Brain Health

From our thoughts, emotions, memory and motor skills to vision, temperature, and hunger, our brain is at the center.​

When we contemplate a definition of brain health, we’re talking about more than the absence of disease. Instead, we’re moving toward a proactive perspective that speaks to: optimal cognitive functioning, resilience in the face of day-to-day stressors, and an overall sense of wellbeing and productivity.​

In the United States alone, 50% of people will experience a brain health condition in their lifetime. These conditions can range from mild, brief mood disturbances that resolve on their own to severe, chronic health conditions that can be debilitating, especially when undiagnosed or left untreated. And while there is substantial variation among countries, a mental health condition will affect between a quarter and half of all people at some point in their lives.​

Despite the prevalence of brain health conditions, they remain one of the least-addressed topics in health. While brain disorders can be disabling, research shows that many are preventable and treatable. Some interventions may include one or a combination of: psychotherapy, preventive or behavioral treatments, medication, social support, and digital tools. And, in many cases, the earlier the intervention, the more effective it is in minimizing individual suffering, as well as overall cost to society.​

The way people perceive, express, and cope with brain health conditions is strongly influenced by the social, cultural, economic, and physical environments in which they live. Other important aspects in shaping our cognitive wellbeing are related to age and gender, societal expectations, and lived experiences.​