What will it take to achieve brain health globally?

• Published in: Cerebral circulation - cognition and behavior Vol. 6; p. 100209
• Main Authors: Gorelick, Philip B., Hainsworth, Atticus H., Wallin, Anders
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Brain health; Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Neurologic disability; Neurosciences; Neurovetenskaper; Stroke; World health organization; Brain health; Neurologic disability; Stroke; World health organization; Dementia; Cognitive impairment
• ISSN: 2666-2450; 2666-2450
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cccb.2024.100209

•Over 1 billion persons worldwide are impacted by neurologic disability.•Brain health initiatives and programs are a means to potentially reduce neurologic disability and cost and include a process that spans the life course.•Brain health initiatives and programs are gaining traction across the globe through action plans patterned after those of the world health organization and regional neurologic societies.•A stepwise approach of intersectoral collaboration may prove valuable for achieving global brain health. Brain health initiatives and programs are gaining traction worldwide. Some are clinically based, others research based, and some are a combination of clinical and research action plans. Achievement of global brain health is a challenging endeavor with prerequisites including but not limited to multidisciplinary and multisectoral approaches, strengthening of neurologic policies at local and regional levels, global advocacy, leadership and collaboration amongst stakeholders, development of technical and guidance documents, and strengthening and interpretation of the relevant evidence. Over 1 billion persons worldwide are impacted by neurologic disorders, and brain health initiatives are needed to curb the human suffering and cost of these disorders. We provide a brief review of select brain health initiatives and programs and offer possible steps to achieve brain health globally.