris with a 1922 dissertation, titled “Les Origines de L’élimination des Anti-Sociaux et de L’assistance Aux Aliénés Chroniques: La Salpêtrière Sous L’ancien Régime (The Origins of Eliminating Antisocials and Assisting the Chronically Insane: La Salpêtrière Under the Ancient Regime).”

Gabrielle Lévy (courtesy Dominique Weil).

Gabrielle Lévy (1886-1934) was one of the subjects of a 2017 article in World Neurology. Her name became associated a hereditary polyneuropathy, notably the Roussy-Lévy syndrome.1

Marie Long-Landry (1877-1968) worked under Jules Dejerine at the Salpêtrière in Paris and wrote her dissertation on Little’s disease (spastic diplegia). She was married to Prof. Edouard André Long (1868-1929). She worked at the neuropsychiatry department in Genève. At the end of World War II, she was awarded the Médaille de la Résistance for her assistance to Jews and Allied soldiers.

Elisabeth Cowper Eaves (1884-1947) was a neuropathologist and lecturer at the University of Sheffield, England. She was associated with the South Yorkshire Mental Hospital. She published articles in Brain, including “A Contribution to the Study of Deposits Containing Calcium and Iron in the Brain” (1926), “Diabetes Insipidus” (1930), and “The Pituitary and Hypothalamic Region in Chronic Epidemic Encephalitis” (1930).

Ruby O. Stern (1902-1958) was a neuropathologist at the National Hospital, Queen Square, in London. Among her publications were papers in Brain, titled “A Study of the Histopathology of Tabes Dorsalis With Special Reference to Richter’s Theory of its Pathogenesis” (1929) and “Certain Pathological Aspects of Neurosyphilis” (1932).

Yvonne Dejerine and her husband Etienne Sorrel (film still).20

Mrs. Brouwer-Frommann (1883-1966) was a pediatrician in Amsterdam. She was married to professor of neurology Bernardus Brouwer (1881-1949), who was chair of the committee that made the Proceedings of the Congress.

Lea Rossi del Bò (1903-1978) studied medicine at the University of Pavia, Italy, and received her MD in 1925. She worked under Nobel Laureate Camillo Golgi (1843-1926) and became a neuropathologist.

Aurelja Sikorska (1886-1966) was a Polish psychiatrist who studied medicine at the universities of St. Petersburg and Krakow, graduating from Krakow in 1918. She worked at the neurology and psychiatry clinic there and in other Polish cities afterward. She returned to Krakow to work at the Department of Pediatric Neuropsychiatry at the Hospital in Kobierzyn, Krakow.

Vera Strasser-Eppelbaum (1884-1941) studied medicine in Dorpat (Estonia, the present Tartu) and St. Petersburg, and then in Bern and Zurich, Switzerland. She graduated with a dissertation, “Zur Psychologie der Aussage bei der Dementia Praecox (The Psychology of the Statement in Dementia Praecox),” which was guided by Eugen Bleuler (1857-1939).

In 1914, Strasser-Eppelbaum published a monograph, titled “Zur Psychologie des Alkoholismus. Ergebnisse Experimenteller und Individualpsychologischer Untersuchungen (The Psychology of Alcoholism. Results of Experimental and Individual Psychological Studies).”

Lucile Dooley (1884-1968) received her Master of Arts degree at the University of Tennessee and her MD from Johns Hopkins University. She worked at the psychiatric St. Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she returned later as director (1938-1942). In the early 1930s, she spent time at the Vienna Psychoanalytic Institute. She later returned to Knoxville, Tennessee, where she worked as consultant in psychiatry.

Lucie G. Forrer, MD, was a resident officer at the Monson State Hospital in Massachusetts.

Anita M. Mühl.21

Anita M. Mühl (1886-1952) received her MD from Indiana University in 1920 and specialized in psychiatry. She received a PhD from George Washington University and started a private practice in the late 1920s in San Diego. She spent some time in Vienna to study psychoanalysis, returning to the U.S. in 1931. During that year, she survived an attack by one of her female patients. She published two books, notably Automatic Writing (1930) and The ABC of Criminology (1941).

Esther Loring-Richards (1885-1956) received her MD from Johns Hopkins University in 1915 and became a psychiatrist at the Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic. She also served on the faculty of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She was particularly interested in pediatric psychiatry and mental hygiene. She published several books, including The Elementary School and the Individual Child (1923) and Behavior Aspects of Child Conduct (1934, with a foreword by Adolf Meyer).

Discussion

Most of the women who attended the congress were from France, Great Britain, Poland, and the United States. In two of the abstracts of the six women speakers, they were not mentioned as first author (Feyeux was second of three, and Sorrel-Dejerine was second of two). We do not know whether they presented the papers. As mentioned earlier, sometimes the women were listed as second authors to the head of the department even though they did most of the research.1

Several of the women (and men) mentioned in the previous World Neurology article were of Jewish descent and left Europe in the 1930s, in particular Mona Spiegel-Adolf and Edith Klemperer. They were among the hundreds of neuroscientists and thousands of researchers and professors who underwent the forced migration from fascist and Nazi-occupied European countries in the first half of the 20th century. This was discussed recently in the introduction to a special issue of the Journal of the History of the Neurosciences. As mentioned above, Nathalie Zand was murdered by the Nazis in 1942.

Not all of these women were working in clinical neurology. Several were neuropathologists or working as psychiatrists. However, as mentioned in the earlier article on the First International Congress of Neurology, neuropsychiatry was practiced as one specialty for a long period in many countries.

Since the First International Congress of Neurology in Bern, the number of women in neurology has gradually increased. In 2018, women comprised 45% of neurology and neurological subspecialty residents.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Emmanuel Broussolle for providing information about Andrée Feyeux. •

Peter J. Koehler is a member of the faculty of health, medicine, and life sciences at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

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