The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) hosted its 2025 Annual Meeting from April 5–9 in San Diego, California. This prestigious event brought together neurologists and neuroscience professionals from around the world, offering exceptional opportunities for continuing education, professional networking, and collaboration. With over 190 education sessions, many of which provided Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, the meeting allowed attendees to stay at the forefront of the latest advancements in neurology.
In this Conference Recap, we delved into several research posters presented at AAN 2025 that focused on advancing stroke care. These posters highlighted some of the most innovative developments in the field of neurology, showcasing the role of scientific discovery and technological progress in shaping the future of stroke management. We explored the key findings and examined how these studies are enhancing our understanding of stroke pathophysiology and treatment strategies.
- Description & Objective:
This study aimed to develop and assess machine learning models that could differentiate between posterior-circulation stroke and vestibular neuritis using only the video head impulse test (VHIT). VHIT is a rapid bedside test, and the goal was to enable frontline clinicians, even without neuro-otology expertise, to make accurate distinctions between these two conditions. - Results & Conclusions:
The machine learning model demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing vestibular neuritis, achieving 87.8% accuracy, which was not significantly different from expert clinicians (85.7%). Furthermore, the model outperformed the traditional VHIT gain cut-off value (75.5% accuracy), suggesting that machine learning models can assist in stroke diagnosis with expert-level accuracy in emergency settings.
- Description & Objective:
The study aimed to investigate microstructural changes in stroke lesions using Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) and explore how these changes correlate with cognitive outcomes in stroke patients. - Results & Conclusions:
The study found reduced neurite density and orientation dispersion in grey and white matter lesions. These changes were linked to poorer cognitive outcomes, particularly in language, attention, and working memory. The findings suggest that microstructural integrity, especially in white matter, plays a significant role in post-stroke cognitive function.
- Description & Objective:
The objective was to explore whether brain health, as quantified by effective reserve (eR), mediates the relationship between acute infarct volume and long-term functional outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). - Results & Conclusions:
The study showed that brain health metrics (eR) mitigated the effect of infarct volume on functional outcomes, particularly in terms of modified Rankin Scale scores. This suggests that brain health may be an important factor in predicting recovery after AIS and should be considered in clinical outcome models.
- Description & Objective:
This study aimed to analyze trends in stroke-related mortality among obese individuals in the United States, focusing on disparities based on race and gender over the two decades from 1999 to 2020. - Results & Conclusions:
The results revealed that stroke-related mortality rates in obese individuals increased over time, with significant disparities seen by race and gender. Notably, non-Hispanic Black individuals had the highest mortality rates, while rural regions exhibited higher stroke-related deaths compared to urban areas. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in high-risk populations.
- Description & Objective:
This study examined trends in stroke and dementia-related mortality among older adults in the U.S. from 1999 to 2022, with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. - Results & Conclusions:
The study found a significant increase in stroke and dementia-related mortality from 2015 to 2022, with a particularly sharp rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mortality rates were higher in women and African Americans. These insights are crucial for understanding how the pandemic affected these populations and could help inform future healthcare planning.
Identifying Trends to Reduce Stroke Readmissions
- Description & Objective:
The objective was to identify factors contributing to 30-day readmission rates following stroke and explore potential solutions to reduce these rates. - Results & Conclusions:
The study found that infections were the most common cause of stroke readmissions, with a small number of readmissions related to new strokes. The findings emphasized the need for improved reporting and standardization of stroke readmission data to better address the underlying causes and reduce unnecessary readmissions.
- Description & Objective:
This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of rescue intracranial stenting after failed mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. - Results & Conclusions:
The study found that rescue stenting significantly improved functional independence, reduced mortality, and decreased the incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage compared to standard medical management. These results strongly support the inclusion of rescue stenting as a treatment option in AIS patients with failed MT.
- Description & Objective:
This study developed and evaluated machine learning models designed to differentiate between vestibular neuritis and posterior circulation stroke using a combination of clinical history, examination, and vestibular function tests.
- Results & Conclusions:
- The machine learning models demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing between the two conditions, with models achieving up to 96.6% accuracy. These results indicate that machine learning can serve as a valuable diagnostic tool in emergency settings, assisting clinicians with acute vestibular syndrome diagnoses.
The #AAN2025 is set to be an enriching and informative event. We recommend clicking here to explore the comprehensive list of topics and sessions that will be covered at this significant event. Don’t miss the opportunity to expand your expertise.
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