I am thrilled to take on the role of editor in chief after 10 years on the editorial board and two years as associate editor. In addition to taking the helm at Brain & Life, I am a stroke neurologist in Chicago. In this role, I see many patients on one of the worst days of their lives. Stroke, like so many neurologic disorders, can seem to happen out of the blue. It upends every plan, from dinner to vacation to retirement. Life is irrevocably changed; it is divided into a before and an after period.

Despite their trauma, my patients, their families, and their friends demonstrate resilience as they face an uncertain future. And when I follow up with them in clinic, I marvel at the strides they've made through physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Sometimes, though, there are residual symptoms that are tough to see.

One of those is depression, which is common after a stroke. Nearly half of all survivors experience it, according to estimates. Depression is important to address because it can affect how patients participate in their rehabilitation, and it may even increase the risk of another stroke. Signs of depression can be vague, such as changes in appetite and sleep. Our story on depression helps shed light on its symptoms and treatments, and how lifestyle habits can help alleviate it.

Depression isn't the only invisible sign of stroke or other neurologic disorders. Debilitating fatigue, difficulty concentrating, numbness, tingling, and pain are others. One of my patients—an intelligent, strong, personable woman who was the dean of a university—had few motor or sensory problems after her stroke. Her biggest challenge was interacting and communicating with others in bigger groups. During her book club meetings, for example, she was overwhelmed by the rapidity of multiple conversations and would freeze and struggle to find words. She also tired easily and had to leave events early, which increased her feelings of isolation.

Our feature on invisible symptoms validates what so many people with neurologic disorders experience. It takes courage to explain your symptoms or simply walk away and take a break. The patient I mentioned is doing much better and has learned to manage social situations with grace and confidence. One thing that both articles emphasize is the importance of sharing your story with friends or physicians or in support groups. It can help create community and empathy.

Another important topic for anyone dealing with a neurologic disorder is exercise. That's what our cover story on Phil Keoghan, host of The Amazing Race, is all about. He embraced the cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) after sponsoring an amateur cycling team that had participated in Bike MS events. He was so taken with the team and subsequently meeting people with the disorder that he became one of the biggest fundraisers for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and a major proponent of exercise for people with MS.

Research shows that exercise can improve endurance, reduce fatigue, and increase quality of life for people with MS. Keoghan shares strategies for including exercise in busy lives.

I firmly believe that Brain & Life provides the best educational content on brain health out there. We will continue to ensure that the magazine reflects what you, our readers, want to know and hear about. Our goal, as always, is to publish the most scientifically sound, rigorously researched material, vetted by our editorial board. We have other goals, too. One is to increase the accessibility of our material. To that end, we are adding Spanish-language content to every issue, starting with this one.

I have several missions, including expanding our audience across all our channels—print, online, social media, and our podcast, which I highly recommend. Most of all, I want the material in this magazine to empower you to learn more, share, act, and improve your lives.

Tell us if you or someone you love has experienced invisible symptoms, including depression. Please share your story by writing to us at brainandlife@wolterskluwer.com.

Sarah Song, MD, MPH, FAAN, Editor in Chief