Scientific Program

Program current as of March 2015

THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015
	The CONy sessions scheduled for Thursday March 26, will take place at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, located at Széchenyi István tér 9 approximately 10 minutes walking distance from the InterContinental Hotel
08:00-09:00	Continental breakfast at the Academy
09:00-10:30	CONy OPENING SESSION AND PLENARY LECTURES Chairs: Amos D. Korczyn, Israel & László Vécsei, Hungary
09:00-09:30	Welcome remarks and invitation to 2016 in Lisbon László Vécsei, Hungary, Amos D. Korczyn, Israel & Victor Oliveira, Portugal
09:30-10:00	Kynurenine system, the neglected player in neurological disorders László Vécsei, Hungary
10:00-10:30	Is the peer review process obsolete? Sabina Alam, UK
10:30-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:15	PLENARY LECTURES Chairs: Stavros Baloyannis, Greece; Kálmán Magyar, Hungary
10:45-11:15	Antibodies and CGRP will change the face of migraine treatment Marcelo Bigal, USA
11:15-11:45	Brain stimulation for disease treatment and course modification Michael Sperling, USA
11:45-12:15	Medically unexplained symptoms Amos D. Korczyn, Israel
12:15-12:30	Break
12:30-13:30	Industry-Sponsored Plenary Symposium Perception versus reality: Are we starting advanced therapies in the right patient at the right time?
13:30-14:15	Lunch Break
14:15-16:15	PLENARY LECTURES Chairs: Gabor Fazekas, Hungary; Soichi Katayama, Japan
14:15-14:45	Epigenetics in neurodegenerative diseases Tiago Fleming Outeiro, Germany
14:45-15:15	Undersatnding white matter lesions: Point-to-point correlations between in situ post-mortem MRI and histology Edson Amaro, Brazil
15:15-15:45	Does the concept of concomitant neurodegenerative disease have any influence on clinical practice and therapy? Lea Grinberg, USA/Brazil
15:45-16:15	The coagulation pathway in brain diseases Joab Chapman, Israel
16:15-16:30	Coffee Break
16:30-18:30	PLENARY LECTURES Chairs: Leontino Battistin, Italy; Délia Szok, Hungary
16:30-17:00	Ethical and legal implications of neuro-enhancement Judit Sándor, Hungary
17:00-17:30	Empedocles and neurosciences Stavros Baloyannis, Greece
17:30-18:00	Meditation and mindfulness as cognitive enhancers Yoram Barak, Israel
18:00-18:30	Creating wellness as an evolutionary paradigm for medicine Ewa Stelmasiak, Poland
18:30	Welcome Reception Presentation of the CONy "Excellence in Neurology" Awards

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 HALL A – Multiple Sclerosis Section Heads: Sámuel Komoly, Hungary & Sven Schippling, Switzerland
07:30-08:30	E-poster presentations, in the Exhibition Area Dementia, Epilepsy, Headache
08:30-10:30	Session 1: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) Chairs: Sámuel Komoly, Hungary; Rana Shiraliyeva, Azerbaijan
08:30-09:30	Debate: In MS a disease or a syndrome?
	Capsule: MS is heterogeneous in terms of its clinical features, as well as in pathology. Does this heterogeneity indicate that actually MS is a syndrome, or are there shared critical pathological mechanisms to justify calling it a disease?
08:30-08:40	Debate host: Gabor Kovacs, Austria
08:40-08:55	Yes: Claudia Lucchinetti, USA
08:55-09:10	No: Hans Lassmann, Austria
09:10-09:30	Discussion and rebuttals
09:30-10:30	Debate: Is the measurement of brain atrophy the most suitable surrogate marker of MS progression?
	Capsule: Traditionally, MS progression is measured by clinical scales, like the EDSS. However, this scale suffers from inaccuracies due to remissions and other reasons. It is important to have an objective measure of the disease state. Brain atrophy, measured by MRI, has been suggested as one such tool
09:30-09:40	Debate host: Mark Freedman, Canada
09:40-09:55	Yes: Olaf Stüve, USA
09:55-10:10	No: Uroš Rot, Slovenia
10:10-10:30	Discussion and rebuttals
10:30-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:45	Session 2: ACUTE DEMYELINATING ENCEPHALOMYLITUS (ADEM) AND NEUROMYELITUS OPTICA (NMO) Chairs: Tibor Hortobágyi, Hungary; Jera Kruja, Albania
10:45-11:45	Debate: ADEM is a condition that can be clinically and pathologically differentiated from MS and NMO
	Capsule: In some cases, ADEM may be the first manifestation of a chronic disease, either MS or NMO, whereas in others this will remain a single episode. It is important to differentiate these two, but is this possible?
10:45-10:55	Debate host: Patrick Vermersch, France
10:55-11:10	Yes: Brian Weinshenker, USA
11:10-11:25	No: Zsolt Illes, Denmark
11:25-11:45	Discussion and rebuttals
11:45-12:45	Debate: NMO and MS: Same or different pathologies?
	Capsule: MS is considered to be a cell-mediated autoimmune disease whereas NMO is antibody mediated, and thus MS and NMO are considered separate entities clinically and in their pathogenesis. Does the pathology justify this separation?
11:45-11:55	Debate host: Gabor Kovacs, Austria
11:55-12:10	Pathological similarities: Hans Lassmann, Austria
12:10-12:25	Pathological differences: Claudia Lucchinetti, USA
12:25-12:45	Discussion and rebuttals
12:45-13:45	Lunch Break
12:45-13:45	Industry-Supported Meet the Expert - Lunch session Pre-registration to this session is required Click here for the full meet the expert
13:45-14:45	Industry-Sponsored Plenary Symposium Can we offer more to MS patients?
15:00-17:00	Session 3: NEW PLAYERS IN MS Chairs: Ayse Altintas, Turkey; Jacek Losy, Poland
15:00-16:00	Debate: Immunomodulators for MS: Generics vs. Ethical drugs
	Capsule:With the expiry of the patents on several MS drugs, pharmacological companies enter the field with their own generic versions, which are usually cheaper. Should we prefer the new entities or remain loyal to the original ethical drugs?
15:00-15:10	Debate host: Krzysztof Selmaj, Poland
15:10-15:25	Generics: Dimitrios Karussis, Israel
15:25-15:40	Ethical drugs: Ron Milo, Israel
15:40-16:00	Discussion and rebuttals
16:00-16:30	NEW PLAYERS
16:00-16:15	Aubagio: Celia Oreja-Guevara, Spain
16:15-16:30	Lemtrada: Ron Milo, Israel
16:30-17:00	Coffee Break
17:00-19:00	Session 4: MS THERAPY: NOW AND IN THE FUTURE Chairs: Nikolas Grigoriadis, Greece; Zbigniew Stelmasiak, Poland
17:00-18:00	Debate: Discontinuation of disease-modifying therapies in patients with long-term stable disease is safe and appropriate
	Capsule: In some cases MS seems to become inactive, either under drug therapy or spontaneously, although there are still no reliable biomarkers which can differentiate between inactive and active diseases. In cases where treatment seems to suppress the disease activity completely, is it even justified to stop therapy?
17:00-17:10	Debate host: Mark Freedman, Canada
17:10-17:25	Yes: Cris Constantinescu, UK
17:25-18:40	No: Brian Weinshenker, USA
18:40-18:00	Discussion and rebuttals
18:00-19:00	Debate: The new drugs should not be used as first line agents
	Capsule: Newer disease-modifying drugs seem to be more effective than the first generation agents like the interferons, yet they are more expensive. Several adverse events, many of them severe, continue to be reported. Also withdrawal effects have been reported. Should they ever be used as first-line drugs?
18:00-18:10	Debate host: Heinz Wiendl, Germany
18:10-18:25	Yes: Joab Chapman, Israel
18:25-18:40	No: Olaf Stüve, USA
18:40-19:00	Discussion and rebuttals

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 HALL B – Headache Section Heads: Alan Rapoport, USA & Janos Tajti, Hungary
07:30-08:30	E-poster presentations, in the Exhibition Area Dementia, Epilepsy, Headache
08:30-10:30	Session 5: MOLECULES IN HEADACHE AND SLEEP Chairs: Judit Afra, Hungary; Magda Wysocka-Bakowska, Poland
08:30-09:30	Debate: Antibodies to CGRP or its receptor may become the treatment of choice for chronic migraine
	Capsule: CGRP plays a crucial role in migraine pathophysiology. CGRP receptor antagonists are efficacious but have not done well in clinical development. Monoclonal antibodies against CGRP or its receptor are promising new molecules for preventive treatment in migraine
08:30-08:40	Debate host: Robert Cowan, USA
08:40-08:55	Yes: Marcelo Bigal, USA
08:55-09:10	No: Dimos Mitsikostas, Greece
09:10-09:30	Discussion and rebuttals
09:30-10:30	Debate: Good sleep is important for optimal migraine care
	Capsule: The relationship of sleep and migranous headache is complex. Many patients prefer to sleep off a migraine attack. Attacks may occur when patients do not sleep enough or oversleep. Is good sleep critical for a migraineur?
09:30-09:40	Debate host: Hayrunnisa Bolay, Turkey
09:40-09:55	Yes: Hans Hamburger, The Netherlands
09:55-10:10	No: Dimos Mitsikostas, Greece
10:10-10:30	Discussion and rebuttals
10:30-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:45	Session 6: HEADACHE TRIALS AND TREATMENT APPROACHES Chairs: Reinhard Horowski, Germany; Árpád Párdutz, Hungary
10:45-11:05	Lecture: The new face of personalized medicine in migraine therapy
	Capsule: Personalized medicine (patient and doctor are in the same room) is becoming outdated and replaced by e-techniques and information technology with remote access. Will these helpful, time-saving advances make classical personalized medicine redundant?
	Robert Cowan, USA
11:05-11:55	Debate: Innovative headache delivery systems will be better than what we currently have
	Capsule: For many years, several new drugs and devices for migraine treatment have been investigated in clinical trials; however, no new drug, and just a few innovative delivery systems are or will soon be available (diclofenac potassium powder for oral solution, sumatriptan powder nasal delivery and sumatriptan iontophoretic patch). Are these innovative delivery systems an improvement over existing treatments?
11:05-11:15	Debate host: Hans Hamburger, The Netherlands
11:15-11:30	Yes: Jose Miguel Lainez, Spain
11:30-11:45	No: Elliott Gross, USA
11:45-11:55	Discussion and rebuttals
11:55-12:45	Debate: Electrical stimulation is an important advance in the treatment of headache disorders
	Capsule: Stimulation procedures have been developed recently to treat refractory migraine and cluster headache. The clinical value of these procedures is still being investigated
11:55-12:05	Debate host: Jean Schoenen, Belgium
12:05-12:20	Yes: Jose Miguel Lainez, Spain
12:20-12:35	No: Hayrunnisa Bolay, Turkey
12:35-12:45	Discussion and rebuttals
12:45-13:45	Lunch Break
12:45-13:45	Industry-Sponsored Meet the Expert - Lunch session Pre-registration to this session is required Click here for the full meet the expert
13:45-14:45	Industry-Sponsored Satellite Symposium Can we offer more to MS patients? Hall A
15:00-17:00	Session 7: TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEADACHE Chairs: Csaba Ertsey, Hungary; Krystyna Mitosek-Szewczyk, Poland
	Dezső Miskolczy Memorial Lecture, 2015
15:00-15:30	Lecture: Migraine: Pathophysiology-based treatment approaches Introduction: László Vécsei, Hungary Presenter: Jean Schoenen, Belgium
15:30-16:20	Debate: Behavioral therapy and medication are both necessary for the complete treatment of migraine
	Capsule: Medication and various psychological therapies are both used prsently in chronic headache disorders. Should they be combined for best results?
15:30-15:40	Debate host: Lars Edvinsson, Sweden
15:40-15:55	Yes: Frank Andrasik, USA
15:55-16:10	No: Robert Cowan, USA
16:10-16:20	Discussion and rebuttals
16:20-17:00	Debate: The use of placebo is essential in headache trials
	Capsule: It is questioned from an ethical point of view whether placebo control should be included in headache trials when efficacious treatments are available. Is the use of placebo very important?
16:20-16:25	Debate host: Alan Rapoport, USA
16:25-16:40	Yes: Marcelo Bigal, USA
16:40-16:55	No: Frank Andrasik, USA
16:55-17:00	Discussion and rebuttals
17:00-17:15	Coffee Break
17:15-18:10	Session 8: CORTICAL SPREADING DEPRESSION Chair: Daniel Oved, Israel; Délia Szok, Hungary
17:15-18:10	Debate: Cortical spreading depression is an essential component of migraine and always occurs at some point during the migraine attack
	Capsule: Cortical spreading depression is prevalent in migraine but how it affects the migraine process is still poorly understood. Is it essential to the migraine process?
17:15-17:25	Debate host: Dimos Mitsikostas, Greece
17:25-17:40	Yes: Hayrunnisa Bolay, Turkey
17:40-17:55	No: Lars Edvinsson, Sweden
17:55-18:10	Discussion and rebuttals

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 HALL C – Dementia Section Heads: Yoram Barak, Israel & Katalin Sas, Hungary
07:30-08:30	E-poster presentations, in the Exhibition Area Dementia, Epilepsy, Headache
08:30-10:30	Session 9: PRE-CLINICAL PREVENTION DEMENTIA TRIALS: WHICH IS THE WAY TO GO? Chairs: Jesse Cedarbaum, USA: Milica Kramberger, Slovenia
08:30-09:30	Debate: Are we ready for prevention trials in non-symptomatic individuals?
	Capsule: The choice of the optimal timing for intervention for disease arrest and/or course modification in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other late onset dementias has been extensively debated in recent years, fuelled by a number of trial failures in patients with established diagnosis and the emerging evidence from neuropathological and imaging studies of significant lesion load even in the early symptomatic stages of the disease. The current trend is to intervene as early as possible; but do we have sufficient tools to do so in pre-symptomatic individuals?
08:30-08:40	Debate host: Leffkos Middleton, UK
08:40-08:55	The time is ripe: Johannes Streffer, Belgium
08:55-09:10	Not yet, need more information and tools: Panos Alexopoulos, Germany
09:10-09:30	Discussion and rebuttals
09:30-10:30	Debate: Is there a value for non-drug interventions for dementia prevention?
	Capsule: Although non-drug interventional studies to-date have been inconclusive, epidemiological studies in prospective cohorts have suggested a decline in the incidence and prevalence of late onset dementias. These findings have reinvigorated interest in well-designed non interventional prevention studies. On the other hand, risk prediction is limited by the paucity of robust biomarker-based evidence and of validated risk biomarkers
09:30-0940	Debate host: Leffkos Middleton, UK
09:40-09:55	Yes, this is the way to go now: Francesca Mangialasche, Sweden
09:55-10:10	Not yet, need to invest on tools - imaging and fluid biomarkers: Robert Perneczky, UK
10:10-10:30	Discussion and rebuttals
10:30-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:45	Session 10: MECHANISMS AND TREATMENT Chairs: Horacio Firmino, Portugal; Jerzy Leszek, Poland
10:45-11:45	Debate: Does transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have a place in the treatment of patients with AD?
	Capsule: Impaired plasticity is increasingly explored as the basis of neurodegenerative diseases. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may be able to induce and modulate neuroplasticity in humans. There are still major limitations to rTMS use, such as poor understanding of its after-effects and inter-individual variability, discrepancies in stimulation protocols and study designs, varied selection of the specific stimulated areas and control procedures. The results of rTMS research can only be considered preliminary at this time. Nevertheless, is it justified to initiate treatment in suitable patients?
10:45-10:55	Debate host: Yoram Barak, Israel
10:55-11:10	Yes: Babak Tousi, USA
11:10-11:25	No: Robert Bullock, UK
11:25-11:45	Discussion and rebuttals
11:45-12:45	Debate: Digital patient support: The new age of patient-physician interactions
	Capsule: The increasing complexity and subspecialization of medicine make the patient feel lost in the anonymity and complexity of modern medical service delivery. This leads to a misunderstanding of the increasing risks and impact of modern treatments, and restricts personal communication through knowledge-oriented approach, shortage of time, and insufficient communication skills, leading to dissatisfaction. It is our future task as physicians to change the framework of communication in medical practice, and to improve the therapeutic contract and humane contact with our patients
11:45-11:55	Debate host: Venkat Thiruvallur, USA
11:55-12:10	Pro: John Mulcahy, Switzerland
12:10-12:25	Con: Yoram Barak, Israel
12:25-12:45	Discussion and rebuttals
12:45-13:45	Lunch Break
12:45-13:45	Industry-Sponsored Meet the Expert - Lunch session Pre-registration to this session is required Click here for the full meet the expert
13:45-14:45	Industry-Sponsored Satellite Symposium Can we offer more to MS patients? Hall A
15:00-17:00	Session 11: DEMENTIA RESEARCH Chairs: Eniko Kovari, Switzerland; Martine Simard, Canada
15:00-17:00	Debate: Is dementia research ready for big data approaches?
	Capsule: The BIG DATA paradigm has gained a lot of attention in a broad spectrum of application areas. The final communique of the G8 summit in December 2013 calls explicitly for a big data approach in dementia research and we see more and more usage of this "buzz word" in the discussion about future strategies in research on neurodegenerative diseases. A first manifestation of "Big Data in Dementia Research" came with the DREAM challenge (see http://www.the-dream-project.org/news/big-data-challenge-alzheimer's-disease-launches) on AD; which has seen global participation in that competition by groups applying Big Data principles to ADNI data. However, we may still have too little data in the area of neurodegeneration and dementia, to apply big data principles to dementia research. The controversy therefore tries to shed light on the question whether "dementia research is ready for big data approaches" or not
15:00-15:10	Debate host: Martin Hofmann-Apitius, Germany
15:10-15:25	Yes: Keith Elliston, USA
15:25-15:40	No: Ullrich Wuellner, Germany
15:40-16:00	Discussion and rebuttals
16:00-17:00	Debate: Are the tauopathies a spectrum or distinct diseases?
	Capsule: Tau is deposited in the brain in several degenerative brain diseases, including AD, PSP, CBGD, FTD and other phenotypes. In GWAS, one of the strong signals appearing when studying Parkinsonian cohorts is MAPT, a tau related gene. Does that mean that tau is causally related to all of these diseases in the same way, and that actually tauopathies are a spectrum of diseases?
16:00-16:10	Debate host: Kurt Jellinger, Austria
16:10-16:25	A spectrum: Lea Grinberg, USA/Brazil
16:25-16:40	Distinct diseases: Gabor Kovacs, Austria
16:40-17:00	Discussion and rebuttals
17:00-17:15	Coffee Break
17:15-18:15	Session 12: NEUROPATHOLOGY AND PATHOGENSIS OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES Chairs: Tibor Kovacs, Hungary; Katalin Sas, Hungary
17:15-18:15	Debate: Does inflammation contribute to the development of post-stroke dementia?
	Capsule: The brains of patients dying with dementia demonstrate inflammatory signs such as activated microglia and astrocytes. In addition, amyloid plaques contain pro-inflammatory molecules. Is the inflammation a compensatory response, partner in crime, or an innocent bystander?
17:15-17:25	Debate host: Herbert Budka, Austria
17:25-17:40	Partner in crime: Dieter Heiss, Germany
17:40-17:55	No: Bernhard Baune, Australia
17:55-18:15	Panel discussion and Q&A

FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015 Hall D – Neuro-ophthalmology Neuro-ophthalmology Section Head: Judit Somlai, Hungary
07:30-08:30	E-poster presentations, in the Exhibition Area Dementia, Epilepsy, Headache
08:30-10:00	Session 13: NON-ARTERITIC ANTERIOR ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY (NA-AION) Chairs: Dániel Bereczki, Hungary; Judit Somlai, Hungary
08:30-09:15	Debate: Is the etiopathomechanism of NA-AION the same as that of small vessel disease (SVD) of the brain?
	Capsule:The term "ocular stroke" as NA-AION implies that NA-AION is part of a systemic vascular disease. Etiology-specific treatment may prevent not only the loss of vision in the other eye, but systemic thromboembolisation as well
08:30-08:45	Debate host: Robert Gabor Kiss, Hungary
08:45-09:00	NA-AION is part of a systemic disease: Judit Somlai, Hungary
09:00-09:15	NA-AION is a stand-alone entity: Gordon Plant, UK
09:15-10:00	Debate: NA-AION: Anti-VEGF or systemic therapy?
	Capsule: Several approaches have been tried in an attempt to restore vision for NA-AION pateints but so far none have been successful. Does anti-VEGF as a local therapy have better efficacy?
09:15-09:30	Debate host: Gyӧrgy Blaskó, Hungary
09:30-09:45	Anti-VEGF treatment: Gordon Plant, UK
09:45-10:00	Systemic therapies: Judit Somlai, Hungary
10:00-10:30	Coffee Break
10:30-12:00	Session 14: IDIOPATHIC INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION (IIH) Chairs: Tamas Dóczi, Hungary; Judit Somlai, Hungary
10:30-11:15	Debate: Is there any correlation between IIH and intracerebral venous circulatory disorders?
	Capsule:Uni- or bilateral papilledema with moderate visual impairment (so called "big blind spot syndrome") may be an indicator of IIH. In the background of IIH, intracranial venous anomalies have been discovered. Should IIH be treated by drug and/or by endovascular approaches to restore venous flow?
10:30-10:45	Debate host: Péter Barsi, Hungary
10:45-11:00	Yes: Judit Somlai, Hungary
11:00-11:15	No: Gyula Pánczél, Hungary
11:15-12:00	Debate: Which is the first-line therapy in cases of IIH with bilateral papilledema?
	Capsule: In the background of IIH, intracranial venous flow disorders, hematological syndromes and a combination of them may be discovered. Those can be treated by drugs or by endovascular surgery. What is the first-line therapy: Anti-coagulants or endovascular intervention?
11:15-11:30	Anti-coagulant therapy, yes: Gyӧrgy Pfliegler, Hungary
11:30-11:45	Anti-coagulant therapy, no: Pedro Fonseca, Portugal
11:45-12:00	Endovascular treatment: Stephanie Lenck, France
12:00-12:45	E-poster presentations Neuro-ophthalmology, Biomarkers
12:45-13:45	Lunch Break
12:45-13:45	Industry-Sponsored Meet the Expert - Lunch session Pre-registration to this session is required Click here for the full meet the expert
13:45-14:45	Industry-Sponsored Satellite Symposium Can we offer more to MS patients? Hall A
15:00-17:00	E-poster presentations Multiple Sclerosis, Rehabilitation
17:00-17:15	Coffee Break
17:15-19:00	E-poster presentations Stroke

SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015 HALL A – Parkinson's disease & Movement disorders (PD/MD) Section Heads: Péter Klivényi, Hungary & Heinz Reichmann, Germany
07:30-08:30	E-poster presentations, in the Exhibition Area Parkinson's disesae & Movement disorders, Neuropathology, Neuro-immunology
08:30-10:30	Session 15: FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE (PD) RESEARCH Chairs: György Dibó, Hungary; Zvezdan Pirtošek, Slovenia
08:30-08:50	Lecture: Disease course modification in PD Amos Korczyn, Israel
08:50-09:40	Debate: PD starts in the gut
	Capsule: Lewy bodies can be demonstrated in a predefined order in the nervous system, starting from the gut. The progression of the disease also follows certain routes. Does this mean that PD is an infectious disease?
08:50-09:00	Debate host: Ubaldo Bonuccelli, Italy
09:00-09:15	Yes: Heinz Reichmann, Germany
09:15-09:30	No: Jens Volkmann, Germany
09:30-09:40	Discussion and rebuttals
09:40-10:30	Debate: Prion-like spreading is a relevant theory for neurodegenerative diseases
	Capsule: Several neurodegenerative diseases progress in a distinct anatomical pattern with identified starting points and spread. It has recently been suggested that this is caused by a spread of the pathology in a prion-like mechanism. If correct, this theory is important for the development of disease modifying therapies. Has the prion hypothesis been proven for PD?
09:40-09:50	Debate host: Kurt Jellinger, Austria
09:50-09:05	Definitely correct: Herbert Budka, Austria
09:05-10:20	Still unproven:: Amos D. Korczyn, Israel
10:20-10:30	Discussion and rebuttals
10:30-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:45	Session 16: TREATMENT DILEMMAS IN EARLY PD Chairs: Peter Riederer, Germany; Annamária Takáts, Hungary
10:45-11:45	Debate: Is the effect of MAO-B inhibitors clinically relevant? Is safinamide better than selegiline and rasagiline?
	Capsule: MAO-B inhibitors are frequently used in early PD. We still do not know whether they affect disease progression and their use in advanced stages of PD is also questioned. Are the new players any better?
10:45-10:55	Debate host: László Vécsei, Hungary
10:55-11:10	Yes: Heinz Reichmann, Germany
11:10-11:25	No: Maja Relja, Croatia
11:25-11:45	Discussion and rebuttals
11:45-12:45	Debate: Is levodopa the optimal treatment in PD?
	Capsule: The risk of motor complications, in contrast with the excellent motor control, is a constant dilemma when using levodopa: What is the evidence and what are the recommendations regarding the treatment strategy?
11:45-11:55	Debate host: Péter Klivényi, Hungary
11:55-12:10	Levodopa is the gold standard: Irena Rektorova, Czech Republic
12:10-12:25	Levodopa is the gold standard but treatment should start with a dopamine agonist: Spiros Konitsiotis, Greece
12:25-12:45	Discussion and rebuttals
12:45-13:45	Lunch Break
12:45-13:45	Industry-Sponsored Meet the Expert - Lunch session Pre-registration to this session is required Click here for the full meet the expert
13:45-14:45	Industry-Sponsored Plenary Symposium In PD, patients may suffer from delayed-on as well as wearing off. Which is more important?
15:00-16:45	Session 17: CURE OR ONLY SYMPTOMATIC RELIEF? Chairs: Péter Klivényi, Hungary; Norbert Kovács, Hungary
15:00-15:55	Debate: Prevention and modern therapy
	Capsule: MRI guided focused ultrasound is a new technology enabling lesioning of brain structures without incisions through an intact skull. This new technology has been implemented in essential tremor patients where lesions of VIM reduces contralateral tremor. But should lesioning of VIM be done in PD and other movement disorders? Should lesioning be performed in other brain structures for PD and other movement disorders?
15:00-15:10	Debate host: Stuart H. Isaacson, USA
15:10-15:25	Ultrasound thalamic lesioning is useful for treatment ET only: Jens Volkmann, Germany
15:25-15:40	Ultrasound lesioning has a wider role in treatment of movement disorders: Ilana Schlesinger, Israel
15:40-15:55	Discussion and rebuttals
15:55-16:45	Debate: Neurodegenerative diseases are potentially curable
	Capsule: Neurodegenerative diseases are widespread and based upon so many different underlying processes such as mitochondrial disturbances, toxic substances, abnormal proteasomal function and inflammation that it is difficult to visualize a cure
15:55-16:05	Debate host: Roger Bullock, UK
16:05-16:20	Yes: Johannes Streffer, Belgium
16:20-16:35	No: Jesse Cedarbaum, USA
16:35-16:45	Discussion and rebuttals
16:45-17:00	Coffee Break
17:00-19:00	Session 18: ARE PRESENT TREATMENTS OPTIMAL? Chairs: Vladimir Kostic, Serbia; Elena Vostrikova, Russia
17:00-18:00	Debate: Can levodopa delivery be improved?
	Capsule: The short plasma half-life of levodopa causes motor complications. To overcome this limitation several new directions in drug technology have been utilized
17:00-17:10	Debate host: Heinz Reichmann, Germany
17:10-17:25	Yes: Ubaldo Bonuccelli, Italy
17:25-17:40	No: Spiros Konitsiotis, Greece
17:40-18:00	Discussion and rebuttals
18:00-19:00	Debate: Are impulse control disorders (ICD) a real problem in PD?
	Capsule: The dopaminergic therapy can affect certain aspects of behavior, which could interfere with the everyday life of the patients and the caregivers as well. More attention to behavior in PD is important, but is ICD one of the main targets?
18:00-18:10	Debate host: Maja Relja, Croatia
18:10-18:25	Pro: Irena Rektorova, Czech Republic
18:25-18:40	Con: Heinz Reichmann, Germany
18:40-19:00	Discussion and rebuttals
19:00	Poster Awards & Closing Ceremony

SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015 HALL B – Stroke Section Heads: Natan Bornstein, Israel & László Csiba, Hungary
07:30-08:30	E-poster presentations, in the Exhibition Area Parkinson's disesae & Movement disorders, Neuropathology, Neuro-immunology
08:30-10:30	Session 19: MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE STROKE Chairs: Christian Stapf, France; Joanna Wojczal, Poland
08:30-08:50	Lecture: Personalized medicine in stroke Lecture host: Natan Bornstein, Israel Presenter: Ashfaq Shuaib, Canada
08:50-09:40	Debate: Can ultrasound enhance the recanalization effect of tPA?
	Capsule: Chemical thrombolysis by tPA is so far the only approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke. However, the overall recanalization rate is pretty low, only 30-40% and newer more effective treatments are acutely needed. One of the new methods which are promoted is transcranial ultrasound
08:50-09:00	Debate host: Denes Pall, Hungary
09:00-09:15	Yes: Elsa Azevedo, Portugal
09:15-09:30	No: László Oláh, Hungary
09:30-09:40	Discussion and rebuttals
09:40-10:30	Debate: Is aggressive lowering of blood pressure (BP) in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) beneficial?
	Capsule: The BP is elevated in acute stroke and spontaneously decreases over the next few days. Should we influence this process pharmacologically or leave it alone?
09:40-09:50	Debate host: Denes Pall, Hungary
09:50-10:05	Yes: Thorsten Steiner, Germany
10:05-10:20	No: Victor Oliveira, Portugal
10:20-10:30	Discussion and rebuttals
10:30-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:45	Session 20: VASCULAR INTERVENTIONS Chairs: Ovidiu Bajenaru, Romania; Vida Demarin, Croatia
10:45-11:45	Debate: Carotid revascularization in asymptomatic patients: Is intervention justified?
	Capsule: Carotid intervention in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (ACAS) is still controversial because the change in the natural history and the decrease in the annual stroke rate are not convincing. However, many interventions are still being performed on patients with ACAS. Who is right and who is wrong?
10:45-10:55	Debate host: László Csiba, Hungary
10:55-11:10	Yes: Erwin Stolz, Germany
11:10-11:25	No: Jonathan Streifler, Israel
11:25-11:45	Discussion and rebuttals
11:45-12:45	Debate: Should patients with unruptured arterio-venous malformations (AVM) be referred for intervention?
	Capsule: The management of unruptured AVM in the brain is still uncertain and is the scope of this debate. How should patients with incidental findings of AVM be managed?
11:45-11:55	Debate host: László Bognar, Hungary
11:55-12:10	Yes: Christian Stapf, France
12:10-12:25	No: Jay P. Mohr, USA
12:25-12:45	Discussion and rebuttals
12:45-13:45	Lunch Break
12:45-13:45	Industry-Sponsored Meet the Expert - Lunch session Pre-registration to this session is required Click here for the full meet the expert
13:45-14:45	Industry-Sponsored Satellite Symposium In Parkinson's disease, patients may suffer from delayed-on as well as wearing off. Which is more important? Hall A
15:00-16:45	Session 21: HOT TOPICS IN STROKE MANAGMENT Chairs: Rahim Aliyev, Azerbaijan; Svjetlana Šupe, Croatia
15:00-15:55	Debate: Should survivors of hemorrhagic strokes be restarted on oral anticoagulants?
	Capsule: About 10-15% of stroke victims have intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). These patients frequently have concomitant cardiac diseases justifying anticoagulant therapy. To treat or not to treat? How to find the narrow path between the risk of re-bleeding and recurrent thromboembolic events? Are the newer oral anticoagulants (NOAC's) the answer in some cases?
15:00-15:10	Debate host: Dieter Heiss, Germany
15:10-15:25	Never: Victor Oliveira, Portugal
15:25-15:40	Depending on risk of recurrence: Thorsten Steiner, Germany
15:40-15:55	Discussion and rebuttals
15:55-16:45	Debate: Will stem cell therapy become important in stroke rehabilitation?
	Capsule: Functional recovery after severe stroke is limited and so far all neuroprotective trials have failed. Autologous and heterologous stem cells implantations have shown promising but controversial results
15:55-16:05	Debate host: Eva Feldman, USA
16:05-16:20	Yes: Dimitrios Karussis, Israel
16:20-16:35	No: Michael Chopp, USA
16:35-16:45	Discussion and rebuttals
16:45-17:00	Coffee Break
17:00-19:00	Session 22: STATINS AND STROKE Chairs: Erwin Stolz, Germany; Jorge Villacura, Chile
17:00-18:00	Debate: Do statins cause cognitive impairment?
	Capsule: The statins are used safely for more than 25 years in pateints with dyslipidemia. Risk of liver enzyme elevation, muscle aches, diabetes and cognitive impairment are widely discussed. However their effects on cognition are still debated
17:00-17:15	Debate host: Jay P. Mohr, USA
17:15-17:30	Yes: Ovidiu Bajenaru, Romania
17:30-17:45	No: László Csiba, Hungary
17:45-18:00	Discussion and rebuttals
18:00-19:00	Debate: Should statins be used for secondary stroke prevention even in people with normal cholesterol levels?
	Capsule: Statins were proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and stroke events. However, for secondary stroke prevention only a single RCT (SPARCL) was conducted. Therefore, it is still controversial whether every stroke survivor should receive statins regardless of lipids profile
18:00-18:15	Debate host: Jonathan Streifler, Israel
18:15-18:30	Yes: Ashfaq Shuaib, Canada
18:30-18:45	No: Dániel Bereczki, Hungary
18:45-19:00	Discussion and rebuttals
19:00	Poster Awards & Closing Ceremony Hall A

SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015 HALL C – Epilepsy Section Heads: Jozsef Janszky, Hungary & Michael Sperling, USA
07:30-08:30	E-poster presentations, in the Exhibition Area Parkinson's disesae & Movement disorders, Neuropathology, Neuro-immunology
08:30-10:30	Session 23: EPILEPSY DIAGNOSIS Chairs: Joanna Jedrzejczak, Poland; Nandan Yardi, India
08:30-09:30	Debate: Should epilepsy ever be diagnosed after a single seizure has occurred?
	Capsule:The ILAE has proposed that epilepsy can be diagnosed after occurrence of a single seizure provided there is at least 60% chance of seizure recurrence. This may be advantageous because it might influence the decision to treat. However, diagnosing epilepsy may have serious implications for an individual from clinical, societal and legal perspectives. Should the ILAE criteria be adopted or should we maintain the requirement that two seizures occur before diagnosing epilepsy?
08:30-08:40	Debate host: Konrad Rejdak, Poland
08:40-08:55	Yes: Ettore Beghi, Italy
08:55-09:10	No: Manjari Tripathi, India
09:10-09:30	Discussion and rebuttals
09:30-10:30	Debate: It is important and useful to establish a diagnosis of either focal or generalized epilepsy when epilepsy is first diagnosed
	Capsule: Physicians place great emphasis on correct diagnosis of an epileptic syndrome when they first evaluate patients with epilepsy. In the modern era, does this really matter? Does early syndromic diagnosis influence management soon after diagnosis?
09:30-09:40	Debate host: Peter Halász, Hungary
09:40-09:55	Yes: William Theodore, USA
09:55-10:10	No: Jozsef Janszky, Hungary
10:10-10:30	Discussion and rebuttals
10:30-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:45	Session 24: EPILEPSY THERAPY Chairs: Vladimir Donath, Slovakia; Konrad Rejdak, Poland
10:45-11:45	Debate: Should antiepileptic drugs (AED's) be started after a first seizure in patients who have pre-existing brain injury?
	Capsule: Starting AED therapy is a major decision since these drugs can have significant adverse effects and, once begun, are often prescribed for decades. What level of confidence should exist for physicians to initiate drug therapy?
10:45-10:55	Debate host: Christoph Baumgartner, Austria
10:55-11:10	Yes: Jozsef Janszky, Hungary
11:10-11:25	No: Ettore Beghi, Italy
11:25-11:45	Discussion and rebuttals
11:45-12:45	Debate: 50-75% reduction in seizure frequency after is not a meaningful improvement in seizure control
	Capsule: Government agencies approve new AED's based upon 50% reduction in seizure frequency or demonstration of greater reduction of mean seizure frequency compared with placebo. Are these clinically meaningful numbers or should a different standard be used when considering a drug effective?
11:45-11:55	Debate host: Paul Boon, Belgium
11:55-12:10	Yes: Elinor Ben Menachem, Sweden
12:10-12:25	No: Ilan Blatt, Israel
12:25-12:45	Discussion and rebuttals
12:45-13:45	Lunch Break
12:45-13:45	Industry-Sponsored Meet the Expert - Lunch session Pre-registration to this session is required Click here for the full meet the expert
13:45-14:45	Industry-Sponsored Satellite Symposium In Parkinson's disease, patients may suffer from delayed-on as well as wearing off. Which is more important? Hall A
15:00-16:45	Session 25: TREATING THE REFRACTORY PATIENT Chairs: Irma Khachidze, Georgia; Istvan Kondakor, Hungary
15:00-15:55	Debate: Polytherapy rarely provides benefit in patients who have not responded to monotherapy
	Capsule: Managing patients whose seizures fail to respond to therapy is challenging. While it is common to prescribe polypharmacy, does evidence support long-term efficacy of this approach? Does it convey meaningful benefit and at what cost?
15:00-15:10	Debate host: Christoph Baumgartner, Austria
15:10-15:25	Yes: Ilan Blatt, Israel
15:25-15:40	No: Elinor Ben Menachem, Sweden
15:40-15:55	Discussion and rebuttals
15:55-16:45	Debate: Do all neurostimulatory treatments have similar efficacy?
	Capsule: Several different neurostimulation techniques have been approved for treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, including vagus nerve stimulation, anterior thalamic nucleus stimulation, and cortical stimulation. Do any of these methods have advantage over the others, and should one of these techniques be considered as a first choice when offering stimulation therapy?
15:55-16:05	Debate host: Ivan Rektor, Czech Republic
16:05-16:20	Yes: Paul Boon, Belgium
16:20-16:35	No: William Theodore, USA
16:35-16:45	Discussion and rebuttals
16:45-17:00	Coffee Break
17:00-19:00	Session 26: SURGICAL THERAPIES Chairs: Peter Halász, Hungary; Miri Neufeld, Israel
17:00-18:00	Debate: AED's should not ever be stopped after epilepsy surgery
	Capsule: AED medication can have detrimental effects and it is desirable to withdraw them when no longer needed. While epilepsy surgery often stops seizures, relapses may occur after surgery and surgery may not remove all epileptogenic cortex. Does the risk of recurrence in surgical responders warrant continuing medication indefinitely?
17:00-17:10	Debate host: Ivan Rektor, Czech Republic
17:10-17:25	Yes: Michael Sperling, USA
17:25-17:40	No: András Fogarasi, Hungary
17:40-18:00	Discussion and rebuttals
18:00-19:00	Unusual epilepsy cases
	Capsule: A series of challenging cases will be presented to course faculty for discussion of diagnosis and management
	Moderators: Alla Guekht, Russia; Michael Sperling, USA
	Panel: All Epilepsy Faculty
19:00	Poster Awards & Closing Ceremony Hall A

SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2015 Hall D – Rehabilitation / Dementia Rehabilitation Section Heads: Katalin Jakab, Hungary & Dafin Muresanu, Romania
07:30-08:30	E-poster presentations, in the Exhibition Area Parkinson's disesae & Movement disorders, Neuropathology, Neuro-immunology
08:30-10:30	Session 27: REHABILITATION Chairs: Katalin Jakab, Hungary; Dafin Muresanu, Romania
08:30-09:30	Debate: Pharmacological treatment of diabetic neuropathy: Benfotiamine vs. alpha lipoic acid
	Capsule: Diabetic neuropathy is a complex heterogeneous condition. Based on pathogenic mechanisms, some therapeutic approaches have been developed. Several meta-analyses suggest that alpha–lipoic acid is an effective and safe drug for the treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy. Clinical studies revealed favorable safely profile of benfotiamine and suggested it to be effective in the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications
08:30-08:40	Debate host: Tamas Várkonyi, Hungary
08:40-08:55	Benfotiamine: Peter Kempler, Hungary
08:55-09:10	Alpha lipoic acid: Dan Ziegler, Germany
09:10-09:30	Discussion and rebuttals
09:30-10:30	Debate: Enhancing brain plasticity for neurorehabilitation
	Capsule: Rehabilitation is defined as a process through which disabled persons reached maximum physical, functional, cognitive and psychosocial recovery within the limits of their disability. Endogenous defense activity (EDA) of the nervous system is the continuous process of neuroprotection and neuroregeneration. Our current major concern is how these important biological processes can be activated by pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions
09:30-09:45	Cognitive rehabilitation: Volker Hömberg, Germany
09:45-10:00	Rehabilitation of phantom pain: Heinrich Binder, Austria
10:00-10:15	Drug therapy: Alla Guekht, Russia
10:15-10:30	Discussion and rebuttals
10:30-10:45	Coffee Break
10:45-12:30	Session 28: TOWARDS A NEW ROADMAP IN BRAIN PROTECTION AND REOCVERY Chairs: Natan Bornstein, Israel; Dafin Muresanu, Romania
10:45-11:00	Lecture: Brain recovery and neurotechnologies Dafin Muresanu, Romania
11:00-11:15	Lecture: Very early mobilization (VEM) after stroke Natan Bornstein, Israel
11:15-11:30	Lecture: Neurorestorative treatments of experimental CNS injury Michael Chopp, USA
11:30-11:45	Lecture: Intraspinal stem cell transplantation in ALS: Results of a phase 1 study Eva Feldman, USA
11:45-12:15	Lecture: Motor function regained, cognitive reserve lost: How the brain fails to preserve cognitive function following stroke Michael Brainin, Austria
12:15-12:30	A clinical-genetic algorithm for calculating the stable therapeutic dose of acenocoumarol Anca Dana Buzoianu, Romania
12:45-13:45	Lunch Break
12:45-13:45	Industry-Sponsored Meet the Expert - Lunch session Pre-registration to this session is required Click here for the full meet the expert
13:45-14:45	Industry-Sponsored Satellite Symposium In Parkinson's disease, patients may suffer from delayed-on as well as wearing off. Which is more important? Hall A

15:00-16:30	Session 29: UPDATE ON DEMENTIA Chairs: Soichi Katayama, Japan; Judit Málly, Hungary
15:00-15:30	Lecture: Hippocampal sclerosis, argyrophilic grain disease, TDP-43 and dementia Lea Grinberg, USA/Brazil
15:30-16:30	Debate: Is amyloid PET imaging really helpful in diagnosing and characterizing disease modifying treatment approaches in dementias?
	Capsule: In vivo visualization of amyloid fibrils using PET has been possible for more than a decade. The practical use of PiB however, is hampered by its short shelf-life. Are we ready to use PET for the pre-mortem diagnosis of AD and for evaluation of new therapeutics? Are questions on sensitivity, specificity and outcome measures defined? Are there other PET approaches that might be better?
15:30-15:40	Debate host: Adriaan A. Lammertsma, The Netherlands
15:40-15:55	Yes: Marcos Pagani, Italy
15:55-16:10	No: Marios Politis, UK
16:10-16:30	Discussion and rebuttals