In recognition of Stroke Awareness Month, this Director’s Message reflects on the critical progress and ongoing challenges in stroke care, from revolutionary acute treatments to prevention and recovery. Highlighting the importance of timely access to life-saving therapies, controlling hypertension, and investing in neurorecovery research, the message calls for nationwide awareness and equity in stroke care.
Director's Messages
Parkinson’s disease ranks as the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease, affecting the lives of between 500,000 and 1 million people in the United States (U.S.). It continues to be a rising cause of illness and death in the U.S., and addressing this burden remains a high priority at NINDS. This month serves as a vital reminder of our commitment to the millions of people affected by Parkinson’s disease.
This year, as we mark our 75th anniversary, we reflect on the extraordinary advances we have achieved together and look ahead to the future of neuroscience—one defined by innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to improving lives.
As another year has come to a close, I am again pleased to share with you a few of the exciting accomplishments of NINDS-funded scientists in 2024. In 2025, we look forward to reflecting on 75 years of NINDS research progress and engaging all corners of our community in imagining how we will overcome major challenges in understanding the nervous system and improving neurological health.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asked the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to take the lead in implementing the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act, with support from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. As a first step, NIH is soliciting nominations for individuals to serve on an Advisory Council for Parkinson’s Research, Care, and Services.
As November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, I want to bring awareness to some of the promising NIH research and discoveries that may help people living with Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRD) and their families, and to share an opportunity with you to provide us with your input on the most important needs and promising opportunities for ADRD research.
In honor of National Epilepsy Awareness Month, we would like to highlight the state of epilepsy research and the role of NINDS in supporting research to better understand, diagnose, treat, and ultimately prevent epilepsy.
On September 4-5, 2024, the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NANDS) Council met in Bethesda, MD. The NANDS advises NINDS on policy and procedures affecting NINDS research programs, provides a second level of review for all grant and cooperative agreement applications considered by the Institute for funding, and serves as an important source of external input on a range of other topics important for the Institute.
Researchers have mapped the first complete wiring diagram of neural connections in the brain, known as a connectome map, of the common fruit fly. The study details over 50 million connections between more than 130,000 neurons and is supported by the NIH Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative, or The BRAIN Initiative®.
September is Pain Awareness Month and affords us an opportunity to recognize the burden of suffering and disability that people experience due to chronic pain. Our commitment to listening to and incorporating the perspectives of people with lived experience communities as well as scientists and clinicians strengthens our ability to support meaningful research that can improve quality of life for the millions of people living with pain.