In the UK, around 7 million people are living with cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is responsible for one in four deaths. People with CVD are up to five times more likely to have a stroke, are six times more likely to die compared to those without, and up to half of them suffer a second heart attack. There are currently no methods to predict the risk in this group of patients, so there is an urgent need for such tools to help assess the risk of future cardiovascular events and deaths in patients who already have CVD.

Dr. Huma Haider, founder and CEO of the National Brain Injury Institute, has launched a national campaign to have a Concussion Protocol Act passed for the everyday American. She said: “Traumatic brain injury [TBI] affects the lives of over 3 million patients and their families annually in the United States. “We are excited because for the last two years we have been pioneering the use of FDA Cleared imaging in the diagnosis of Mild TBI.” This is significant because most of the TBI patients in America have mild, rather than moderate or severe, TBI.

The Head First conference – this year entitled ‘WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?  Supporting effective brain injury rehabilitation in the community – has been moved from spring to Thursday 26th November 2020. Organiser ABI Solutions said in a statement: “We felt that this was the right thing to do given the current situation and looking at how things have developed in other countries. “It is a fast moving situation and we are conscious that people are concerned about travelling and attending events. “In the near future it is likely that there will be travel restrictions and containment procedures in place so by being proactive and postponing the event now it gives attendees a bit more time to rearrange and hopefully limits any anxiety and stress our colleagues may be feeling.

Organisers of the European Neuro Convention, due to take place on 17^th and 18^th March at the NEC Birmingham, have put the event on hold. A new date will be announced on 16 March, with organisers reportedly considering July as the most suitable month. The independent living show Naidex, which runs at the same time as the Neuro Expo, also at the NEC, has also been postponed. Organisers said in a statement: “Like many large event organisers, the health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors and staff is always our number one priority. This is particularly pertinent in the care and health sector communities that Naidex brings together.

It warns that failing to provide these services can have devastating consequences for people’s lives, and bring greater costs for the NHS and social care systems. Community rehabilitation provides vital support for patients outside hospital to allow them to continue their recovery from emergencies such as stroke and heart failure, or to enable them to manage conditions such as lung disease and arthritis. But a new report – published by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and Sue Ryde – warns of “patchy provision” or people with MS, stroke and other conditions. Community rehabilitation provides vital support for patients outside hospital to allow them to continue their recovery from emergencies such as stroke and heart failure, or to enable them to manage conditions such as lung disease and arthritis. But a new report – published by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the Royal College of Occupational Therapists and Sue Ryde – warns of “patchy provision” or people with MS, stroke and other conditions.

Targeting overactive immune cells and dampening their chronic neurotoxic effects may offer new therapeutic strategies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), according to new preclinical research in mice. The research involves scientists a the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, and Trinity College Dublin. It suggests the impact of TBI on brain degeneration may be modifiable a relatively long time after the injury was sustained – something at odds with current thinking. Triggered by trauma, microglia – the brain’s immune cells – morph into an inflammatory state, which helps to protect the brain.