From the benefits of meditation to Welcome Trust’s commitment to mental health, leading data and analytics company GlobalData lists ten of the most popular tweets on neurology in December 2019, based on data from the company’s Influencer Platform.

1. David Perlmutter’s tweet on meditation

David Perlmutter, a neurologist, tweeted on the benefits of meditation. He noted that meditation helps in increased connectivity to prefrontal cortex, improves relationships and memory, and reduces stress.

On 27 December 2019, @DavidPerlmutter tweeted: “Benefits of meditation: 1) Increased connectivity to prefrontal cortex 2) Better decision-making ability 3) Improved relationships 4) Better memory 5) Reduced inflammation 6) Reduced stress 7) Improved creativity 8) Improved sleep 9) Greater concern for the health of the planet,” which collected 568 likes and 167 retweets.

2. Eric Topol’s tweet on risk of introducing AI into healthcare

Eric Topol, a physician and scientist, shared an article on the risks associated with introducing health products powered by artificial intelligence (AI), such as virtual doctors, wearable sensors and chatbots.

On 24 December 2019, @EricTopol tweeted: “Warning flags: the risks of rushing #AI into #healthcare https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/artificial-intelligence-is-rushing-into-patient-care-and-could-raise-risks/… by @LizSzabo @KHNews w/ @sciam,” which saw 157 likes and 107 retweets.

3. Dr David Nicholl’s tweet on US-UK trade deal

Among neurology tweets, Dr David Nicholl, a neurologist, drew attention to a tweet about US-UK trade in pharmaceuticals. A trade deal between the UK and the US after Brexit is expected to cost millions of dollars to the NHS. Post-Brexit, the cost of vital drugs for indications such as Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis is expected to dramatically increase.

On 3 December 2019, @djnicholl tweeted: “This thread needs a significant number of reads than the pathetic number so far, to realise that this is absolutely about economics not privatisation to understand US-UK trade in pharmaceuticals #teamnicholl the extra costs to the NHS are up to £500M/week put that on a bus https://twitter.com/deb_cohen/status/1201866897530216450 …,” which attracted 58 likes and 47 retweets.

4. Vaughan Bell’s tweet on Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’

Vaughan Bell, a neuropsychologist, shared an article on how a faction of scientists or cabal thwarted alternative approaches to the development of treatments for Alzheimer’s. This faction controlled what research papers were published and which scientists got funding.

On 28 December 2019, @vaughanbell tweeted: “The maddening saga of how an Alzheimer’s ‘cabal’ thwarted progress toward a cure for decades https://www.statnews.com/2019/06/25/alzheimers-cabal-thwarted-progress-toward-cure/… Important piece with wider implications about institutionalised group think in science – via @stuartbuck1,” which gained 91 likes and 62 retweets.

5. Prof Michael Hanna’s tweet on a lecture by professors Sarah Tabrizi & Gill Bates

Prof Michael Hanna, a neurologist and director at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, tweeted on how proud he was of two professors from the institute, Sarah Tabrizi and Gill Bates, for delivering the Jean Shanks Lecture at the Academy of Medical Sciences. The Jean Shanks Lecture is named after the Dr Jean Shanks who established the Jean Shanks Foundation and contributed to medical science.

On 3 December 2019, @MikeHanna18 tweeted: “Very proud of UCL Queen Square Institute Neurology Profs Sarah Tabrizi & Gill Bates now giving academy Jean Shanks lecture: spectacular progress towards therapy in Huntington’s – antisense start of a new therapy era led from Queen Square @UCLIoN @UCLBrainScience @acmedsci @uclh,” which collected 73 likes and 24 retweets.

6. Mark Baxter’s tweet on new Alzheimer’s study

Mark Baxter, a neuroscientist, tweeted on a new study of a rhesus monkey model performed to understand early Alzheimer’s pathogenesis. The study showed that oligomeric of the amyloid beta peptide in the monkey brain impacts synaptic integrity and induces accelerated cortical aging.

On 24 December 2019, @markgbaxter tweeted: “Oligomeric Aβ in the monkey brain impacts synaptic integrity and induces accelerated cortical aging – our new study of a monkey model of early Alzheimer’s pathogenesis led by the phenomenal @DaniBeckman https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/12/18/1902301116…,” which saw 47 likes and 20 retweets.

7. GrowingUpAutistic’s tweet on working with disabled customers

GrowingUpAutistic, an autistic adult, tweeted about being offered to work in specific shifts at her workplace that focus on ideas that support disabled costumers. She further noted that while growing up she was told that autism would be her disadvantage in her work life but it turned out to be her strength.

On 7 December 2019, @LibbyAutism tweeted: “I work in retail & the other day my manager asked me whether I would like specific shifts. These shifts will primarily focus on my ideas towards supporting disabled costumers. Growing up I was told #Autism would be my disadvantage in working life but it’s actually my strength!” which gained 140 likes and 19 retweets.

8. Rosemarie Carreiro Âû’s tweet on placing her son in a group home

Rosemarie Carreiro Âû, a mental health advocate, tweeted about the apathy shown by people towards autistic children. She noted that people consider her crazy when she states that her autistic son will not go into a group home unless he wants to.

On 11 December 2019, @RoseMCarreiro tweeted: “I hate when I state that I will NOT place my son in a group home ever UNLESS he says he wants to go and people look at me like I am “crazy”.Just because he is #autistic does NOT mean he doesn’t have a say in his life …it’s HIS life. #ActuallyAutistic,” which earned 133 likes and 20 retweets.

9. Mark Weatherall’s tweet on getting erenumab approved for use on the NHS

Mark Weatherall, a neurologist, tweeted on trying to get erenumab approved for use on the NHS in England and Wales. Erenumab, also known as Aimovig, is used for the treatment of migraine. The drug was rejected for use by the NHS in September 2016 noting that there was uncertainty regarding its clinical and cost effectiveness.

On 4 December 2019, @weatherallmw tweeted: “We few, we happy few… off to storm the breach at @NICEComms to try to get #erenumab approved for use on the NHS in England and Wales. @petergoadsby @IIHDrBirmingham and I will argue that the original assessment was flawed and should be revised. Updates will follow…,” which collected 71 likes and 17 retweets.

10. Vaughan Bell’s tweet on the Welcome Trust’s commitment to mental health

Vaughan Bell tweeted on the launch of a five-year, £200m ($222.7m) commitment towards research on mental health by the Welcome Trust, a research charity based in London, UK. The research will focus on understanding, preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people.

On 18 December 2019, @vaughanbell tweeted: “The @wellcometrust launch a five-year, £200 million commitment to mental health research https://wellcome.ac.uk/what-we-do/our-work/mental-health-transforming-research-and-treatments/strategy… focused on understanding, funding, preventing and treating anxiety and depression in young people – via @mirandarwolpert,” which acquired 45 likes and 18 retweets.