The Brain Health Imperative in the 21st Century—A Call to Action

Abstract

Brain health is crucial to optimizing both the function and well-being of every person at each stage of life and is key to both individual and social progress. As a concept, brain health is complex and requires a multidisciplinary collaborative approach between many professional and public organizations to bring into effect meaningful change. Neurologists are uniquely positioned to serve as specialists in brain health and to advance the newly evolving field of preventive neurology, which aims to identify individuals at high risk of brain disorders and other neurologic conditions and offer strategies to mitigate disease emergence or progression. For decades, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has demonstrated a commitment to brain health through its public outreach and advocacy. The AAN's Brain Health Initiative launched in 2022 with a strategic plan prioritizing brain health as a key aspect of public engagement and positioning the AAN and neurologists as champions of brain health in collaboration with a broad range of other brain health providers. In this study, we present (1) the new definition of brain health developed by the AAN for neurologists, patients, partners in health care, and the public; (2) the strategic objectives of the AAN Brain Health Initiative; and (3) the AAN Brain Health Platform and Action Plan framework, including key positions on brain health, its 3 ambitious goals, and a national brain health vision. The top-line priorities of the AAN Brain Health Action Plan highlight the need for research, education, public policy, and direct-to-public messaging across the individual's life span and will serve as a catalyst for future cross-disciplinary collaborations within each epoch and longitudinally. The AAN Brain Health Platform is designed to communicate the AAN's vision for brain health and provide a blueprint toward achieving the future of optimal brain health across the life span for all. Through this position statement, we call upon neurologists and other stakeholders in brain health to join our collective efforts to accomplish the ultimate goal of transforming the current trajectory of public health of an increasing burden of neurologic disorders—from both illness and injury—to achieving optimal brain health for all.

Promoting Growth in Behavioral Neurology: A Path Forward

“… Expanding patient populations in areas of expertise may facilitate a greater diversity of practice models. For example, behavioral neurologists have expertise in preventive brain care, brain health, traumatic brain injury, poststroke rehabilitation, functional neurological disorder, movement disorders, and epilepsy (Ball et al, 2020; Barrett and Muzaffar, 2014; Bateman et al, 2019; Carlisle et al, 2023; Clark et al, 2022; Gold et al, 2016; Hallett et al, 2022; Rost et al, 2023). Many of the populations cared for by behavioral neurologists and neuropsychiatrists are complex and require psychosocial support similar to that required by populations with degenerative causes of dementia.…”

“…Recently, the field of brain health , which strives to prevent cognitive decline, improve disease trajectories, and facilitate healthy cognitive aging, has become an important part of BNNP (Alagapan et al, 2023; Arciniegas et al, 2006; Dalmau et al, 2019; Hoche et al, 2018; Perez, 2024; Rost et al, 2023). In addition, the neurology and neurobiological underpinnings of psychiatric diseases fall within the purview of BNNP and will be important for BNNP specialists to understand.…”

The Swiss Brain Health Plan 2023–2033

“…Several national organizations (e.g., in Norway, Germany, Uruguay, and the USA [67]) have recently launched brain (health) plans. In Norway and Uruguay, the plans are rooted within the respective ministries and have been adopted by the National Parliament (TD; personal communication).…”

“…who are affected, their family, and society at large. Improved awareness can also substantially contribute to collective, informed advocacy, and eventually leads to specific support activities [7][8][9][10]67,68].…”

Reliability of self-reported risk factors for age-related brain disease

“…Recent estimates show that modifiable risk factors account for up to 40% of dementia incidence, 55% of LLD incidence and up to 90% of stroke incidence [2][3][4] . As a result, advocacy organizations place these modifiable risk factors at the center of their platform, advocating for identification of at-risk individuals, education on modifiable risk factors, and direct-topublic messaging 5,6 .…”