THE 18th World Congress on Controversies in Neurology (CONy), took place this year on March 21st-23rd in the vibrant and historic city of London, UK. Known for having the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the oldest subway system in the world, London is a cosmopolitan epicentre. Aside from the double-decker buses and bustling streets, London is also an international hub for neurology, and is home to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, whose neuroscience research is ranked first in Europe, and second in the world.
The CONy congress saw over 800 participants and 150 faculty members in attendance, offering a unique platform for experts to share developments and contest topics in the field of neurology. The opening ceremony featured a warm welcome from its president, Amos Korczyn, Tel Aviv University, Israel, and co-chairs Anthony Schapira, University Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University College London (UCL) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UK, and Natan Bornstein, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University. All spoke on the importance of debate, emphasising the collaborative and learning opportunities it offers. Closing the ceremony, Richard Davenport, Association of British Neurologists, praised the organisers and faculty for their commitment and coordination of the event.
Each day of CONy spotlighted a different topic. The first had sessions reviewing neuroimmunology, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. Several hot topics were contested, such as the definition of COVID-19 as an autoimmune disease, or the use of precision medicine in Parkinson’s disease. An Horizon Industry symposium was additionally held, chaired by Jacqueline Palace, John Radcliffe University Hospital, Oxford, UK. Submitted posters were also showcased in the ePoster Guided Tour, detailing topics such as predictors and patterns of multiple sclerosis (MS), and treatment dilemmas of neuro-tuberculosis paradoxical response, amongst others.
The theme of the second day was strokes and headaches. Examples of debated questions from these sessions include: ‘Should patients with mild non-disabling stroke admitted within 4.5 hours be considered for thrombolysis?’; ‘Are anti-CGRP mABs effective in prevention of cluster headache?’; and, ‘Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) ready for inclusion in headache management?’.
Saturday 23rd March centred on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, and MS. Guest speakers contested several compelling questions, such as: ‘Should we routinely utilise therapeutic drug monitoring when prescribing drug therapy for people with epilepsy?’, and, ‘Should women who wish to become pregnant be prescribed supplemental folic acid?’
Through the medium of debate, CONy offers a valuable space for clinicians to better understand conflicting viewpoints on topics in neurology. Experts can offer world-class insights into novel research, ultimately improving patient care as a result. Read on for our key insights into the CONy Congress 2024, and stay tuned for next year’s meeting, taking place in March 20th-22nd 2025, in Prague, Czechia.
