Years ago, Li had found some patients experiencing dizziness, balance problems and progressive limb weakness, which could not be explained by common diseases. After lengthy research, he established the clinical diagnostic criteria for VACS. In 2019, he published a paper on the subject in Frontiers in Neurology, one of the world's most-cited journals in the field, laying the foundation for early identification, diagnosis and treatment.

"Medical research is a long-term exploration," Li said. "But no matter how hard it is, it's worth informing more doctors to avoid misdiagnosis and provide cures."