Italian Society of Neurology unveils brain health strategy at Florence congress

Specialists have gathered at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence for a major national conference running from October 24 to 27, where the Italian Society of Neurology (SIN) has unveiled a sweeping new strategy for brain health, prioritizing predictive care, artificial intelligence, and structural public health reforms. The gathering arrives as neurological conditions impose a mounting societal and economic toll, cementing their status as a leading global health challenge that demands immediate changes to both clinical practice and healthcare organization.

The four-day scientific conference features numerous oral and poster presentations alongside Continuing Medical Education refresher courses. Highlighting the urgency of the new strategy, SIN leaders pointed to stark domestic figures: over 7 million people in Italy suffer from migraines, approximately 12 million experience sleep disorders, and more than 2 million contend with cognitive decline or dementia. Globally, neurological diseases remain the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death, according to SIN.

Opening a dialogue between specialists and those affected, the congress hosted the inaugural General Assembly of Associations for People with Neurological Diseases (GAS). According to SIN President Mario Zappia, the initiative aims to unify fragmented patient groups so that lived experiences directly inform institutional healthcare choices and research priorities.

Central to the conference is a 10-point Joint Manifesto urging authorities to institute a National Plan for Brain Health. The document advocates for standardized care pathways, bridging the gap between hospitals and local communities, and ensuring equitable access to emerging innovations.

"The General States represent a significant achievement for the neurological community,"

Mario Zappia, President, Italian Society of Neurology, via La Milano

Zappia noted, emphasizing that the manifesto establishes a unified voice for future discussions with policymakers.

Prevention and early intervention form another pillar of the strategy. SIN secretary Cristina Tassorelli announced a nationwide public awareness campaign developed alongside the Italian Red Cross and the Aletheia Foundation. Set to launch across 100 Italian towns and cities between November and December 2026 before expanding local activities into 2027, the campaign targets modifiable risk factors to improve public quality of life and safeguard the sustainability of the National Health Service.

Diagnostic capabilities are shifting rapidly thanks to biological markers. Alessandro Padovani, past president of SIN, explained that blood-based tests such as p-tau217 for Alzheimer's disease are revolutionizing early detection, while research in Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) benefits from proteomics and metabolomics. When combined with artificial intelligence, these tools aim to identify biological alterations before symptoms appear.

Therapeutic approaches are undergoing an equally profound transformation. Nicola De Stefano, president-elect of SIN, pointed to RNA-based therapies, gene editing, and cellular immunotherapies like CAR-T as mechanisms that target underlying biology rather than merely managing symptoms.

The conference also addressed diagnostic oversights in conditions like normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Often mistaken for normal aging or other neurodegenerative disorders, NPH is potentially reversible through neurosurgery. A multicenter Italian study involving over 200 patients is currently underway at the University of Catania, sponsored by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS), to refine diagnostic accuracy.

To support a predictive approach, SIN advisor Leonardo Lopiano emphasized studying the exposome—the interaction between individual biology and environmental factors such as air pollution, stress, and lifestyle across the lifespan.

Adapting to technological shifts requires organizational reform. Claudio Gasperini, SIN vice-president and director of the Complex Operational Unit of Neurology and Neurophysiopathology at the San Camillo-Forlanini hospital in Rome, detailed ongoing institutional collaborations during an interview at the congress.

"In neurology, innovation requires change in clinical practice and organization,"

Claudio Gasperini, Vice-President, Italian Society of Neurology, via Jiji Press

Gasperini stated, outlining efforts with Agenas to implement national telemedicine platforms for tele-visits and remote monitoring. Through the expanded Digital NeuroHub training project backed by Biogen, digital certification is projected to reach 232 neurologists by the end of December 2026, up from approximately 80 younger specialists initially trained.

Gasperini also noted that Italy lags behind European standards in interventional neurology and neurorehabilitation, expressing confidence that properly trained specialists can help close the gap toward a target of 15%.

Initiative / Metric	Scope / Figure	Timeline
SIN Congress Participation	Plenary sessions, workshops, and presentations	October 24–27, 2026
National Brain Health Campaign	100 Italian towns and cities	November–December 2026 (expanding 2027)
Digital NeuroHub Certifications	232 neurologists certified	Concluding December 2026

What to Watch Next

• Regional meetings and digital training phases concluding in December 2026 to finalize the latest cohort of certified digital neurologists.
• The rollout of the national brain health campaign across 100 Italian municipalities starting in November 2026.
• Formal institutional discussions between the Italian Society of Neurology and policymakers regarding the implementation of the 10-point Brain Health Manifesto.