In this episode of One Voice for Neurology, we explore how personalised and precision approaches in neurology can improve care for everyone by recognising individual differences in brain health, including gender, sleep, and hormonal factors.

Our guests — Dr Antonella Santuccione Chadha, medical doctor, neuroscientist, and founder of the Women’s Brain Foundation, and Dr Thomas Penzel, President of the World Sleep Society — discuss the latest research on gender differences in neurological conditions, the role of sleep and hormonal influences in prevention, and how holistic, individualised care can enhance outcomes for patients, clinicians, and health systems worldwide.

We also hear from Chéri Ballinger, a Women’s Brain Foundation ambassador and traumatic brain injury survivor, who shares a personal account of how a gender-informed, individualised approach transformed her care.

Topics covered include:

• How sex and gender impact neurological disease prevalence, symptoms, and treatment response
• The role of sleep and hormonal factors in supporting brain health and preventing disease
• Advances in technology and AI supporting personalised approaches to neurology
• The importance of investing in research, sharing data, and promoting female leadership to drive equitable, patient-centred neurological care
• Real-world implications of holistic and precision neurology for patients and healthcare systems

Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, patient, or advocate, this episode highlights how understanding differences in brain health can lead to better, more equitable care for everyone.

Stroke and other neurological conditions are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide—but solutions exist. In this episode of One Voice for Neurology, Sam Pauly explores the global neurology agenda just days before the 4th UN High Level Meeting on NCDs, with five years left to meet the SDG 3.4 target of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.

Hear from:

• Mia Grupper (Executive Director) and Prof. Jeyaraj Pandian (President) of the World Stroke Organization on the global burden of stroke, advocacy at the UN, and initiatives like the Global Stroke Action Coalition.
• Dr Lucy Sykes and colleagues from Ghana and The Gambia on real-world partnerships improving stroke care in resource-limited settings.
• Dr Matilde Leonardi on neurorehabilitation, its impact, and access challenges in global neurological care.

From high-level policy to practical solutions on the ground, this episode shows how collaboration, advocacy, and rehabilitation can make a tangible difference for people affected by neurological disorders.

Released on World Brain Day

In this episode of the One Voice for Neurology podcast, we explore the lasting and often invisible impact of neurological disorders on individuals, families, and carers.

We begin with a focus on encephalitis, featuring Dr Ava Easton from Encephalitis International. She discusses the causes, long-term effects, and the importance of the new WHO Technical Brief on encephalitis—developed in partnership with the organisation—and how that aligns with the goals of the WHO’s Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders, particularly around improving diagnosis, care pathways, and support systems.

We also hear from Subha, a young woman living with encephalitis, who shares a moving personal audio diary about her journey and the reality of adapting to a new normal.

Later in the episode, we turn to palliative care. Tracey, a carer for her husband Nick, reflects on their experience and how early palliative care helped them navigate uncertainty and improve the quality of life for them both.

To close, Professor Dr David Oliver from the OneNeurology Palliative Care Working Group explains how palliative care can be better integrated across neurological care—taking a holistic and multidisciplinary approach—and why it’s vital at all stages, not just at the end of life.

Together, these voices show the progress being made through better research, partnerships, and advocacy—and the ongoing need for greater awareness, education, and more person-centred support, all of which underline the profound and enduring impact of neurological disorders.