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. 2023 Sep 26;101(13):570-579.
doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207739.

The Brain Health Imperative in the 21st Century-A Call to Action: The AAN Brain Health Platform and Position Statement

Natalia S Rost  1 , Joel Salinas  2 , Justin T Jordan  2 , Brenda Banwell  2 , Daniel J Correa  2 , Rana R Said  2 , Linda M Selwa  2 , Sarah Song  2 , David A Evans  2 ; American Academy of Neurology's Committee on Public Engagement
Affiliations

The Brain Health Imperative in the 21st Century-A Call to Action: The AAN Brain Health Platform and Position Statement

Natalia S Rost et al. Neurology. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

N.S. Rost reports personal compensation for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Stroke-AHA/ASA Journal; research support from NIH; publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. J. Salinas reports personal compensation for serving as a Consultant for Eisai, Inc., and stock in Isaac Health. J.T. Jordan reports personal compensation for serving as an employee of City of Beverly, Dietitians on Demand, Genesis HR Solutions, and Harborlight Montesorri; personal compensation for serving as a Consultant for Navio Theragnostics, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Guidepoint, Atheneum Partners, CEC Oncology, EM Partners, GLG, Texas Health Resources, Children's Tumor Foundation, BCD Meetings, and Shepherd Therapeutics; stock in Navio Theragnostics The Doctor Lounge, Shepherd Therapeutics, and OldGate; research support from NIH and Department of Defense; and publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. B. Banwell reports personal compensation for serving as a Consultant for Novartis, UCB, Roche, Janssen, and Genentech; personal compensation for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Novartis; and research support from the National MS Society and NIH. D.J. Correa reports personal compensation for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for the American Academy of Neurology, stock in Aidin Inc, research support from Genentech and Psi Upsilon Foundation Inc. R.R. Said reports no disclosures relevant to the manuscript. L.M. Selwa reports no disclosures relevant to the manuscript. S. Song reports received personal compensation for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for AAN. D.A. Evans reports personal compensation for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Genentech, Biogen, Horizon Therapeutics, and Averitas; personal compensation for serving as an officer or member of the Board of Directors for NeuroNet GPO; stock in NeuroNet GPO; and stock in NeuroNet Pro. Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flow Diagram of the Process to Develop a Consensus-Driven Definition for Brain Health
Figure 2
Figure 2. The American Academy of Neurology's Brain Health Initiative Strategic Objectives
Figure 3
Figure 3. The American Academy of Neurology's Brain Health Platform
Figure 4
Figure 4. The American Academy of Neurology Action Plan for Brain Health Across the Lifetime
Previously published in Avitzur O, Rost NS, Evans DA. Neurologists have a plan for lifelong brain health. Neurology. 2022;99(21):925-926.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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