Search Results for: Covid

New Workplaces, New Opportunities to Mitigate Neurological Disability

Workplace disease-specific education and management programs to increase awareness, diagnosis, management, and productivity.

By Dr. Olivia Begasse de Dhaem

Olivia Begasse de Dhaem

Mitigating the impact of the disability related to neurological diseases goes beyond medical management and rehabilitation. Workplace accommodations and workplace disease education and management programs must be included in the continued efforts of the 2023 World Brain Day campaign.

As stated by Prof. David Dodick on World Brain Day 2023, disability is associated with developing chronic conditions; earlier mortality; disparities in terms of access to care, education, job; stigma; and poverty. Supporting people with neurological disorders in the workplace is crucial to mitigate the downstream impact of disability. Neurological disability interferes with occupational potential and earning, which in turn can negatively impact mental health and access to medical care and worsen the level of disease state and its related disability. Being in the workforce contributes to general and mental health.

Let’s take the example of migraine, the second leading cause of disability in the world according to the Global Burden of Diseases. Migraine is the second cause of presenteeism (being present at work but not as productive as usual due to the symptoms of a disease) in the United States, estimated to account for 16% of total workplace presenteeism and to cost $240 billion (USD) annually. Although the migraine-related productivity loss increases with the frequency of migraine attacks, there is significant productivity loss interictally as 41.5% of workers have moderate to severe interictal symptoms.

Thankfully, there are evidence-based ways to help workers with migraine, such as social support (between colleagues and by supervisor), job satisfaction, a sense of autonomy, and workplace accommodations (such as natural lights, noise reduction, scent-free areas, regular breaks, air quality). Small interventions such as raising awareness in the workplace and helping a supervisor understand the disease can have a huge impact. One patient of the author was about to lose her job as a cashier at a supermarket due to the numerous work absences she had because of her chronic migraine. After discussions and a doctor’s note, her supervisor helped her change her job from cashier to bagger, so instead of constantly rotating her neck to look at a bright screen while scanning, she was placing the groceries in bags. She was also allowed to take regular breaks to lay down on a mat in a dark, quieter closet. These accommodations enabled her to continue working full time with rare absences.

Migraine workplace education and management programs offered to all employees and supervisors increase understanding of the disease, decrease stigma, improve diagnosis and treatment, and increase productivity. It is crucial to educate the entire employee population and not target a specific group.

The Fujitsu Headache Project enrolled 73,432 (91%) of its employees in Japan with a migraine prevalence of 17%. This workplace education and management program improved:

• the understanding of headache disorders (73% of participants)

• the attitude toward colleagues with headache disorders (83% of participants without headache) – productivity

It reduced absences and presentee days by 1.2 and 14 days per employee per year, respectively, with a 32-fold positive return-on-investment.

As workplaces are being redesigned after the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time for neurologists to advocate for equitable work opportunities for people with neurological diseases and to promote workplace education programs like the International Headache Society Global Patient Advocacy Coalition (IHS-GPAC) Migraine Fitness modules. •

For additional information:

• Begasse de Dhaem O. Migraines are a Serious Problem. Employers Can Help. Harvard Business Review. February 2021.

• Begasse de Dhaem O, Sakai F. Migraine in the workplace. eNeurologicalSci. 2022;27:100408. June 2022.

• Sakai F, Igarashi H, Yokoyama M, Begasse de Dhaem O, et al. Diagnosis, knowledge, perception, and productivity impact of headache education and clinical evaluation program in the workplace at an information technology company of more than 70,000 employees. Cephalalgia. 2023;43(4):3331024231165682.

• IHS-GPAC website.

Dr. Olivia Begasse de Dhaem is on the executive committee of the International Headache Society Global Patient Advocacy Coalition (IHS-GPAC) and co-chair of the IHS-GPAC Summit III in Seoul in 2023.

WFN Educational Days

Update on e-Learning opportunities.

By Riadh Gouider, Wolfgang Grisold, Steven Lewis, and Imen Kacem

The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) has been working with regional organizations and with a collaboration of other international organizations to create free e-learning days for neurologists, residents in neurology, and other health care professionals around the world.

The concept of these one-day educational events was boosted by the situation caused by COVID-19 pandemic, which suspended face-to-face conferences and regional teaching courses. The idea was to focus on one region, but also open the event to worldwide participation. The participation is free but registration is necessary.

The creation of these e-Learning days began with the African Region and was organized jointly with the African Academy of Neurology (AFAN).

The inaugural e-Learning Day, First WFN-AFAN e-Learning Day, took place Oct. 10, 2020. The theme was “Stroke: A Treatable and Preventable Disease,” with the collaboration of the World Stroke Organization (WSO), the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), and the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). Among those who registered, 576 participants from 60 countries participated in the event, with 513 participants from 31 African countries.

It was followed by the Second WFN-AFAN e-Learning Day, which took place on Nov. 6, 2021, and the overarching theme was epilepsy. The EAN, AAN, and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) provided support for this educational event. The participation rate reached 48.5% of the registrations. Participants from 88 countries, including 33 African countries, attended the e-learning day.

The Third WFN-AFAN e-Learning Day was held Nov. 3, 2022. The event covered a number of topics on the theme of “Movement Disorders.” The Movement Disorders Society (MDS), AAN, and the EAN collaborated on this event. There were 514 attendees from 84 countries who participated in the event worldwide, with 334 participants from 30 African countries.

This year, the Fourth WFN-AFAN e-Learning Day will take place Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, and will focus on neuropathies with the support of the AAN, EAN, the International Congress on Neuromuscular Diseases (ICNMD), and the Peripheral Nerve Society (PNS).

These interactive e-learning days consist of a one-day program, primarily in English conferences, and with French parallel sessions, with the participation of local and international speakers.

In addition to the successful WFN-AFAN days, for three consecutive years, the WFN and AFAN have been jointly organizing, with the International Headache Society (IHS) and the Global Patient Advocacy Coalition (IHS-GPAC), educational days on the diagnosis, management, and support of patients with headache. The aim is to improve the knowledge of practitioners in Africa and to raise their awareness of headache disorders, hoping to contribute to improving the management of headache disorders on this continent.

The first Education in Headache to Health Care Providers in Africa (EHHPA) was conducted over two days (Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, and Saturday Sept. 4, 2021), with one parallel French conference on the first day and two parallel French conferences on the second day. The total number of attendees reached 498 participants from 71 countries with 65% of the participants from 32 African countries.

The Second Annual EHHPA, a one-day event, was held Saturday, May 14, 2022. It complemented the first one by focusing on the management and support of primary headache, with a focus on non-pharmacological management options, as well as the importance and strategy of advocacy for headache disorders.

The number of parallel French sessions increased to six parallel French conferences. 310 participants attended the Second Annual EHHPA hosted 310 participants of which 170 were neurologists and residents in neurology.

French parallel session

In 2023, the Third Annual EHHPA will be held Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Two parallel French sessions are scheduled, with three conferences each.

Registration is open now.

Following this successful pattern, the First WFN-AOAN e-Learning Day will be co-organized with the Asian and Oceanian Association of Neurology (AOAN), and have as the theme Advancing Stroke Care in Asia. This first Asian e-Learning Day is being planned for Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 with the collaboration of the World Stroke Organization (WSO), the Asia Pacific Stroke Organization (APSO), and the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR).

These successful e-Learning activities are highly practical for neurologists and other health care professionals all over the globe to improve their neurological skills and practice. They play an important role within the mission of WFN, which is to foster quality neurology and brain health worldwide.

For more information and updates, visit the WFN website. •

Neuroinfectious Disease Update

Update on several noteworthy neuroinfectious disease issues, including arboviruse as well as COVID-19 exposure in-utero.

By B. Jeanne Billioux, MD, and Avindra Nath, MD

The WHO has recently released reports denoting the expansion of cases of dengue and chikungunya beyond historical areas of transmission in the Americas, as well as warnings for increased expansion of transmission in areas of Europe that were previously unaffected (https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2023-DON448; https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-05/europe-at-risk-of-dengue-and-zika-summer-outbreaks-who-warns#xj4y7vzkg). Climate change may contribute to broadening habitat for certain viral-spreading arthropods, including the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that harbor dengue, chikungunya, and zika viruses.

Dengue has been on the rise this season, with many South American countries including Colombia, Brazil, and Argentina, as well as Asian countries, such as the Philippines, recording increased caseloads compared to prior seasons (outbreaknewstoday.com). The U.S. has also recorded several cases in Southern Florida, most of them related to travel, as well as autochthonous transmission in Maricopa County in Arizona this year (https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/mosquito-borne-diseases/_documents/2023-week14-arbovirus-surveillance-report.pdf; https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7211a5.htm).

Dengue may present broadly, from asymptomatic cases to hemorrhagic fever; most typically, in symptomatic cases, it causes flu-like symptoms. Neurologic complications occur uncommonly, and include encephalopathy from multiorgan involvement, encephalitis, PRES, stroke (both ischemic and hemorrhagic), and immune-mediated syndromes such as transverse myelitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, myositis, mononeuropathies, and cyberelites. Some patients may develop hypokalemic paralysis (Trivedi 2022). No known treatments for Dengue exist, but several vaccines are in clinical trials or in various stages of gaining approval, including the recent approval in Brazil https://www.thepharmaletter.com/article/takeda-gains-approval-in-brazil-for-qdenga?print=1.

Chikungunya cases have also been increasing in early 2023, including a surge of cases in Paraguay and Brazil, with Brazil recording over twice as many cases compared to last year (http://outbreaknewstoday.com/author/news-desk/). Although the disease commonly causes fever, fatigue, malaise, and arthralgias (sometimes severe), over 200 cases of suspected meningoencephalitis have been reported due to chikungunya virus in Paraguay during this current outbreak, a rare presentation, (https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/chikungunya/paho-warns-rising-chikungunya-cases-americas-some-fatal) which needs to be closely watched since it could represent an evolution in viral tropism. Other known neurologic complications of Chikungunya include encephalopathy, encephalitis, myelopathy, and peripheral neuropathies, including Guillain-Barre syndrome (Brizzi 2017).

Of note, efforts to reduce transmission of dengue, chikungunya, and the neurovirulent zika virus by using Wolbachia bacteria infection in Aedes aegypti mosquitos have been underway in a number of different areas with varying levels of success. Wolbachia infection of these mosquitos essentially blocks viral replication of dengue, chikungunya, and zika in the mosquito, leading to decreased transmission of these viruses. Recent reports by the World Mosquito Program have noted decreased dengue spread in Java, Indonesia, and the Aburra Valley in Colombia, among other places, where the Wolbachia-infected mosquitos have been released (https://www.worldmosquitoprogram.org/en/learn/scientific-publications).

In COVID-19 related news, a recent case series has reported two neonates born with brain abnormalities thought to be related to in-utero exposure to SARS-CoV2. Both babies were born to mothers who had contracted SARS-CoV-2 in their second trimesters (one with re-infection during the third trimester). Both babies were SARS-CoV-2 negative at birth, but had microcephaly, seizures starting on the day of delivery, and developmental delay over time. Both infants had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and elevated inflammatory markers, and the placenta from each case also displayed SARS-CoV-2 proteins, increased inflammatory markers, as well as evidence of decreased fetal perfusion. One infant died at 13 months of life; on autopsy, the infant was found to have white matter loss, gliosis, vacuolization, as well as evidence of SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins by immunofluorescence throughout the brain, indicating viral infection. The authors note that these two cases are extremely rare, but indicate that in-utero exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the second trimester has the potential to cause neurodevelopmental sequelae (Benny 2023). •

References:

Trivedi S, Chakravarty A. Neurological Complications of Dengue Fever. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2022 Aug;22(8):515-529. doi: 10.1007/s11910-022-01213-7. Epub 2022 Jun 21. PMID: 35727463; PMCID: PMC9210046.
Brizzi K. Neurologic Manifestation of Chikungunya Virus. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2017 Feb;19(2):6. doi: 10.1007/s11908-017-0561-1. PMID: 28233188.
Benny M, Bandstra ES, Saad AG, Lopez-Alberola R, Saigal G, Paidas MJ, Jayakumar AR, Duara S. Maternal SARS-CoV-2, Placental Changes and Brain Injury in 2 Neonates. Pediatrics. 2023 Apr 6:e2022058271. doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-058271. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2022-058271/191033/Maternal-SARS-CoV-2-Placental-Changes-and-Brain?autologincheck=redirected

II Latin American Course of Neuroepidemiology

Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay | March 6-10, 2023

By Dr. Carlos N. Ketzoian

Participants in the II Latin American Course of Neuroepidemiology, Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay, March 6th to 10th, 2023. In the center, Dr. Daniel Salinas, Minister of Public Health of Uruguay.

Last March, the II Latin American Course of Neuroepidemiology took place in Punta del Este, Maldonado, Uruguay. This course was organized by the neuroepidemiology section of the Institute of Neurology at the University of the Republic in Uruguay, and the Université de Limoges in France, with the endorsement of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). The course was held at the Eastern Regional University Center (C.U.R.E.) of the University of the Republic, Uruguay.

The I Latin American Course of Neuroepidemiology took place in Panama City, Panama, in April 2018. This II course was initially planned to take place in March 2020. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic forced the organizers to postpone it until 2023. The structure and the content of these Latin American courses are based on the experience of the Erice’s International Course of Neuroepidemiology. (See World Neurology, posted Feb. 24, 2023. Report on the Ninth International Course of Neuroepidemiology: Methods and Clinical Applications worldneurologyonline.com).

Twenty-one students, five teachers, three coordinators, and two invited speakers participated in five intense and enriching days of learning. Apart from local participants from Uruguay, the remaining students came from different Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Peru. Two participants came from outside of the region (Republic of Armenia).

Profs. Walter Rocca (U.S.), Giancarlo Logroscino (Italy), Pierre-Marie Preux (France), Ruth Ottman (U.S.), Brandon Coombes (U.S.), and Carlos Ketzoian (Uruguay) were part of the teaching team. The course was coordinated by Prof. Carlos Ketzoian (Uruguay), Prof. Regina Alvarenga (Brazil), and Drs. Fabián Gómez Elso and Lucía Castro (Uruguay).

Dr. Sebastián Ameriso from Argentina gave a lecture on the epidemiology of stroke in Argentina and Prof. Abayubá Perna from Uruguay gave a lecture on the genetic epidemiology of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) in Uruguay.

Study design aspects, genetic epidemiology, and statistical methods applied to neuroepidemiology were discussed in the morning. After lunch, the participants analyzed published clinical-epidemiological studies in which the different methodologies presented in the mornings were addressed. Each day, the activities ended with lectures on different topics.

The course activities also included the IV Journée d’Amitié Neurologique Franco-Panamericaine with lectures by Profs. Abayubá Perna (Uruguay), Regina Alvarenga (Brazil), and Pierre Marie Preux (France). The program was endorsed by the French Embassy in Uruguay. A cocktail reception took place after the lectures. The Minister of Public Health of Uruguay, Dr. Daniel Salinas, who is a neurologist, participated in this opening academic and social event. On Friday, March 10, the course closed with a social dinner of traditional “Asado Criollo” (Uruguayan barbecue).

Participants, professors, and coordinators had the opportunity to discuss in-depth different aspects of the clinical-epidemiological methodology for the study of neurological diseases. This full-immersion course format allowed total focus on the subjects, and the participants were not distracted by other activities during the day. The participants worked together for eight hours a day for five days.

We would like to emphasize that this kind of course corresponds to the objectives defined by the WFN Specialty Group on Neuroepidemiology during the meeting which took place Oct. 30, 2019, at the World Congress of Neurology in Dubai. •

Carlos N. Ketzoian is chair of the WFN Specialty Group on Neuroepidemiology.

An Important Year for Neurology

By Wolfgang Grisold

Wolfgang Grisold

Welcome to this first issue of World Neurology in 2023. This newsletter is an important information instrument for the WFN, and each issue reaches at least 15,000 readers. I encourage members to use this instrument and submit news and important aspects regarding neurology in your region.

The year 2023 will be an important year for neurology, and for the WFN. The year will bring face-to-face meetings and personal encounters and will reveal how stable and useful our newly developed communication tools are. My prediction is that our communication has dramatically increased during the COVID crisis, and several aspects of electronic communication will remain. The issue of traveling is increasingly also discussed with environmental considerations, and the carbon footprint is increasingly important. The numerous worldwide crises have also complicated traveling and visa issues are gaining importance.

2023 will be the year of a World Congress of Neurology (WCN), this time in Montreal Canada, and follows the WFN concept of traveling with meetings from region to region. Canada is a region rich with research, concepts, education, and also very advanced neurology services. We are glad and honored that the Canadian Neurological Society is holding this congress with us, and we believe world congresses always have a positive effect in the regions to promote the awareness of neurology.

We are looking forward to the global participation and hope many delegates from all parts the Americas (as the hosting region) will be able to attend. We are aware of visa issues, and we appreciate that our hosts are doing the utmost to make the entry for members of societies from other global regions possible.

At the WCN, we will also see three elections: a new treasurer replacing Prof. Stark, a new trustee replacing Prof. Freedman, and the decision on the congress site 2027 in the Arab/African region. Both Prof. Stark and Prof. Freedman have served two terms in the WFN, and we are grateful for their continuous efforts.

For the WCN, from the practical point, the congress committees have created an interesting program with selected plenary lectures, scientific, and educational topics. We are glad to see that almost all participants from the global neurologic alliance are involved in the program, and the distribution of speakers includes more regional speakers than before.

Free lectures and guided poster sessions are waiting for your participation. Please look at the WFN and WCN congress site for the abstract submission. Again, please also check your travel possibilities and your visa requirements.

With the help of our professional congress organizer Kenes, we will add more interactivity in the congress, and we also will have several joint sessions with the WHO and members of the Global Neurology Alliance, such as the World Psychiatric Association and the World Federation of Neurosurgery, among others. The WFN educational subcommittee of “young neurologists” will organize two important sessions.

A patient day will be organized with the Canadian Neurologic Society (CNS), and the WFN is aiming to establish a global patient platform.

We are aware that traveling might not be easy for several reasons, yet there is need to make this congress available worldwide to all member societies. The WCN 2023 will have a virtual component, which will allow access to the program at low costs in low and low-middle income countries. Participation and dissemination of the developments in neurology are the main aims of the WCN. There will be reduced fees for low and low-middle income countries, and as always also congress bursaries will be available.

The WCN is one important aspect of the WFN’s activities, but there are others

Education: The work with educational activities progresses, and a department visit program for Asian candidates is being established by the Indian Academy of Neurology and will be announced soon.

We will continue the educational days, with the WFN day (which will be in December and devoted to neuropathies) and the joint (with the International Headache Society) IHS Headache Day in May. As a new addition, we are planning an educational day in cooperation with the Asian Oceanian Academy of Neurology (AOAN).

WHO and UN-ECOSOC: The cooperation with the WHO continues and, as in the last year, brain health and the implementation of IGAP are major tasks among others. This year’s World Brain Day (WBD) will be organized by regions in cooperation with the WFNR (World Federation of Neurorehabilitation) and is dedicated to “Brain health and disability.” Please follow WBD on the website, and we hope that all member societies will be able to contribute locally.

The global neurology alliance (GNA), consisting of world societies, specialist societies, regions, and the WFN specialty groups, will have a meeting at the WCN in Montreal. It is a powerful network, and the WFN will continue its efforts to cooperate with global societies and specialist societies.

Prof. Steven Lewis and I met with the president and other dignitaries of the World Psychiatric Association in Vienna in January (photo), to discuss future cooperations in regard to brain health and mental health.

The WFN wishes a successful and prosperous year in your region, and globally for neurology. •

First Pan-European University Course on Clinical Autonomic Neuroscience

The course is provided at the Danube University and supported by the European Federation of Autonomic Societies.

By Walter Struhal

Walter Struhal

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates the synergistic action of all visceral organs and homeodynamic processes. ANS is involved in the course of many neurologic and systemic diseases. Recently, ANS involvement including postural tachycardia syndrome was identified to play a significant role in cases with post-COVID condition.

ANS diseases may cause various dysfunctions, for example, transient loss of consciousness, sweating disorders, digestion, and urinary and sexual function. Autonomic involvement may be generalized, or focal. It may involve central, and/or peripheral ANS structures. The transformation of this appealingly complex pathophysiology into a clinical picture helps to explain the patient’s symptoms, define the syndrome and initiate treatment. A number of therapies are well-investigated but “off-label.” Diligent transformation of literature research into state-of-the-art therapeutic strategies is therefore an important competence of a clinical autonomic neuroscientist.

European Program of Clinical Autonomic Neuroscience

The European Federation of Autonomic Societies (EFAS), together with the Danube University Krems, and the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences have initiated the first Pan-European University Course to study techniques on bedside and lab investigations of ANS disorders and common strategies of therapeutic management. This academic postgraduate course takes one year and will be completed with a university diploma.

This program is open to medical doctors in training and specialists of all disciplines. This program is open for registration. Register now. •

Report on the Ninth International Course of Neuroepidemiology: Methods and Clinical Applications

By Dr. Carlos N. Ketzoian

Participants in the Ninth International Course of Neuroepidemiology: Methods and Clinical Applications.

Last November, the ninth edition of the International Course of Neuroepidemiology: Methods and Clinical Applications took place in Erice, Sicily, Italy, with the WFN’s endorsement.

An historical first course of neuroepidemiology was held in San Miniato, Pisa, Italy, in 1981, and was organized by Prof. Bruce Schoenberg.

Prof. Schoenberg passed away six years later. He laid the foundation for the development of neuroepidemiological research in different continents as a legacy. The activities that he promoted were oriented both to support researchers and to prioritize the training of human resources in this area of knowledge.

Almost 20 years after these historical events, Professors Walter Rocca (Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, U.S.) and Giovanni Savattieri (University of Palermo, Italy) resumed the training activities pioneered by Prof. Schoenberg. Starting in 2000, the nine offerings of the “International Course in Neuroepidemiology: Principles and Clinical Applications” in Erice, have become an essential point of reference for those of us who are interested in the subject.

Over the years, the structure, thematic content, and methodology have evolved in order to adapt to the new needs of a changing international public and to the new methodological developments.

Flyer of the Ninth International Course of Neuroepidemiology: Methods and Clinical applications.

Professors Paolo Ragonese and Marco D’Amelio from the University of Palermo, Italy, who participated as students in the 2000 course, are the current coordinators. The course has a Scientific Committee and a Teaching Team, including more than 15 worldwide leaders in neuroepidemiology and other related sciences. It is a high-level full-immersion course where participants share five days of training, exchange experiences, and establish professional collaborations that go beyond the course.

Forty-six students from five continents participated in this Ninth International Course of Neuroepidemiology: Methods and Clinical Applications” in Erice 2022. Methodological aspects of neuroepidemiology were discussed in the morning, and applications of the methods to the study of specific neurological diseases were presented in the afternoon (epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, neurological manifestations of COVID, among others). General concepts of genetic epidemiology and of applied statistics complemented the epidemiologic methods essential for neuroepidemiology.

The infrastructure of the Ettore Majorana Foundation Centre for Scientific Culture provided a unique framework to achieve the aims. As we climbed the winding road that took us up Mount San Giulano to Erice, a medieval city, the air became fresh and the landscape splendid. Cloistered for a week in this inspiring environment, we felt invited to expand our knowledge as if we were part of a renaissance movement in neuroepidemiology.

The current coordinators, Professors Paolo Ragonese and Marco D’Amelio, organized a special tribute to Professors Walter Rocca and Giovanni Savattieri in recognition for their work in establishing the Erice courses and for their commitment to the development and the diffusion of neuroepidemiology. The Erice courses have become one of the points of reference for the training of young neurologists in clinical and epidemiological research. •

Dr. Carlos N. Ketzoian is chairman of the Specialty Group on Neuroepidemiology of the World Federation of Neurology.

Reference:

Walter A. Rocca, Paolo Ragonese, Marco D’Amelio, Giovanni Savettieri (2022) Teaching Research Methods to Young Neurologists: The Erice International Courses. J Mov Disord 2022;15(3):227-231

RISE 2022: Fifth International Meeting on Environmental Health

Hybrid meeting Sept. 6-7, 2022, Strasbourg, France

By Christina Zjukovskaja, MSc, and Jacques Reis, MD, PhD

This year’s meeting on environmental health took place over two days and in a hybrid format in order to allow active participation unencumbered by travel. Participants and speakers from all over the world were able to gather, report findings as well as discuss relevant topics. Day 1 included sessions on neurotoxicology, exposure science, and the clinical approach of exposure sciences. Day 2 included neurological impacts of climate change, health impacts of air pollution, long COVID as well as diseases and environmental risk factors.

The first day’s session on neurotoxicology started off with a look at animal models that both referenced the autism spectrum disorder and delved into the impact of red meat on neuroinflammation.

The exposure science session brought to light the indoor exposome and the current projects in the EU that are driving progress in the field. Also, surveillance of volatile organic compounds was discussed along with the ongoing attempts to connect the exposome and immunome.

The clinical approach of exposure sciences session introduced the audience to the extensive French network PREVENIR, which is used as a measure of prevention of reprotoxic exposure from the perspective of environmental and occupational hazards. This was followed by a thorough review of the new hypotheses surrounding environmental factors and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The session was closed with an engaging report on the experience of UPRISE, a course in Uppsala, Sweden, co-founded by RISE, that attempts to enlighten the young science and medical community about environmental health issues.

The second day’s session on neurological impacts of climate change introduced the audience to the issue of how human sleep is and will be further affected by a warmer climate. This was preceded by the topic of global warning and neurology and the impact of increasing temperature on neurological diseases. These topics were well complimented by the following lectures on multiple sclerosis and climate change as well as the perception of risk of ticks for Lyme disease.

The health impacts of air pollution session started with an in-depth look at air pollution and stroke, including direct and indirect affects, as well as its global burden. This was followed by a report on the short-term effects of air pollution on respiratory health using a time series. Finally, a comparison of the impact of first lockdown by COVID-19 in 2020 on the hospitalization rates of stroke and myocardial infraction in France debated and stipulated the cause of the drop in rates.

The long COVID session opened with reflections on the management of the pandemic. This was followed by several lectures on the impact of COVID on the brain and cognition. Along with long COVID and its impact, the pathogenesis and treatment of the neurological aspects were also discussed.

The concluding session, relating to diseases and environmental risk factors, delved deeper into the interdependent aspects of environmental impact on possibly overlooked health aspects. Along with brain and risk perception, vestibular function, balance, and dementia were all thoroughly discussed. Additionally, the hurdle of contamination dating back to inadequate World War I ammunition disposal and the issues within research in the intersection of the fields of neurodegenerative disease and environmental factors were reviewed and deliberated over.

With the conclusion of the Fifth International Meeting on Environmental Health, the audience was left with an appreciation of the work done the world over, the progress yet to be made, camaraderie, and the inspiration to reach new heights. This will undoubtedly help expedite the search for solutions to current and future environmental health challenges. •

Junior Traveling Fellowship 2022 report

EAN Congress

By Syrine Ben Mammou

Thanks to World Federation of Neurology, I had the opportunity to attend the Eighth European Academy of Neurology Congress June 25-28, 2022, in Vienna Austria.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many conferences were cancelled or presented virtually. This was my first participation in an international congress of neurology as a junior resident.

During the three days of the conference, I was in sessions revolving around different interesting topics in the field. I am highly interested in inflammatory diseases, and thanks to this opportunity I was able to attend multiple sclerosis discussions. The highlight of my journey was the plenary symposium about improving lives and reducing burden. It was interesting to me as a medical doctor from a low-income country.

Overall, it was an enriching experience during which I had the opportunity to meet and connect with professors and residents in neurology from all over the world. We had various talks about our countries’ health systems, our current work, and future projects. I also had the honor to meet Dr. Claudio Bassetti.

Finally, I hope that I will have the opportunity to attend a conference again in the upcoming years to do presentations about the work that we do in my country. I hope these opportunities of travel fellowships will be more accessible for junior doctors/residents from low-income countries. •

Dr. Ben Mammou is a neurology resident in Tunis, Tunisia.

Ettore Beghi

By Alla Guekht

Prof. Ettore Beghi, researcher at Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri – IRCCS where he developed important contributions to the neuroepidemiological study of ALS and epilepsy, among other areas of neurological diseases.

Ettore Beghi passed away Oct. 10, 2022 at the age of 75 in Milan, Italy, fighting his last battle against a very serious illness with dignity.

Ettore Beghi was born in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 15, 1947. He received his MD at the University of Milan (1972), completed post-doctoral clinical fellowship in neurology with graduation at the neurologic clinic of the same university (1976), obtained a masters of pharmacologic sciences research at the Istituto Mario Negri in Milan (1981), and served as a research fellow in the department of medical statistics and epidemiology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota (1982–1983).

His professional life was also associated with his favorite city. He was the head of the Laboratory of Neurological Disorders, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri,” contract professor of neuroepidemiology at the University of Milan; past head of the neurophysiology unit and epilepsy center, Ospedale di Monza, Milan.

Although it is tragic to think of Ettore leaving us so early, he left behind a lifetime of extraordinary memories. He published more than 480 scientific articles, was one of the world leaders in neuroepidemiology with the special interest to epilepsy and motor neuron diseases, participated in the creation of registries for rare neurological diseases and COVID-19.

He made a prominent contribution to numerous working groups and research committees in the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), European Academy of Neurology (EAN), American Academy of Neurology (AAN), International League against epilepsy (ILAE), extensively collaborated with the WHO, especially at the time of COVID-19 pandemic. He was a prominent member of the WFN, contributing significantly to the WFN Research Group on motor neuron diseases. He was a Fellow of the AAN, Fellow of the EAN, and received the Ambassador for Epilepsy Award of the ILAE. Prof. Beghi chaired the AAN Neuroepidemiology Section and ILAE Commission on the Epidemiology of Epilepsy. He was a coordinator of the European ALS registry and one of the founders of the EAN NEuro-covid ReGistrY (ENERGY). He worked very actively in the Italian Neurologic Society (INS), being the president of its neuroepidemiology section, served in the executive committee of the Italian League against Epilepsy. Prof. Beghi was a consultant for ENEA, editor of the Cochrane Epilepsy Group, member of Commission on the Burden of Epilepsy of the ILAE, International Committee “Epilepsy and the Law,” AAN Research Group in Neuroepidemiology. He was the associate editor of Epilepsia and Neuroepidemiology, served on the editorial boards of the journals Clinical Drug Investigation, Inpharma, Drugs R & D, Neurological Sciences, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery (CNN) and was a reviewer of the major journals in neurology.

Ettore Beghi was a great teacher and mentor to many young neurologists and researchers in many countries all over the world. He was a very kind and remarkable person, great colleague, and collaborator. Prof. Beghi is survived by his beloved wife, Maria Lidia, his three children Massimilìano, Emanuele, and Nadia, and his grandchildren.

It was a great pleasure and honor to work with him, admiring his tireless passion for research and clinical practice, his excellence, humanity, and dignity.

We will always remember Ettore as a dear friend, remarkable scientist, excellent doctor. He will always be in our thoughts and prayers. •

Obituary: Ettore Beghi

By Specialty Group on Neuroepidemiology, World Federation of Neurology

With deep sadness, we inform you that Ettore Beghi, after a long illness, has left us. We all remember the friendliness and devotion that Ettore has always shown in his excellent scientific work, presenting himself with humility, ready to pass on his skills to anyone who was close to him,

Prof. Beghi has been a key point of reference in neuroepidemiology, epilepsy, and motor neuron disease research in the global world by building new and original research paths. He worked closely with the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), being an active member of the WFN epidemiological group. In many instances, he was instrumental to build up the network of scientific and human relation of people from many countries that has been so characteristic of our group. In our meetings, he was always able with a smiling and calm leadership to convey a shared extraordinary and positive energy to all participants.

A great researcher and friend who will be missed by all of us.