The full agenda can be found
here.
Registration for in-person attendance is mandatory
here. Please note that if you do not complete registration through this link, you will not be included on the attendee list on the day.
The
European Brain Council (EBC),
Brain Capital Alliance,
Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative,
Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and
UNICEF, in collaboration with partner organizations, are pleased to welcome you to our two-day, high-level side event within the
Science Summit at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79).
In line with the Science Summit’s core focus of examining policy, regulatory and financial environments needed to implement and sustain the science mechanisms required to support global scientific collaborations and demonstrate the role and contribution of science in attaining the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this event demonstrates the growing momentum for brain health at the global level, highlighting existing partnerships as well as the immense potential and benefits of extending global collaboration in the brain space – for science, policymaking, and society as a whole.
Brain disorders – encompassing neurological diseases and disorders and mental illnesses – are widespread, disabling, and difficult to treat. In fact, it is estimated that more than three billion people worldwide live with a neurological condition and 970 million people around the world were living with a mental health disorder as of 2019. These conditions represent a high individual, social and economic burden and contribute immensely to the global burden of disease – in fact, as of 2024, neurological conditions alone are now the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.
With this growing burden in mind, we need to not only find ways to address the ongoing issues but to work towards a society fully recognizing the potential of supporting citizens’ brain health. At its best, optimal brain health allows people to thrive: to live in health and in happiness, to power our labor markets and economies, and to build for future generations. Instead of divesting in a cost, policymakers and society at large should view the prioritization and support of brain health, research, and innovation as an investment into prevention, wellness, and optimization, creating a better future for every citizen of the world.
To work towards explicit and tangible next steps in solidifying global efforts in brain health, today’s event showcases the importance and urgency of prioritizing brain health across all policies, not only at the national level but at the regional and global levels as well, building on the
Call to Action launched during last year’s event. Addressing the immense global burden of brain disorders means investing in research and innovation in the brain health space to power our understanding of the brain, stay ahead in the quest to find treatment and cures and work to prevent any further increase in the prevalence of these conditions. Furthermore, at the socio-economic level, policies and investments to boost brain power can increase productivity, stimulate greater creativity and economic dynamism, afford social cohesion, and create a more resilient, adaptable, and sustainability-engaged populace.
This year’s event and UNGA is incredibly timely, as dozens of countries worldwide host major elections, and we are witnessing times of major political, economic, and overall societal shifts and instability. Furthermore, at the global level, the United Nations enters a period of preparation for the future, with the Summit of the Future kicking off during UNGA79 to plan for the post-2030 agenda and a High-Level Conference on NCDs planned in 2025. Key stakeholders from across the wider brain community – patients, scientists, clinicians, policymakers, industry leaders, economists and other relevant actors – are in the room (and online) today from all over the world to share their work and learn from colleagues. Now is the time to work together towards further action to place brain health at the top of global policy agendas in the post-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) era.
