eanCast: Weekly Neurology

Moderator: João Moura (Porto, Portugal)Guest: Jeroen Kerstens (Edegem, Belgium)In this episode João Moura and Jeroen Kerstens focus on autoinflammatory syndromes. They discuss how to diagnose them and how they differ from autoimmune disorders, highlighting that autoinflammatory syndromes often present neurological features, and targeted treatment may prevent irreversible organ damage. Please find the article mentioned in the episode here: Autoinflammatory syndromes in neurology: when our first line of defence misbehaves . 

Alberto Vogrig, an assistant professor from the University of Udine, and Maarten Titulaer, an associate professor at Erasmus University Medical Center, dive into autoimmune encephalitis. They discuss the complexities of diagnosing this condition, emphasizing the urgent need for early recognition and effective treatment. The conversation highlights the role of advanced imaging and antibody testing, the challenges of underdiagnosis, and the exciting potential for new biomarkers, underscoring the importance of tailored management in patient care.

Moderator: Prof. José Ferro (Lisbon, Portugal)Guests: Saša Filipović (Belgrade, Serbia), Charlotte Lens (Leuven, Belgium) In this episode, first, join Ferro and Filipović as they discuss updated consensus recommendations from the COVID Task Force on managing chronic neurological conditions during and after COVID-19, covering treatment strategies, vaccination guidance, and approaches to long COVID care. Then, join Ferro and Lens as they explore research on optimizing ischemic stroke care, focusing on quality improvement, patient-reported outcomes and experiences, and insights from Lens’ paper on ischemic stroke guidelines and their applicability across diverse healthcare settings. Please find the papers discussed in the episode here:• Management of patients with neurological diseases considering post-pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related risks and dangers — An updated European Academy of Neurology consensus statement• From guidelines to clinical practice in care for ischaemic stroke patients: A systematic review and expert opinion

Moderator: Luca Sebastianelli (Vipiteno, Italy)Guest: Olli Tenovuo (Turku, Finland)In this episode Luca Sebastianelli and Olli Tenovuo discuss the many factors that influence the recovery and thus outcome after a TBI, including the use of available assessment tools.

EAN Moderator: Jana Midelfart Hoff (Bergen, Norway)Guest: Marte Roa Syversen (Drammen, Norway)In this week’s episode Jana Midelfart Hoff and Marte Roa Syversen discuss what happens in the brain when a calm 10-year-old evolves into an emotional volcano of thirteen. They explore the structural changes in the brain and their effect when going from child to grown-up.

EAN moderator:  Thomas Berger (Vienna, Austria)Guest: Gereon Fink (Cologne, Germany)In this first eanCast episode of 2025, Thomas Berger and Gereon Fink discuss how dramatically Neurology has changed due to fundamental breakthroughs in understanding the pathophysiology and pathomechanisms of neurological disorders, enabling the development of specific novel treatments, eventually resulting in personalized approaches. Thomas Berger and Gereon Fink reflect upon how methodological advances have catalyzed this progress and how an exact understanding of disease pathology also informs the prevention of neurological diseases, opening avenues for a new era of neurology.

Moderator: Francesco Pasini (Milano, Italy)Cianán Russell (Brussels, Belgium) In this last episode of the year, Francesco Pasini and Cianán Russel talk about inclusive communication with sexual and gender minorities in Neurology. The topics discussed include the stigma experienced by the LGBTI population in healthcare, some suggestions for inclusive communication with patients, and reflections on the need to explore new languages and approaches for diverse patient populations.eanCast Listener Feedback Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/eanCast

Moderator: Vanessa Carvalho (Lisbon, Portugal) Guest: Angelo Antonini (Padua, Italy)This week Vanessa Carvalho hosts expert Angelo Antonini as they review not only prevalence but also sex and gender differences in response to treatment, and the treatment of specific populations such as pregnant women. They also approach the bias in enrollment of women living with PD in clinical trials, its main causes and the main consequences of this underrepresentation. Please find suggested further reading on this episode here: Further Reading on eanCast Episodes - ean.orgeanCast Listener Feedback Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/eanCast

Moderator: Luca Cuffaro (Milano, Italy)Guest: Julie Novakova Martinkova (Prague, Czechia) In this episode, Dr. Luca Cuffaro and Dr. Julie Novakova Martinkova discuss sex and gender differences in Alzheimer's disease. Topics discussed include differences in Alzheimer's disease epidemiology, progression, biomarkers, clinical trials, and prospective treatments, with a special focus on their potential biological mechanisms. Please find suggested further reading on this episode here: Further Reading on eanCast Episodes - ean.orgeanCast Listener Feedback Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/eanCast

Moderator: Alice Accorroni (Geneva, Switzerland)Guest: Marianne de Visser (Amsterdam, Netherlands)In this week’s episode Alice Accorroni and Marianne de Visser discuss the multifaceted impact of gender on career trajectories in neurology, examining mentorship dynamics and the intersectionality of gender with ethnicity and socioeconomic background. They discuss the importance of support networks, education, and fostering a gender-sensitive culture. Highlighting the value of representation in leadership, they share insights and practical solutions to promote diversity, inclusion, and acceptance.eanCast Listener Feedback Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/eanCast