Welcome to this special episode of the NeurologyLive® Mind Moments® podcast. Tune in to hear leaders in neurology sound off on topics that impact your clinical practice. For major FDA decisions in the field of neurology, we release short special episodes to offer a snapshot of the news, including the main takeaways for the clinical community, as well as highlights of the efficacy and safety profile of the agent in question.

In this episode, "Key Challenges Facing Neurology in the Year Ahead," Natalia Rost, MD, President of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), Stroke Division Chief at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, joins NeurologyLive to discuss the top clinical priorities shaping neurology in 2026.

Throughout the discussion, Rost outlines the most urgent unmet needs across neurology, including expanding equitable access to care, integrating preventive neurology into routine practice, strengthening the workforce, and closing persistent evidence gaps. She explains how the AAN Brain Health Initiative provides a practical framework for embedding brain health into everyday clinical encounters. The conversation also explores the growing role of biomarkers, imaging, and digital tools in care delivery, where innovation may be outpacing evidence, and how the Academy aims to guide ethical and evidence based implementation while addressing ongoing health equity gaps.

Episode Breakdown: