As we approach the holidays, many of us are looking forward to meeting up with relatives and friends we haven't seen in too long. Whether your family is just getting together for the first time since March 2020 or they've been part of your “bubble,” the anticipation of these reunions has been made much sweeter by the ordeal we've all endured.
Finding the right holiday present can be challenging, so we asked our neurologist advisory board members for some help in identifying appropriate gifts. Our guide in this issue reflects years of experience from our patients who have provided feedback on what helps make their lives easier. Although the recommendations are tailored for people with a variety of neurologic conditions, quite a few apply to anyone. My personal favorites include the weighted blanket that helps me fall asleep in a jiffy, the immersion blender I use for making vegetarian winter soups, and the fitness tracker that ensures I get in all my steps. I have also listened to audiobooks for years now. I always look forward to downloading just the right book to my phone. I hope you appreciate these ideas as much as we enjoyed creating the list for you.
Some gifts are less tangible, like those of friendship, love, and laughter. During the pandemic, I have sought out people who make me laugh, who appreciate the lighter side of life, and who always find the silver linings. In that vein, we bring you our cover subject, George Lopez, a comedian who produced and starred in a hit sitcom. He has been serious about raising awareness of kidney disease and neuropathy ever since his own experience with kidney disease led to a transplant. Through the George Lopez Foundation he advocates for better access to care, especially for the Hispanic community.
Health care disparities affect all people of color, a fact that has been magnified during the pandemic. We hope to see every patient receive the best care in the near future, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, and geography. As chronicled in our feature, neurologists are taking steps to address inequities. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN), for example, launched an initiative called Underrepresented in Neurology, which commits to getting more people of color into the field of neurology. The AAN also provides webinars for its members that address cultural sensitivity, bias, and other factors that may result in poorer care.
In the future, we hope to see more cures for neurologic conditions— such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, described in our Disorders story—and explanations for some of the mysteries of the brain, such as acquired savant syndrome, explored in our Brain Wonders story.
Other highlights of this issue include walking strategies for people with Parkinson's disease; a novel set in Africa that compares the ubiquity of lions in the bush to the chronic nature of Parkinson's; a woman with ALS who is participating in a marathon in every state to raise awareness of the disease; and a piece on how working women raise families and care for aging parents.
Our Nutrition column in Healthy Living describes how a plant-based diet affects the risk of stroke, and our Ask Your Neurologist department addresses how vitamin deficiencies could cause neurologic problems. (And yes, many can be improved by eating a colorful selection of fruits and vegetables.)
Finally, I want to thank you for your gifts of letters. We include a sampling in every issue, and although we cannot publish them all, we read each one, and often our stories, like the cover story on neuropathy, are inspired by your comments and requests.
Wishing you the happiest gifts of the season from all of us at Brain & Life.
Orly Avitzur, MD, MBA, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief
