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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 70
| Issue : 2 | Page : 804-805 |
The Brain and Heart of a Neuroscience Organization/Body/Society/Association
Mohinish Bhatjiwale
The Neuro Health Foundation, Department of Neurosurgery, Mira Bhayandar, VVcMC Government and Municipal Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, Indiaz
| Date of Submission | 28-Jul-2020 |
| Date of Decision | 19-Dec-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 17-Mar-2021 |
| Date of Web Publication | 3-May-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Mohinish Bhatjiwale
Neuro Health Foundation Clinic, Yogi Nagar, Borivali West, Mumbai - 400 091, Maharashtra
Indiaz
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.344610
How to cite this article:
Bhatjiwale M. The Brain and Heart of a Neuroscience Organization/Body/Society/Association. Neurol India 2022;70:804-5 |
Sir,
The ethos of any medical association is born through the spirit and passion of its founder members. This flame is kept alive by those who follow. The worth of any organization is measured by its final impact on society. It does not stop at how updated the doctors, its intermediary ambassadors, have become. Do most of our scientific organizations we might dare say cater to the cerebrum, the intellect, at the cost of its heart. Recent scientific advances or administrative developments are widely discussed and take the bulk of an association's conference or meeting time. Little time is allocated to discuss the impact, the improvement of the condition of the masses, and the direct benefit to society due to their existence. A cursory look at the list of topics of any conference may make this point amply clear. To reiterate, do we feed the brain at the cost of our heart? The final purpose of any scientific body is not only to resource scientific facts to its doctors for cerebral stimulation. The larger picture should aim to benefit fellow brothers and sisters through the instrument of science. A case in point is the appalling situation for approximately 40–50 lakh odd population beyond Borivali and Dahanu on the far north-western outskirts of the city of Mumbai. This large population in the year 2020 is without any basic public healthcare neurological or neurosurgical facilities. A simple head injury or hypertensive clot requiring immediate surgical management has to be rushed across many miles and undergo hours of travel to a central public hospital in Mumbai. Given the vagaries of road travel in this area, where an ambulance competes with thousands of heavy vehicles traveling to Mumbai and the not-so-infrequent traffic obstacles on these expressways, the agonies of the patients and their relatives can only be imagined. It is in this context that Neuroscience Associations (NAs) must make a difference. It is recommended that as an organization there must be regular representation and dialogue with public health departments/ministry to discuss the situation and development of its branch of science in its area, neurology, and neurosurgery in this case. It is another matter and nothing short of a travesty that basic neuroscience needs as in the aforementioned example should be considered “super” speciality services and not “vital” life-saving” speciality services. This one word change could make a world of a difference to public health.
However, who shall convey this to the authorities so that appropriate measures will be taken in planning? It is here that our NAs can fill the much-needed lacuna for the betterment of humanity, the final objective of science. The brain will remain much healthier if the heart is throbbing, pulsating to its finest capacity.
Practically speaking, it is important for NAs and their regional subsidiaries to coordinate joint dialogue between public health authorities, NGOs, and even transport providers. This may be done digitally in the current era. A digital directory of qualified neurological, neurosurgical specialists and facilities may be created that could be integrated with government health apps. A “Clinical Neuro-app” may be developed, wherein rural and district registered doctors could post neurospine cases and seek primary guidance. During association meets, papers on “community neurodevelopment” issues may be invited and guest lectures involving stake holders like traffic police, railways, accident redressal experts, political leaders, and philanthropists could be made routine. To create uniformity in neurocare at a national level, NAs could create a guidance cell to help young specialists with professional settlement in newer geographical areas, where they may find greater utility. Hands-on training of interested district general surgeons/physicians for emergency neurocare and the creation of more fellowships in peripheral hospitals would fulfill a long-awaited need. Having a YouTube presence may also help to disseminate facts to the public on important issues of neuro emergencies, disaster management, and latest advances.
Quite literally, it is time for a more integrative view to the heart–brain connection as recent data indicate that cardiovascular conditions contribute to cognitive impairment.[1] Pioneers in the field recognized the importance of this link and organized the first successful international conference on the Heart and Brain in Paris in March 2012.
In any neuroscience body or association, if “scientific brilliance” is the glory of the brain, then “social conscience” may very well be its heart and soul. Both are vital to the maintenance of its optimal health!
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| » References | |  |
| 1. | Muqtadar H, Testai FD, Gorelick PB, Review the dementia of cardiac disease. Curr Cardiol Rep 2012;14:732-40.  |
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