The Lancet Neurology highlights the urgent need to prioritise brain health on international agendas in an editorial published in its December 2024 issue, citing the Brain Health Mission, launched by the EAN in 2023, as an example of positive initiatives aiming to promote brain health.
With over 3.4 billion people worldwide affected by neurological conditions, brain health remains the leading cause of disease burden, but it is still overlooked in global health policies. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and neurological disorders (IGAP) and its recently launched implementation toolkit are steps toward improving global brain health, The Lancet Neurology warns that more decisive action is required.
The piece also singles out the recent EAN-led side event during the G7 Health Ministers’ meeting in Ancona, Italy, titled Prioritising Brain Health: A Global Imperative for Public Health,which stressed the need for collaboration across disciplines, better public communication about brain health, and awareness of the concept of brain capital. This contrasts with the G7 Health Ministers’ meeting itself, which, despite touching on brain health issues like dementia, prompted calls for more concrete action.
The Lancet Neurology urges world leaders to address brain health as a core public health issue at the upcoming UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases. “Brain health is central to who we are as individuals and is increasingly appreciated as necessary for a healthy economy,” it concludes. ” A united effort is needed to ensure that brain health is given due prominence and is no longer confined to side events.”
