A healthy brain is essential for a happy and productive life. Our brains are responsible for social interaction, economic productivity, communication, enjoyment and more. In this digital world characterised by an increasing reliance on artificial intelligence, the productivity and prosperity of our societies depend more than ever on citizens’ healthy brains. Here brain health refers to the optimal functioning in cognitive, sensory, social, emotional, behavioural and motor domains, allowing individuals to realise their full potential over their lifespans.
We believe that promoting brain health should be a top and urgent priority for all G7 members. Brain disorders affect one in three individuals and are the leading causes of disability in the world. Our populations are ageing, with fewer young people and more older people, which translates into a shrinking fraction of the population who can constructively contribute to society. Declining birth rates mean fewer children. In addition, a significant fraction of children have neurodevelopmental diseases (including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities and schizophrenia) or suboptimal environmental conditions (such as poor prenatal care, poor nutrition and abuse) that reduce their brains’ ability to achieve peak levels of performance and predispose them to mental health problems. These children grow up to become adults who may contribute less, or possibly not at all, to society and the economy. At the other end of the age spectrum, we are seeing a rising prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Parkinson’s. An ageing population and increasing rates of neurodevelopmental diseases and mental illness drive a sharp increase in healthcare costs, producing a growing burden on our economies.
Building brain health from early life
To increase the fraction of the population with healthy, well-functioning brains we must act at both extremes of the age spectrum – better preventing and treating both neurodevelopmental and age-related brain diseases and promoting optimal conditions for both the growing and ageing brain. We need to act now to improve brain health by applying known effective interventions and increasing research to find new ways of promoting brain health.
Some simple and relatively inexpensive steps can be implemented to improve brain health and productivity. Modifiable factors that can retard the development of neurodegenerative and vascular brain disorders include reducing vascular risk factors (such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and smoking), improved nutrition, increased physical activity, optimal sleep and reduced social isolation. Although these brain health–promoting interventions are known by many, our societies must more actively and effectively address the modifiable risk factors. For maximum effect interventions must start in youth and continue throughout life. Brain health also requires optimal conditions for brain development, such as prenatal care, sensory stimulation, active social interaction, improved nutrition, exercise and prevention of traumatic brain injury.
Finding effective treatments for brain diseases requires a better understanding of the brain and its diseases. This can only come from research. However, the brain has always been challenging to study. In its bony box it is not easily accessible. Structurally complex, the brain possesses a challenging anatomy. Unlike most tissues that have at most a dozen different kinds of cells, the brain has an unknown number, estimated at well over a thousand. Accessing tissue samples is critically important to understand disease – brain biopsies are rare. Animal models have limitations in the study of complex human activities such as language. Recent technological advances are allowing us to overcome some of these difficulties. Genomics, proteomics, single cell biology, brain imaging, AI, induced pluripotent stem cells and new animal models are leading to significant advances in our understanding of the brain and its diseases. These approaches have the potential to enable a more mechanistically grounded understanding of brain diseases, crucial for the successful development of new effective treatments and prevention.
Collaboration for cognitive health
Sustained and focused research aimed at identifying ways to improve brain health is desperately needed. We have the tools to identify novel interventions, but we lack the resources and focus required to discover new treatments rapidly. Identifying new ways to improve brain health requires significant resources and the long-term commitment of major governments. It is important to adopt an Open Science research model so that data, algorithms and reagents can be rapidly and freely shared, while preserving confidentiality and sovereignty. The aim is to generate significant new knowledge that will allow AI and other approaches to advance our understanding of how to improve brain health.
G7 leaders at their Évian Summit in June can help by 1) making brain health a priority for all members;
2) promoting evidence-based behaviours and treatments that optimise brain health; and 3) significantly investing in research and development aimed at improving brain health. They should carefully review the recommendations on brain health produced by the Science 7, led by the G7 Science Academies, on 19 May 2026.
