AAN Chief Executive Officer: Mary E. Post, MBA, CAE
Managing Editor: Angela M. Babb, MS, CAE, APR
Editor: Val Lick
Writers: Ryan Knoke, Sarah Parsons
Designer: Andrew Imholte, Wendy Larson
Photography: Will Evans
Annual Meeting Daily is published by the American Academy of Neurology.
The American Academy of Neurology’s registered trademarks and service marks are registered in the United States and various other countries around the world.
Contemporary Clinical Issues
Key practice issues highlighted in this morning’s Contemporary Clinical Issues Plenary Today’s Contemporary Clinical Issues Plenary highlights some of the issues that matter most for practicing neurologists, including abstracts related to new therapeutic developments, clinical applications of basic and translational research, and innovative technical developments already affecting neurological practice. Set to take place between 9:15 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in W375de, the session will be moderated by Chad Hales, MD, PhD, FAAN.
Topics and presenters include:
• AMT-130 Huntington’s Disease Gene Therapy: Clinical Study Outcomes at 3 Years
Presenter: Victor W. Sung, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Discussant: Yvette Bordelon, MD, PhD, FAAN, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
• Bridging the Knowledge Gap: Real-world Implementation of an AI Clinical Assistant in Neurology
Presenter: Mikael Guzman Karlsson, MD, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital
Discussant: Lidia Maria V. Moura, MD, PhD, MPH, FAAN, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Efficacy and Safety of Tolebrutinib Versus Placebo in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Results from the Phase 3 PERSEUS Trial
Presenter: Robert J. Fox, MD, FAAN, Cleveland Clinic
Discussant: Farrah J. Mateen, MD, PhD, FAAN, Northwestern University
• Lifestyle Interventions vs. Monoclonal Antibodies in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comparative Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Presenter: Majid Fotuhi, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University
Discussant: Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center
• Enhancing Glymphatic Transport via Vasopressin: Implications of Neurodegenerative Disease and Drug Delivery
Presenter: Eman Hamed, MD, PhD, New York University
Discussant: Humberto Mestre, MD, PhD, Massachusetts General Hospital
Continue the conversation at the follow-up popcorn talk! 11:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m. / Research Hub, W193b
Want to delve deeper into the topics discussed during the Contemporary Clinical Issues Plenary? All attendees are invited to join the plenary speakers for this 30-minute interactive session as they break down key points and share practical insights.
Sung Karlsson Fox Fotuhi Hamed
Bordelon Moura
Mateen Aggarwal Mestre
Last chance to visit the exhibit hall, complete your passport
Open today 11:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Until 4:00 p.m. today, the exhibit hall is still full of exciting opportunities to learn about the latest advancements in patient care, find products that add efficiencies to your practice, and discover great resources for patients and caregivers! Plus, there’s still time to complete your “passport.” Attendees who turn in their completed passport by 3:30 p.m. at the Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease booth (#4224) have the chance to win prizes, including a grand prize drawing for 2027 Annual Meeting registration and a three-night hotel stay! Don’t have one yet? Passports are still available in the exhibit hall. Some exhibit hall favorites to enjoy today:
• Puppy Park: Need to “paws” and relax? Border Tails Rescue is here with puppies from local rescue partners to help relieve stress and put a smile on your face!
• Buzz Cafes: Grab a cup of coffee or a specialty hot or iced espresso drink! Regular and decaf options are available.
• Exhibit Hall Charging Lounges: Need to recharge your devices … or just take a break? Find charging spots with comfortable seating options all around the exhibit hall.
• Innovation Hub: Stop by for physician talks and frequent paint and wine sessions.
• Poster hall: With 3,500+ abstracts accepted, this is a record year for research at the Annual Meeting. Connect and learn from your colleagues here!
• Neighborhoods: Booths are organized in thematic neighborhoods. Browse through areas focused on digital health, careers, associations and other nonprofit organizations, and first-time exhibitors.
• Exhibit Hall Presentation Stage: Learn about pipeline products, new notable companies, and more.
NEW: VISIT THE HEADSHOT LOUNGE! Step up your professional image at the exhibit hall’s new Headshot Lounge! Whether you’re updating your LinkedIn profile or just looking to capture your best self, our expert photographers provide a welcoming environment and high-quality results.
Today: 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
Global neurology leaders unite at Annual Meeting
Presidents of neurological societies from around the world met Tuesday at the Global Leaders Roundtable. This gathering, now in its third iteration, is co-hosted by the AAN and the World Federation of Neurology (WFN). The 25+ leaders in attendance discussed pressing international neurology issues and ways to work together globally for better brain health.
Today’s Section Showcases present timely topics in two subspecialty areas
More than 40 AAN Sections offer unique opportunities for members with similar subspecialty interests to come together online throughout the year to share insights, ideas, and perspectives. Nearly half of those sections are here at the Annual Meeting to connect in person through Section Showcases.
All attendees are invited to attend these informative, discussion-based, and engaging opportunities where sections present important and timely topics from their neurology communities.
Today’s Section Showcases, located in W181c, include:
Any AAN member can join sections. Learn more and see a full list at AAN.com/sections.
More than a meeting: AAN membership offers year-round access to your neurology community!
Coming together with your neurology community at the AAN Annual Meeting is a great way to experience the latest science, earn valuable CME, and make meaningful connections. But it doesn’t end there!
If you’re not already an AAN member, then now’s the perfect time to join. By becoming part of our neurology community today, you’ll get access to these and hundreds of other exclusive, career-boosting benefits:
• Subscriptions to the Neurology® journal, Neurology Today® , Neurology® Clinical Practice, and more (if included with your member category)
• Deep registration discounts to AAN conferences like the upcoming Autoimmune Neurology Conference, Fall Conference, APP Conference, and 2027 Annual Meeting—all taking place in person and online
• The latest, most sound science and hundreds of trusted online education opportunities to help keep you on the cusp of the latest breakthroughs and earn CME
• Access to your inspiring community of 44,000+ neurology experts from 148 countries around the globe
Visit AAN.com/membership for a full list of exclusive year-round benefits and to join. You can also visit the Member Services booth in the registration area before 4:00 p.m. today and AAN staff will be happy to assist you! If you have additional questions, you can email memberservices@aan.com or call (800) 879-1960, or +1 (612) 928-6000 (international).
Connect with AAN
Sections year-round with Synapse!
It’s easier than ever to connect with your neurology colleagues from around the globe with the new and improved SynapseSM AAN Member Communities platform and mobile app. This exclusive AAN member resource just received significant upgrades, offering an intuitive, clean, and streamlined design and navigation functionality; a social-media style activity feed; easyto-use discussion forums and collaborative libraries; and a new, more robustly connected mobile app.
When you belong to one or more of the AAN’s sections and consortiums and their Synapse member communities, you have a unique opportunity to get inspired and share insights, ideas, and perspectives.
It’s here in these member-only online spaces that you’ll find your people—those who are shaping the field of neurology and who’ll help you grow and thrive in your career by sharing scientific, practice, and professional perspectives and engaging in stimulating conversations about the hottest topics in your area of interest. Learn more at Synapse.AAN.com.
Download the new Synapse mobile app
Follow the discussion wherever you go when you download the new Synapse mobile app, available on both the App Store and Google Play. Search for “Synapse AAN member communities” to install the latest version.
Top science draws media coverage in press conference
Three top researchers and AAN Science Committee Chair Paul M. George, MD, PhD, MSE, FAAN, spoke to reporters during the AAN Annual Meeting Top Science Press Conference.
Presenters were:
Friedemann Paul, MD
Charité University Medicine Berlin, Germany
Amanda Piquet, MD, FAAN University of Colorado Anschutz in Aurora, Colorado
Yongkai Liu, PhD
Stanford University in Stanford, California
Paul’s abstract, which was presented at the Clinical Trials Plenary Session, is titled “Safety and Efficacy of Satralizumab in Patients with Relapsing Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-associated Disease (MOGAD): Results from the Phase 3 METEOROID Trial.”
Piquet’s abstract, which is also a part of the Latebreaking Science Program, is titled “Miv-cel CD19 CAR T-Cell Therapy Shows Efficacy and Safety in Stiff Person Syndrome in a Pivotal, Multicenter, Phase 2 Study (KYSA-8).”
Liu presented his abstract, “COPE: Chain-of-thought Prediction Engine for Open-source Large Language Model Based Stroke Outcome Prediction from Clinical Notes.”
A recording of the press conference, which was held on April 13 via video conference, is available on the AAN YouTube channel at YouTube.com/AANChannel.
Attendee lunch
Attendee lunch is included in your registration fee and served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Hall F. Lunches are served in compostable boxes to support the AAN’s sustainability efforts.
AANTV Studio
Stop by the AANTV Studio in the W375e Lobby to watch live interviews being recorded for later broadcast on the TV monitors around the convention center, AAN.com/AANTV, and YouTube.
Program slides available online
Slides are available online only at AAN.com/Materials or through the AAN Conferences mobile app. You can access program materials through March 1, 2027. (Please note that availability of materials is at the discretion of the specific speaker. Not all sessions will have materials.)
Submit evaluations for Annual Meeting CME
Complete your evaluations by May 20, 2026, (or March 1, 2027, with Annual Meeting On Demand) to get your CME credits by using the AAN Conferences mobile app or by visiting AAN.com/AMCME. Transcripts will be available upon evaluation submission. AAN members can also access their transcript via NeuroTracker™ at AAN.com/NeuroTracker.
Share your feedback
Please take five minutes to complete the overall evaluation for the Annual Meeting at AAN.com/AMCME. Your feedback will help us to continue to improve this conference and other AAN conferences in the future.
Get your certificate of attendance
You can download a certificate of attendance at AAN.com/QuickLinks. You’ll need the email you used to register for the Annual Meeting.
Access past content
. View all conference guidelines at AAN.com/EventGuidelines.
Conference attendees have access to content on the online platform and mobile app through May 20, 2026. Visit AAN.com/AMOnline and use your 6-digit ID and password to log in. It may take up to 48 hours after session completion for content to become available online.
Want more time to review programs?
Add Annual Meeting On Demand to your registration now to save up to 55% and to extend your access to session recordings through March 1, 2027. Check the back of your badge to see if you already have Annual Meeting On Demand. If not, head to Registration or AAN.com/QuickLinks by May 20, 2026, to add it at the discounted rate.
Neurology Year in Review
Neurology Year in Review Plenary Session
coming to online platform at noon Thursday
Log in to the Annual Meeting’s online platform at 12:00 p.m. Thursday to hear Oluwole O. Awosika, MD, MSCR, FAAN, moderate this popular session featuring six speakers, all focusing on the latest developments of interest to the clinician within a specific subspecialty topic. The session will offer 2.5 CME credits.
Topics and speakers are:
Emerging Indications for Focused Ultrasound
Robert E. Chen, MD, MBBChir
Toronto Western Hospital
Advances in Clinical Neurogenomics
Health Equity in Neurology: New Evidence and Opportunities for Change
Brent L. Fogel, MD, PhD, FAAN University of California, Los Angeles
Jordan J. Cole, MD
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Reclaiming Trust in Brain Health
Sudha Seshadri, MD, FAAN Boston University
Emergency Management of Migraine
Benjamin W. Friedman, MD, MS
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Liquid Biopsy in Neuro-oncology
Seema Nagpal, MD, FAAN
Stanford University
‘Neur-on the go’: Try solving this neurology-themed crossword puzzle!
Do you have a way with words? See if you can solve this neurologythemed crossword puzzle, created by medical student and AAN member Juliana Katz. Solutions are on page 22.
By Juliana Katz
ACROSS
1 Cynical
6 Masculine pronouns option
11 Kill Bill star alongside Lucy
14 “ la boca” (command during a cranial nerve exam)
18 Menzel of Frozen
19 Receptacle emptied in an ALS awareness challenge
21 Brought to court
22 *Mode of transportation for classifying Friedreich’s ataxia or Parkinson’s disease
25 Prefix before -crania continua
26 Catch
27 Smell : one :: lateral eye movement :
28 “I’m ,” big into (3 words)
30 Ependymal cell product, for short
33 “Feels like” fig.
36 *Mode of transportation for treating some leukemias, and possibly multiple sclerosis in the future (at the risk of
causing encephalopathy or peripheral neuropathy)
40 Weighed in
43 Prefix before dural or lingual
45 Pulls back, as on permissive hypertension goals after 48 hours post-stroke
46 Speaker of the House between Ryan and McCarthy
47 Green prefix
48 Hoppy bar order, for short
49 Reverse navigation aid?
52 *Mode of transportation for recognizing Sturge-Weber syndrome on imaging
56 Josh
59 Non-antibacterial UTI treatment
60 Interjection of hesitation
61 GA capital
62 Sing like Sinatra
64 74-down, for one
66 Reuben top and bottom
68 Something to put in your step
71 -Phile prefix for a sommelier
72 Spam contents
73 Synapse contents (when taken literally, a hint to six starred answers in this puzzle)
78 Loss of power
80 Garr or Hatcher
81 Lover or Midnights, e.g.
82 Kills
85 Grassy hills
86 Exercising
88 El hermano de la madre
91 Feature of an overused dirt road
92 Follower of Brown
93 Hairy cousin
95 *Mode of transportation for best viewing the hummingbird sign on MRI
99 Don’ts partner
100 Id regulator
102 Last in a set of 26
103 Prominent color of Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl album
104 Distinctive features of some kingfishers (but without leashes attached)
108 Option on a PC
109 Align, as clocks
110 *Mode of transportation of choice for hemoglobin advancing through the Circle of Willis
114 For fear that
116 One of a trio of sousaphones?
117 Body of water forming Eritrea’s coastline
118 Mr. Gehrig, to friends
120 Wordlessly threaten, as a cat
123 A CNS demyelinating syndrome
124 *Mode of transportation for traveling from the hypothalamus to the pituitary and from the striatum to the substantia nigra
133 Renowned Langston Hughes poem
134 Exponent inverse
135 Dirt within the art history department?
136 Denials, in 49-down
137 Vitamin that may be protective against multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease
138 Dodge, as taxes
139 Oxidation site
DOWN
1 Apt name for a fitness buff
2 Disturbance within tornadoes?
3 Subset of a dept.
4 Molecules with double-bonded carbons
5 Rhett Butler doesn’t give one of these
6 It helps open doors (to new relationships?)
7 Tx for catatonia
8 Contraction that, without the apostrophe, might be mistakenly pronounced as 110-down’s container
9 Curved-bill wader
10 Word after sheet or before box
11 Zelensky’s country: Abbr.
12 Cipro or oxcarb, e.g.
13 Slayed
14 What differentiates a B major scale from an E major scale
15 Vista, CO
16 Swiffer again
17 Enlighten
20 Os (innominates)
23 Receive insults, or act on pica
24 Crowd cheers
29 49-down’s Olympic flame, to a local
30 Aircraft with rotors, familiarly
31 Boat shoe brand
32 Adjective commonly used to describe actinomyces
34 Appropriate meas. for duration of an action potential
35 Slipped disk on ice?
37 Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande duet
38 Meas. for vanilla extract
39 Boat building wood
41 When repeated, an expression of tastiness
42 ¿Cómo usted?
44 Pear variety
49 Summer 2024 Olympics host
50 Color del cielo
51 Green coating on a rock
53 Pet food brand
54 Decreasing?
55 Says, casually
57 Rapper born Tracy Lauren Marrow
58 A thing to turn on
63 Like a 1950s crime film
65 Poi ingredient
67 Animal that may be of elephant or leopard ilk
69 “ , Brute?”
70 Shock therapy?
74 Fruit with a mean-sounding name
75 Top hat on a staff, musically
76 Operatic solo
77 Cheerio!
78 Green lit
79 Command + Z, on a Mac
83 Cryptococcus, e.g.
84 Leaves leaves in water
87 Non-medullary pyramid locale
89 Witty reply to “Where is your common sense?!”
90 Grand Ole
94 Prefix before vision or medicine
96 Dish
97 110-down container, in 49-down
98 Collection of devices connected to the same Wifi
101 Helium, e.g., or S. pyogenes, depending on how you read it
Save the date for these upcoming AAN conferences!
Autoimmune Neurology Conference
Houston and online | August 7–8, 2026
Autoimmune neurology is growing quicker than ever—so stay ahead of the curve with the latest advancements in diagnostic standards, therapeutic approaches, and research. Attendees should learn to recognize and diagnose neurological autoimmunity affecting any part of the neuraxis, interpret diagnostic testing and avoid misdiagnosis for neurological autoimmunity, and manage and treat inflammatory disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems and muscle.
Seeking autoimmune abstracts by May 3
Share your findings and collaborate with a dedicated community focused on advancing research and growth in autoimmune neurology. Discounted submissions fees are available to AAN members and trainees, and previously presented or published work is encouraged if it’s of interest to the field.
Visit AAN.com/autoimmune to learn more, register, and submit your abstracts.
104 Universe
105 Poem, as that dedicated to a Grecian urn
106 HF apparatus
107 City of a famous civil rights march
110 Favorite organ of this puzzle maker
111 Resulted in
112 Singing place, in ancient Greece
113 Long river south of 49-down
115 Abash
119 Fourth component of HBCU, for short
121 Hydrating butter
122 Cygnet mom
125 Gray, perhaps
126 Henri le Rennet, commonly
127 Grey, perhaps
128 Greek letter found within three others
129 Deg. for many a neurobiologist
130 Ace parallel, in queer identity
131 From Jan. 1 til now
132 Word found twice in the feminine counterpart of “man cave”
Fall Conference
Las Vegas and online | October 9–11, 2026
Hear from top experts on the hottest topics in neurology and how you can immediately apply this knowledge to your practice and patient care. Taking place both in person and with an online option, the Fall Conference is an easy, convenient, and fun way to earn CME credits and network with your neurology community. Registration opens summer 2026. Visit AAN.com/fall to stay up to date.
APP Conference
Las Vegas and online | October 8, 2026
Are you an advanced practice provider looking to broaden your neurology knowledge, fine-tune your skills, and enhance patient care? Then the APP Conference—taking place ahead of the Fall Conference—is for you! Registration opens summer 2026. Visit AAN.com/fall to learn more.
2027 AAN Annual Meeting
Washington, DC, and online | May 1–5, 2027
Another five days of learning, networking, and fun await next year at the nation’s capital. You can once again expect to discover the latest industry updates, ready-to-use practice insights, the most innovative and trusted science showcased across thousands of abstract presentations, all the timely educational updates and CME you need for the year, and a chance to connect with friends and colleagues from around the globe. Keep an eye on AAN.com/AM as details unfold.
Hub highlights
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Get inspired at Annual Meeting Hubs! Connect, collaborate, and learn—together. Annual Meeting Hubs bring you an innovative learning experience outside the traditional classroom, and there’s no better place to meet colleagues who share your passions. Prepare to be inspired!
Academic Hub W192b
Medical Education
Research: From Idea to Publication
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Are you interested in medical education research? Come learn how to design an innovative medical education research project, conduct qualitative analysis, align the work with journal expectations, and publish! Gain actionable strategies to enhance rigor, clarity, and impact of your projects and to advance your careers as a clinician-educator through research and publication.
Brain Health Hub
W375c Lobby
Brain Health Olympics
11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Test yourself with physical and cognitive challenges designed to illustrate the movement-mind connection. All attendees will be able to rotate through ministations (Reaction Relay, Balance Challenge, Memory Match) with the goal of demonstrating that movement and play are core to lifelong brain health.
HeadTalks F2 Lobby
Neuro Advocacy: Mission NOT Impossible—The Game Show
11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join us for a game-show showdown where neurology meets action! Watch as your colleagues battle it out in “Neuro Advocacy Feud,” act out “Charades for Change,” and even limbo their way through red tape— all while learning how your voice can power real policy wins. Play. Advocate. Win for neurology!
Flying the Neurocritically Ill Patient
12:30 p.m.–1:15 p.m.
How does altitude affect neurocritically ill patients during air transportation? What part do physiologic effects, medications, equipment, weather, and operational decisions play on patient stability? Take away actionable knowledge to anticipate challenges and optimize care upon patient arrival.
Innovation Hub
Hall F
Exploring Invasive Neurostimulation Approaches to the Management of Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders
12:00 p.m.–12:30 p.m.
Look into research unraveling the pathophysiology underlying the brain’s responses to neurostimulation as well as new approaches to neurostimulation management in other neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders.
Rebooting the Medical Record: EHRs on the Cutting Edge
1:30 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Appraise the potential impact of planned development on provider and neurology care team satisfaction and neurology patient experience. Compare different proposed EHR vendor approaches to solving the real-world challenges faced by neurology providers. Propose additional features and capabilities that would enhance the use of these EHRs for neurological care.
Leadership University W190b
Becoming a Leader in Quality and Patient Safety as a Neurologist
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Interested in leadership in the realm of patient safety and quality? Get help identifying opportunities to advance a career in these areas and developing a plan for moving forward.
Practice and Policy Hub
F1 Lobby
PA-nic or Progress? Reimagining Prior Authorization
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Take a candid look at prior authorization from multiple angles: automation success stories, human workarounds, and AI-driven documentation. Hear from an insurance insider and explore how advocacy and collaboration can drive change.
Join us to continue the conversation from the Contemporary Clinical Issues Plenary Session. Ask the plenary speakers questions as they break down the key points from the plenary while identifying opportunities for research.
Controversies in Neurology: Letters to the Editors of Neurology®
1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m.
Editors of the Letters to the Editor section of Neurology® will explore some of the contemporary controversies in neurology, including some of the most intriguing exchanges related to publications about the clinical practice of neurology and neurological research over the past year.
Hub highlights
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Trainee Hub
W195 and W196 Lobby
Life in the Subspecialty: Experiences, Pathways, and Practice
12:00 p.m.–12:30 p.m.
Discover why you should consider different subspecialties from their enthusiasts! Each “salesperson” will do their best to convince audience members to go into their subspecialty in five minutes or less. Subspecialties covered: general neurology, neurogenetics, pain management, and palliative care.
Trainee Networking with Faculty
2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
Trainees are invited to connect with and ask questions of faculty in this speed networking session.
Wellness Hub
W375e Lobby
Latin Bachata Dance
1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.
Known for its smooth, romantic rhythms and flowing body movement, bachata offers a fun way to connect mind and body. The class focuses on basic steps, body isolation, and selfexpression that enhance fluidity and confidence.
Thank you to our Wellness Hub sponsor!
AAN Conferences mobile app tips
The AAN Conferences mobile app makes catching a session you might have missed easier than ever! View the recording in the mobile app—or on your computer through a web browser—by returning to the session you missed and selecting the “Play Recording” button for a full review of the program.
Recorded sessions are available within 48 hours of the program’s conclusion. Access to recordings is available through May 20, 2026. For extended access, add Annual Meeting On Demand to your existing meeting registration by visiting Registration or AAN.com/QuickLinks.
Need mobile app support? Stop by Meeting Information and Tech Support near Registration or in the Level 3 Central Concourse.
Bonus tip: Complete your evaluations to claim your CME!
To claim your CME credits:
• Find the session for which you’d like to claim credit
• Select “Complete your evaluation”
Don’t forget to complete your evaluations by May 20, 2026, to claim CME!
How was your Annual Meeting Experience? We want to hear from you!
Please take five minutes to complete the overall Annual Meeting evaluation that can be found under the “Claim CME” button on the AAN Conferences mobile app’s main menu. Your valuable feedback will help us improve the meeting in the future!
AAN partners with American Headache Society for today’s Society Spotlight
We’re partnering with the American Headache Society to showcase encore presentations of top research presented at the American Headache Society’s meeting during today’s Society Spotlight. The session will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in W183c and is worth two CME credits.
Presentations and speakers include:
1:00 p.m.–1:20 p.m.
Glymphatics and Sleep/Post Traumatic Headache
Andrew Russo, PhD
1:20 p.m.–1:40 p.m.
Circadian Features of Headache Disorders—Can We Explain Why?
The Hypothalamus: Conductor of the Migraine Prodrome
Todd J. Schwedt, MD, FAAN
2:20 p.m.–2:40 p.m.
Is Migraine a Risk Factor for Dementia?
Richard B. Lipton, MD, FAAN
2:40 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
What’s in the Pipeline for Pediatric Migraine Treatment
Amy Gelfand, MD
AAN Research Program
Groundbreaking science starts with a single grant 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes to fund vital neuroscience
Voices of the Annual Meeting
What brings you to the Annual Meeting?
“I am a neurologist from Germany and I have a practice there with a lot of patients with multiple sclerosis. I’m here looking for new medical treatments.”
What makes you feel connected to other neurologists?
“In Germany, there are not so many neurologists. We are well connected—and I hope even here, but it’s very big!”
–Claudia Klemm, MD
What makes you feel connected to your neurology community?
“The sense of belonging. Everybody knows everybody, and we’re all working towards the same goal in the end—taking care of our patients in the best way possible.”
–Seerat Sachdeva, MD
What have you enjoyed about the Annual Meeting?
“I really just love the energy here. Something that really attracted me to neurology is the excitement that I get from neurologists when I tell them that I’m interested in the field. I’m a first generation college graduate and now a medical student and future doctor, and so this whole path to me is very unknown and that can be daunting, but it’s really nice when people welcome you into the field.”
–Jason
Scott, medical student
Run/Walk participants make strides for brain health
Nearly 300 Annual Meeting attendees got moving bright and early Tuesday morning for the 5K Run/Walk for Brain Health. This Annual Meeting tradition raises money to support the AAN Brain Health Initiative— and gives attendees an opportunity for some friendly competition.
This year’s event took place next to McCormick Place along Lakefront Trail, featuring beautiful views of the Chicago skyline. To all participants: Thank you! You raised thousands of dollars to improve lives and make a meaningful impact on the landscape of brain health.
Thanks to the 2026 sponsors of the Run/Walk for Brain Health.
Today’s Neuroscience in the Clinic explores circadian rhythms
From 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. this afternoon in W183b, a panel of experts will host the Annual Meeting’s final Neuroscience in the Clinic— Circadian Neuroscience: Biological Timing Matters in Neurology. The session is led by Roneil Malkani, MD, FAAN, and Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD, and offers attendees two CME credits.
Participants should become familiar with the role of circadian rhythms in neurology and circadian dysfunction as a risk factor for neurological diseases, mechanisms linking circadian dysfunction in neurological diseases, and strategies to address that dysfunction in headache disorders and neurodegenerative disease.
Joining Malkani and Zee will be expert faculty Amita Sehgal, PhD; Aleksandar Videnovic, MD, MSc, FAAN; and Rachel Darken, MD, PhD, FAAN; case presenter KuangHua Guo, MD, PhD; and abstract presenters Ella A. Nettnin and Hailu Chen, PhD.
We have led discovery and innovation over the past 75 years thanks to you. Your passion, insight, and support have shaped the journal, fueled its success, and helped define the field of neurology itself.
Join the celebration at the Publications Booth and online at Neurology.org/75th-anniversary
Malkani Zee Sehgal
Videnovic Darken Guo
Nettnin Chen
2026 Scientific Award Recipients
AAN NEURO-INFECTIOUS DISEASE AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and supported by the Neuro-infectious Disease Section.
Yair Mina, MD
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health
BHUWAN GARG HIGH SCHOOL NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH PRIZE
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society.
Lilian Ouyang Little Rock Central High School
BRUCE S. SCHOENBERG INTERNATIONAL AWARD IN NEUROEPIDEMIOLOGY
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by GlaxoSmithKline, Inc.
Sulena Sulena, MD Guru Gobind Singh Medical College CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Funded by the American Academy of Neurology.
Bipasha Mukherjee Clavin, MD, PhD
Johns Hopkins University
Sheela Toprani, MD, PhD University of California, Davis
Elizabeth C. Wright-Jin, MD, PhD Nemours Children’s Health CLINICAL RESEARCH TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP
Funded by the American Academy of Neurology.
Friederike Held, MD
Stanford University
Jaeho Hwang, MD Northwestern University
Laura W. Pappalardo, MD, PhD, PharmD University of Pennsylvania
Sumanth Reddy, MD University of California, San Francisco
DREIFUSS-PENRY
EPILEPSY AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by members of the American Academy of Neurology Epilepsy Section; Abbott Laboratories, Inc.; Cephalon, Inc.; Cyberonics, Inc.; Elan Corporation; GlaxoSmithKline, Inc.; Novartis; Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Pfizer Inc; Shire Pharmaceuticals Group; and UCB Pharma.
Mark R. Keezer, MD, PhD Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
H. RICHARD TYLER AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Academy of Neurology History Section.
Olivier Uwishema, MD Oli Health Magazine Organization
HAROLD WOLFF-JOHN GRAHAM AWARD: AN AWARD FOR HEADACHE/ FACIAL PAIN RESEARCH
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by Endo Pharmaceuticals.
Hadas Nahman-Averbuch, PhD Washington University in St. Louis
HEALTH CARE EQUITY RESEARCH AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Nabila Dahodwala, MD, FAAN University of Pennsylvania
Monica M. Diaz, MD, MS University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Jonathan P. Williams, MD, MSCR Washington University in St. Louis
IRWIN SCHATZ AWARD FOR AUTONOMIC DISORDERS
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by Lundbeck, Inc.
Wolfgang Singer, MD, FAAN Mayo Clinic, Rochester
JEANNE C. MAYER NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Funded by the Herbert R. Mayer and Jeanne C. Mayer Foundation and American Brain Foundation.
Mark Milner, PhD University of Michigan
JOHN DYSTEL PRIZE FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RESEARCH
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and made possible through a special contribution from the John Dystel Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Ludwig Kappos, MD, FAAN University Hospital and University of Basel
JON STOLK AWARD IN MOVEMENT DISORDERS FOR EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATORS
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by Kyowa Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Lineberry Research; Quintiles; Dr. Dennis Gillings; and VelaPharma.
Brittany Krzyzanowski, PhD Barrow Neurological Institute
LAWRENCE C. MCHENRY: AN AWARD FOR THE HISTORY OF NEUROLOGY
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Mattia Rosso, MD Yale University
LAWRENCE M. BRASS, MD, NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN STROKE
Funded by the American Heart Association and American Brain Foundation.
Praneeta R. Konduri, PhD Stanford University
MCKNIGHT
NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN COGNITIVE AGING AND AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS
Funded by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation through American Brain Foundation.
Maria Pia Campagna, PhD University of California, San Francisco
Quentin Devignes, PhD University of Michigan
MEDICAL STUDENT ESSAY AWARD: G. MILTON SHY
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Lyra Seaborn Baylor College of Medicine
MEDICAL STUDENT ESSAY AWARD: LEWIS P. ROWLAND
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Neha Tallapragada Georgetown University
MEDICAL STUDENT ESSAY AWARD: ROLAND P. MACKAY
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Garrett Allington Columbia University
MEDICAL STUDENT ESSAY AWARD: SAUL R. KOREY
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Habib E. Akouri University of Pennsylvania
MICHAEL S. PESSIN STROKE LEADERSHIP PRIZE
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by Dr. Pessin’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Yan Wang, MD, MSCI Washington University in St. Louis
MITCHELL B. MAX NEUROPATHIC PAIN AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by the United States Cancer Pain Relief Committee, the Mayday Fund, and friends of Dr. Mitchell Max.
Stefanie Geisler, MD
Washington University in St. Louis
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
RESEARCH AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology, the Parkinson’s Foundation, and the American Academy of Neurology Movement Disorders Section and endowed by the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Stewart A. Factor, DO, FAAN Emory University
NEUROSCIENCE
RESEARCH TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP
Funded by the American Academy of Neurology.
Sarah Chang, PhD University of California, San Diego
Yedda Li, MD, PhD Massachusetts General Hospital
Hsueh-Fu Wu, PhD Columbia University
NEURO-ONCOLOGY INVESTIGATOR AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and supported by friends of Dr. Jerome Posner.
L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, MD, PhD Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
NEURO-ONCOLOGY SCIENTIFIC AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and supported by friends of Dr. WK Alfred Yung.
Terri S. Armstrong, PhD, ANP-BC NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH PRIZE
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology.
Shivi Kumar Marcus High School
Joseph Sun Palo Alto High School
Vincent Wang Brophy College Preparatory
NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN ALS
Funded by The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation.
Rebecca Casterton, PhD University of Cape Town, South Africa
NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA
Funded by the Holloway Family Fund of The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration and American Brain Foundation.
Jesús García-Castro, MD, MSc Institut de Recerca de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN LEWY BODY DISEASES
Funded by the Alzheimer’s Association and American Brain Foundation.
Esteban Luna, MD, PhD University of Pennsylvania
NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Funded by the Parkinson’s Foundation and American Brain Foundation.
Arjun Balachandar, MD University of Toronto
NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
Funded by the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy through American Brain Foundation.
Ariel Zhang, PhD
Temple University
NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN MYASTHENIA GRAVIS
Funded by the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America and American Brain Foundation.
Alexandra C. Bayer Wildberger, PhD Yale University
NORMAN GESCHWIND PRIZE IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROLOGY
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed through Dr. Geschwind’s family, friends, and colleagues; Pfizer Inc; and the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology.
Juan B. Toledo Atucha, MD, PhD Houston Methodist
Continued on page 22
PRACTICE RESEARCH TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP
Funded by the American Academy of Neurology.
Carson M. Quinn, MD Massachusetts General Hospital
POTAMKIN PRIZE FOR RESEARCH IN PICK’S, ALZHEIMER’S, AND RELATED DISEASES
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Brain Foundation and funded through the philanthropy of the Potamkin family.
Timothy M. Miller, MD, PhD Washington University in St. Louis
RICHARD OLNEY NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN ALS
Funded by The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation.
Chen Eitan, PhD National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
ROBERT KATZMAN, MD, NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA RESEARCH
Funded by the Alzheimer’s Association and American Brain Foundation.
Pavel Yanev, MD, PhD University of Kentucky
SHEILA ESSEY AWARD: AN AWARD FOR ALS RESEARCH
Funded by the Essey family through the American Brain Foundation and presented in partnership with the ALS Association, the ALS Network, and the American Academy of Neurology.
Leonard Petrucelli, PhD University of Miami
SLEEP SCIENCE AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and the Sleep Section and endowed by Cephalon, Inc.
Louise M. O’Brien, PhD University of Michigan
SUSAN S. SPENCER, MD, NEXT GENERATION RESEARCH GRANT IN EPILEPSY
Funded by the American Epilepsy Society, Epilepsy Foundation, and American Brain Foundation.
Mark Bowren, Jr., PhD University of Iowa
S.
WEIR MITCHELL RESIDENT-FELLOW RESEARCH AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by the former American Academy of Neurology Alliance.
Huanwen “Alvin” Chen, MD University of Maryland
Nardin Samuel, MD, PhD University of Toronto
Thank you for solving!
WAYNE A. HENING SLEEP MEDICINE INVESTIGATOR AWARD
Sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology and endowed by UCB, Inc.; Lilly USA; Elite Home Medical & Respiratory, Inc.; Raleigh Neurology Associates; and friends of Dr. Wayne A. Hening.
Eric C. Landsness, MD, PhD
Washington University in St. Louis
Get ready for the board exam with AAN resources
If you’re planning to take your American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology’s (ABPN) initial certification exam in neurology, we’re here to help you prepare!
NeuroReady®: Board Prep Edition
This is the ultimate board prep resource for neurology residents. It has syllabi on the exam’s 21 most heavily weighted categories, convenient learning with video lectures from experts, and a practice exam made up of 400 multiple-choice questions with feedback and suggestions for further reading.
Study at your own pace with 12 months of access and the ability to download course materials for offline studying!
Learn more at AAN.com/NeuroReady. Residents can buy the course individually or talk to their program director about bulk purchasing—we offer discounts of 10% off when purchasing five or more enrollments! Please contact eLearning@aan.com for details.
Free AAN resources
Looking for more ways to study and learn? Check out these additional resources—free for AAN members.
NeuroSAE®: Determine your strengths and areas for improvement and build your test-taking abilities! Exam results compare your performance to other neurologists and include feedback provided by subspecialty area and suggestions for further reading. Learn more at AAN.com/NeuroSAE.
NeuroPanels: Bring your clinical studies and training materials to life as you explore real-world patient cases! This webinar series features José H. Posas, MD, FAAN, and expert panelists in interactive discussions on a wide range of cases. Learn more at AAN.com/ NeuroPanels.
Question of the Day app: Who says continuous learning and knowledge retention can’t be fun? Answer one new multiple-choice question each day to stay current, assess your strengths and areas of weakness, and get suggested resources for further study. Search the App Store or Google Play to download the app for free!
