A call for action on brain health at the United Nations General Assembly

“We still only understand around 1% of how the brain works” – a short statement but one that resonated with me from the United Nations General Assembly Brain Health & Research Day. It serves as a reminder of just how much is left to do when it comes to brain disorders, and why we are focused on solving the lack of consistent data and evidence which is a barrier to awareness and policy action.

Making progress with key stakeholders at the United Nations General Assembly

At the Brain Health & Research Day, it was great to see that real progress is being achieved through action and collaboration from a range of diverse, highly-committed brain health experts. We came together to discuss the challenges and identify policy changes to support the prioritisation of brain disorders and build bridges together. It was an important opportunity to speak with global experts about the progress already being made and create a roadmap to overcome challenges for the future. Some highlights were:

• Representatives from several organisations emphasised the need for funding, capacity building and infrastructure to equip health systems with the ability to respond to the growing challenge of brain health disorders – particularly given the world’s ageing population.
• IHME shared an update on the soon-to-come Brain Health Index, a standardised, science-based approach to quantify the current and future economic burden of brain health disorders. Insights showed how global health systems, especially in LMICs, are already grappling with major labour shortages, and governments are struggling as direct spending for brain health conditions rises.
• The European Brain Council (EBC) gave an overview of their priorities, including the drive for more research on early diagnosis and integration of brain disorders, risk detection and treatment protocols into primary and paediatric healthcare settings.

A call to action to the United Nations and Member States

This push to create awareness and drive policy change to support those living with brain disorders is not just about addressing the negatives, it’s about preserving what makes people who they are. And real progress was made with this in mind through the submission of a call to action to the United Nations and its Member States to recognise brain health as an urgent global priority and acknowledge the disparities in care and infrastructure across the world. With the support of the United Nations, we have the opportunity to develop inclusive and equitable frameworks for research and collaboration at a global level – working across all industries to improve the outlook for brain health, together.

The demand for research & innovation

Only through robust data and scientific evidence can we improve diagnosis, create new innovative treatments and provide better care for people living with brain disorders. One of the key points I discussed at the recent Longwood Healthcare Leaders Conference, is the way we make decisions on our pipeline therapies that have potential to drive our research forward. We need to ensure we think about the overall socioeconomic burden faced by those living with brain disorders, their family, friends and caregivers, and design our solutions that will bring value to them and societies at large.?

Back in March, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) released the first?Brain Health Atlas, which visualises the health and economic burden of brain health conditions and their evolution over time for different geographies. The Atlas data emphasises the need for more research and investment into brain disorders. Globally, $1.2 trillion in income was lost by people living with brain disorders in 2019, and this has been increasing at a rate of over 5% since 1990, showcasing that the true impact actually sits outside of the healthcare system.

Collaboration, not just innovation

When we look at the global impact of brain health conditions, it becomes increasingly obvious that collaboration between private and public organisations is critical. Despite the value in medical innovation, ground-breaking advancements in medicine, genetics, and technology, these are not sufficient to ultimately deliver value to patients and their families. Engaging the entire global community of stakeholders is crucial, so collaboration is not merely a choice - it is a necessity.?

We have a lot of work to do alongside governments and policymakers to ensure that brain disorders receive the focus and investment they deserve both at a regional and local level. I am hopeful that in five years’ time, I will be back at this time and see it as when momentum really began to drive policy change for the lives of those living with brain disorders.

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