FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON March 01, 2004

American Academy of Neurology Presents 56th Annual Meeting in San Francisco

World’s largest annual gathering of neurologists

St. Paul, Minn. -

More than 8,000 are expected to attend the American Academy of Neurology 56th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, April 24 – May 1, 2004. Held in the Moscone Convention Center, the very latest research findings on dementia, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders will be included in more than 1,300 scientific studies presented as platform and poster sessions. “The highly regarded science program at the Annual Meeting draws worldwide interest and provides neurologists access to cutting-edge research,” said AAN president Sandra F. Olson, MD. “The 2004 scientific program covers the full spectrum of neurology, from prevention to diagnosis and treatment.” Key science presentations will be presented at four plenary sessions, starting with the Presidential Plenary Session on April 27 at 9:00 a.m. Eric R. Kandel, MD, of Columbia University, New York, N.Y., will give the Presidential Lecture on “Molecular Mechanisms for the Persistence of Memory Storage.” The Contemporary Clinical Issues and Case Studies Plenary Session will take place on April 28 at 9:00 a.m. A new addition to this session will be three case presentations focusing on multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and the effect of estrogen in neurological disease. On April 29 at 9:00 a.m., several physician-scientists will outline recent research findings, along with the clinical implications, during the Frontiers in Clinical Neurosciences Plenary Session: Beyond the Decade of the Brain. Among the presentations will be “Markers and Mediators of Neuronal Deficits in Dementia” by Lennart Mucke, MD, of the University of California, San Francisco. The Scientific Program Highlights Plenary Session will conclude the plenary sessions on April 30 beginning at 5:15 p.m. after all educational programs have ended. As chair of the AAN Science Committee, John H. Noseworthy, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., will moderate a review of the most critical new research presented during this meeting. From Monday, April 26 through Thursday, April 29, the on-site Press Room (room 230 of the Moscone Convention Center) will host a variety of media briefings based on certain abstracts presented during the meeting. The Press Room will also host a special press conference on epilepsy and anti-epileptic drugs on Monday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. (PST).

The American Academy of Neurology is the leading voice in brain health. As the world’s largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals with more than 44,000 members, the AAN provides access to the latest news, science and research affecting neurology for patients, caregivers, physicians and professionals alike. The AAN’s mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all. A neurologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, care and treatment of brain, spinal cord and nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, concussion, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, headache and migraine.

Explore the latest in neurological disease and brain health, from the minds at the AAN at AAN.com or find us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Editor's Notes: 1. Advance on-line registration is open to journalists until March 19 at www.aan.com/press/. After March 19, journalists with appropriate credentials may register on site in the Press Room. 2. Unless otherwise stated in an AAN-issued news release, the embargo for all abstracts to be presented at the 56th Annual Meeting is in effect until the date and time of the presentation.