A strategic neurological research agenda for Europe: Towards clinically relevant and patient‐centred neurological research priorities

Abstract

Background and purposeNeurological disorders constitute a significant portion of the global disease burden, affecting >30% of the world's population. This prevalence poses a substantial threat to global health in the foreseeable future. A lack of awareness regarding this high burden of neurological diseases has led to their underrecognition, underappreciation, and insufficient funding. Establishing a strategic and comprehensive research agenda for brain‐related studies is a crucial step towards aligning research objectives among all pertinent stakeholders and fostering greater societal awareness.MethodsA scoping literature review was undertaken by a working group from the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) to identify any existing research agendas relevant to neurology. Additionally, a specialized survey was conducted among all EAN scientific panels, including neurologists and patients, inquiring about their perspectives on the current research priorities and gaps in neurology.ResultsThe review revealed the absence of a unified, overarching brain research agenda. Existing research agendas predominantly focus on specialized topics within neurology, resulting in an imbalance in the number of agendas across subspecialties. The survey indicated a prioritization of neurological disorders and research gaps.ConclusionsBuilding upon the findings from the review and survey, key components for a strategic and comprehensive neurological research agenda in Europe were delineated. This research agenda serves as a valuable prioritization tool for neuroscientific researchers, as well as for clinicians, donors, and funding agencies in the field of neurology. It offers essential guidance for creating a roadmap for research and clinical advancement, ultimately leading to heightened awareness and reduced burden of neurological disorders.

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“…Up until recently, the management of neurodegenerative diseases has focused primarily on diagnosis and treatment, and “prevention” has not been perceived as a valid target since for many years these diseases have been considered unpreventable. However, in the light of accumulating evidence, there is now an urgent call from the World Health Organization (WHO) and several other professional organizations to include prevention as part of the overall brain health strategies ( 17 , 40–42 ). In the case of PD, this change in focus has arisen as a result of the accumulating research evidence demonstrating the complex interplay of causative and risk factors that underpin the pathology of PD.…”

“…Even if an effective disease-modifying therapy was identified tomorrow, due to the prolonged time needed for clinical trials and regulatory approval, it might be a decade or more before it could be used in the clinical practice setting ( 52 ). In addition, both the WHO and the European Association for Neurology (EAN) recognize the significant burden associated with the treatment of established PD, and have highlighted the importance of prioritizing exploration of effective prevention strategies, currently one of the top six global research gap categories in neurology ( 17 , 40 , 42 ). The WHO has recently issued a position paper outlining its commitment to brain health across each person’s lifetime in order to optimize overall population health and wellbeing, and this includes a focus on healthy behaviors ( 41 ).…”