The initial impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on epilepsy research.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of many practices throughout the world. Through necessity to minimize spread and provide clinical care to those with severe disease, focus has been on limiting face-to-face contact. Research in many areas has been put on hold.

The road to a World Health Organization global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized epilepsy as a public health imperative due to its occurrence at all ages in all regions of the world, its high impact on disability-adjusted life years and psychosocial aspects, and the accompanying stigma. The International League Against Epilepsy and the International Bureau for Epilepsy have established crucial collaborations with regional and global organizations to promote epilepsy as a treatable disease, close the treatment gap in care, education, and research, and eradicate stigma. In November 2020, the efforts of these three organizations-with support from WHO member states, the World Federation of Neurology, and the European Federation of Neurological Associations-culminated in the unanimous approval of a WHO resolution to create and implement an Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders.