VOLUME 29, ISSUE 2 • JUNE 2025. Full issue »
The 2025 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting was in vibrant and sunny San Diego from April 5-9. As one of the largest neurology meetings in the world, the event brought together more than 14,000 attendees from across the globe, each with a diverse range of interest and expertise.
Over the course of five dynamic days, there were multiple parallel sessions exploring general and subspecialty neurology topics. The movement disorders program kicked off with an overview of dystonia, including key updates on diagnosis and management. Subsequent sessions included discussions of Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, functional neurological disorders (FND), stiff person syndrome, autonomic dysfunction, tics, and other unusual movement disorders. The talks offered attendees the chance to get introduced to specific topics or deepen their understanding of both common and rare movement disorders.
Recognizing the diverse background and training level of the audience — including medical students, residents, fellows, faculty, and advance practitioner providers (APPs) — the Academy designed a program beyond formal education. For instance, there were workshops focused on career growth, such as how to create an elevator pitch, wellness, and how to conduct clinical trials. Skill-building workshops were another key aspect of the meeting. A particularly well-received session was the fundamentals of deep brain stimulation led by Dr. Ramirez-Zamora, Dr. Nasrin R. Esnaashar, and Dr. Xenos Mason.
Although there was robust movement disorders content, several movement disorders specialists take the opportunity to attend general neurology sessions, broadening their knowledge of conditions outside their primary area of expertise. There is often a common understanding that revisiting core neurology principles and staying up to date on the diagnosis and management of general neurology and rapidly evolving subspecialities, such as stroke, neuroimmunology, and headache, provides a complementary and valuable strategy.
Dr. Abhi Mahajan, Chair of the AAN Movement Disorders Section for 2025-2027 and a featured speaker throughout the program, highlighted the importance of the meeting: As most of our colleagues may not regularly see patients with movement disorders, the AAN annual meeting offers an excellent opportunity to highlight key therapeutic and diagnostic updates in the field, along with skills workshops and discussion of controversies. It is imperative that our colleagues be best equipped with the latest developments in the field to help take care of an aging population. Additionally, it helps build key collaborations with other specialties to advance the field for better patient care
In conclusion, regardless of the strategy — whether exploring movement disorder topics in more detail or broadening the knowledge of common general neurology conditions — the AAN Annual Meeting continues to be a major opportunity for education, connection, and professional growth for a global and diverse audience.
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