In mid-April, we joined more than 15,000 experts in Denver, Colorado, for the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting—AAN 2024. This meeting of the neurological minds is one of the world's largest—a six-day event with more than 180 exhibitors, 3,400 abstracts across 27 specialties, and seven plenary sessions. While it’s impossible to see it all, we did gain a firsthand view of what’s top of mind (pun intended) among leaders in the field.
Neurology is at an exciting crossroads—with groundbreaking treatments on the horizon and innovations that enable greater access to care. However, it will take a more holistic and inclusive perspective on brain health for the neurological community to achieve these goals. Here are the four key takeaways we brought home from Denver.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Is Critical to Neurological Health
At this year's meeting, there was a heavy focus on addressing healthcare inequities. Discussions were wide-ranging and insightful, as speakers shared their experiences and the need for change at multiple levels—from implementing new treatment protocols to influencing government policies.
Within the clinical space, embedding DEI principles into research and practice can help make neurology more inclusive and equitable for all. Raising awareness around health equity and the social and political determinants of brain health was also a key theme at AAN.
For example, the "Healthcare Equity Symposium" session highlighted the prejudice and stigma inherent in the healthcare system while providing actionable steps attendees could take to improve equity in their own practice and in clinical trials. One key idea was engaging communities in clinical trials.
Another session underscored the political determinants of brain health—such as the manipulation of drug prices and access to necessary medications—and how it highlights the need for neurologists to advocate for policy changes.
Our takeaway: Raising DEI awareness and taking action can help remove barriers and provide more people with greater access to the necessary neurological care.
What you can do: Include underserved populations in research and protocols and apply diversity learnings into clinical practice and policies. This can help make discussing and treating neurological disorders more fair and accessible for everyone, with the ultimate goal of breaking barriers to accessing healthcare.
The Future of AI Is Now
AI, or artificial intelligence, is already impacting nearly every facet of life—and that extends to neurology.
At AAN, several sessions explored AI's potential to revolutionize neurology by enhancing diagnostic accuracy, predicting disease progression, and personalizing treatment plans. AI's ability to analyze vast datasets and identify patterns imperceptible to the human eye could lead to earlier detection of conditions like Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy, significantly altering patient outcomes.
However, embracing AI also means navigating its ethical implications and ensuring that the technology augments the neurologist's role without undermining the patient-physician relationship.
As AI becomes more prevalent, neurologists must become adept in its use and understand its limitations, which demands a shift in education and training. This ability to navigate AI will be crucial to critically evaluate AI-generated recommendations and make informed decisions that align with each patient's unique needs.
Our takeaway: Understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI is no longer just a "nice to have" but a necessity for neurologists.
What you can do: Stay abreast of the latest AI technology, which has already aided the drug discovery process, identified viable candidates for clinical trials, and improved accuracy in diagnosing diseases through imaging data, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. This can help with early, precise, and minimally invasive patient diagnosis, ultimately leading to more personalized and effective healthcare solutions.
More Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) = Greater Access to Care
The evolving role of APPs, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, in neurological care was also a key topic. APPs are pivotal in expanding access to neurological care, especially in underserved areas. Their expertise not only complements that of neurologists but also introduces a patient-centered approach emphasizing education, prevention, and management of chronic conditions.
The successful integration of APPs into neurology teams requires a reevaluation of traditional care models to foster a collaborative environment. This shift presents an opportunity to redesign care delivery, making it more efficient and responsive to patient needs. Additionally, leveraging the unique strengths of APPs in patient education and advocacy can enhance the quality of care and patient outcomes.
Our takeaway: The increasingly important role of APPs in neurology helps expand access to care and enhance patient advocacy and education.
What you can do: Include APPs as part of your care team and leverage their patient-centric approach to care to enable providers to make more informed treatment decisions. For example, APPs can have more in-depth patient discussions about specific topics that may not be covered otherwise due to time constraints or fear of speaking out, leading to more effective treatment decision-making and practices.
Live Healthy: Your Brain Will Thank You
Several AAN sessions highlighted the impact of diet and physical activity on neurological conditions and the importance of mental health, social connections, and cognitive engagement. In other words, preventative neurology extends beyond avoiding risk factors. Brain health needs to be nurtured in everyday living and throughout life.
This holistic view of preventative care necessitates a collaborative approach involving patients, families, and communities. Also, we need to advocate for public health policies that support healthy environments and access to resources that facilitate active and mentally stimulating lifestyles. This way, we can empower individuals to take charge of their neurological health, potentially reducing the burden of neurological diseases on society.
Our takeaway: Better brain health begins with a holistic approach to overall health encompassing diet, exercise, and activities connecting and engaging us.
What you can do: By employing shared decision-making, you can equip individuals with the tools and information they need to manage their neurological health effectively. This includes offering recommendations for a brain-healthy lifestyle, providing self-assessment tools to monitor mental health, and sharing local support resources. Setting goals and tracking the progress of these initiatives can enhance the provider-patient relationship and encourage patients to take an active role in their mental health care.
An Open Mind Opens Up Possibilities
At AAN, attendees were challenged to think outside the neurological box to incorporate more inclusive and holistic approaches to care. By embracing DEI, leveraging AI, integrating APPs into care teams, and focusing on preventative care, clinicians are poised to make significant strides in neurological care—creating more possibilities and expanding care to even more patients. "AAN," that's a wrap!
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