EBC at the 11th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology – Helsinki 2025

The European Brain Council was pleased to attend the 11th Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), which was held on 21-24 June 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. This year’s congress attracted 8,366 participants from 113 countries—with 6,383 attending onsite and 1,983 joining online. The exhibition area featured 95 exhibitors, startups, and non-profit organisations in the vibrant Neurohood. Over 300 scientific and educational sessions were delivered, including symposia, workshops, educational courses, scientific theatre, ePoster presentations, and TV studio shows, offering a comprehensive and engaging programme.

The EAN Congress remains the only European event that covers the entire spectrum of neurology, drawing a diverse audience of medical professionals, educators, researchers, and students from around the world. The key themes of the 2025 Congress centered on advancing a visionary, collaborative roadmap for European neurology, with a strong focus on policy coordination, education, and research to address the continent’s neurological disease burden. Special emphasis was placed on developing National Brain Plans, fostering EU-level partnerships, and integrating brain health into broader public health strategies to ensure equitable access to care and innovation across Europe.

EAN President Prof. Elena Moro warmly welcomed attendees, reflecting on how her vision of a society rooted in ethics, community, and a commitment to improving care for people with neurological conditions has become a reality.

She introduced the EAN’s new four-year Strategic Plan—an ambitious roadmap aimed at strengthening neurology’s reach and impact across Europe. Centered on five key pillars—communication, advocacy, education, membership, and research—the plan sets a clear path to elevate neurological science and care.

Moro underscored the collective power of the EAN, representing over 45,000 neurologists through 48 national societies. “We have both the capacity and the responsibility to drive real change,” she said.

Yet she also pointed to serious challenges: a shortage of neurologists, unequal access to innovative therapies, and the disruptive, complex influence of AI and emerging technologies.

Image Source: EAN

Hosted by the European Brain Council (EBC), This EAN TV Studio session spotlighted the vision behind the forthcoming European Partnership for Brain Health, slated to launch in January 2026. Designed to address the significant burden of brain disorders across Europe, the Partnership aims to establish a coordinated framework for research and innovation in brain health.

Panelists Ulrike Bußhoff (Coordinator of the Coordination & Support Action BrainHealth), Catherine Marquer (Coordinator for Neurosciences at the French National Research Agency), and Frédéric Destrebecq (EBC Executive Director) delved into the Partnership’s ambitious goals and its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. This agenda outlines key priorities and action areas intended to reshape research investment and improve care delivery throughout Europe.

This EAN TV Studio session underscored the urgent need for national brain plans and an EU-wide strategy to address the growing burden of brain disorders. Mika Martikainen of the Finnish Brain Council presented Finland’s brain strategy, followed by EBC President, Suzanne Dickson, who outlined the European Brain Council’s ongoing efforts to advocate for coordinated action at the EU level.

“Brain health is one of the areas with the biggest potential for research, but also for investment” – MEP Sokol (EPP, CR).

MEP Tomislav Sokol went on to highlight the vital role of the European Parliament and existing policy tools in driving collective efforts, ensuring that brain health remains a key priority on the EU agenda.

A dedicated session titled “Rethinking Alzheimer’s Disease: From Diagnosis to Care” was held at the EAN Congress on 24 June 2025, led by Prof. Dr. Sebastiaan Engelborghs, a leading expert in dementia and cognitive disorders. This session presented the main outcomes of the second phase of the Rethinking Alzheimer’s Disease project, emphasising the urgent need to adapt healthcare systems and regulatory frameworks to accommodate new, potentially disease-modifying treatments now emerging for Alzheimer’s disease.

Building on the Perspective Paper launched in September 2024, the session challenged existing practices by identifying gaps and barriers in current care pathways and offering policy recommendations aimed at improving outcomes and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s, while reducing the broader societal impact

The EAN TV Studio session, “Collaboration Towards Health Promotion for the Brain,” offered valuable insights into current policy and research priorities in brain health, emphasizing the importance of coordinated, international collaboration within the neurology community. Notably, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) is partnering with the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) on a dedicated advocacy program, reflecting a unified commitment to advancing brain health through shared expertise and global engagement. This collaborative spirit is further supported by a robust calendar of upcoming conferences, including the AAN’s annual meeting in April 2026 in Chicago, the WFN’s World Congress of Neurology in October 2026 in Seoul, where the AAN/WFN advocacy initiative will culminate, and the next EAN Congress scheduled for Geneva.

These efforts underscore a growing momentum in brain health research, policy, and advocacy, highlighting the critical need for ongoing partnerships and sustained investment to improve outcomes for individuals living with neurological disorders worldwide.