The Future of Neurology

For the past 200 years, neurology has been deeply rooted in the history and neurologic examination, but 21st century advances in neurosurgery, endovascular techniques, and neuropathology, and an explosion in basic neuroscience research and neuroimaging have added exciting new dimensions to the field. Neurology residency training programs face intense governmental regulatory changes and economic pressures, making it difficult to predict the number of neurology residents being trained for the future. The future job outlook for neurologists in the United States, based on recent survey and trends, suggests an increased demand because of the prevalence of neurologic diseases within the aging population, particularly in underserved urban and rural areas. Telemedicine and "teleconsultation" offer a potential solution to bringing virtual subspecialists to underserved areas. The future for neurology and neuroscience research in the United States remains a high priority according to the National Institute of Neurologic Diseases and Stroke, but this may be affected in the long run by budgetary constraints and a growing deficit.