Two important brain health events took place as part of the UN Science Summit at the 79^th United Nations General Assembly and Summit for the Future, held in New York in September 2024. The European Federation of Neurological Associations (EFNA) was proud to participate in both, through the involvement of Executive Director, Dr Orla Galvin.

On September 18th, Rice University’s Baker Institute Center for Health and Bioscience, the California Mental Health Services Oversight Accountability Commission, the Brain Capital Alliance, the Euro-Mediterranean Economists’ Association, HKS and NeuroCentury convened a plenary conference entitled ‘The Brain Economy Summit: 21st Century Response To 21st Century Challenges.’ This focused on the new concept of the Brain Economy which posits a transformative societal approach to build brain capital, an asset that optimises brain health and brain skills, in the face of technological change.

The event’s particular focus was on how the brain economy can support the goals of the One Health framework, aiming to balance and optimise the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.

EFNA Executive Director, Dr Orla Galvin, participated in a panel discussion on ‘National Brain Health Plans and the Brain Economy.’ National brain health plans are proliferating and maturing around the world. There is a need to customise such plans for various jurisdictions and optimise them from the economic and societal point of view. To this end, there is increasing recognition that countries need to do more to make use of, nurture and develop the population’s brain capital. In this session, Dr Galvin explored ways that national brain health plan leaders are leaning in to the brain-positive economic transformation which aims to build the brain capital and brain health of their fellow citizens across sectors.She particularly highlighted examples of neurology patient organisations influencing policy action at European and national level, EFNA’s influence through the MEP Interest Group on Brain Health and Neurological Conditions, and global advocacy through the OneNeurology Partnership.

The event ‘Neuroscience & Society: A Life Course Approach To Brain Health‘ took place from September 19-20. This was organised by The European Brain Council, Brain Capital Alliance, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute and UNICEF.

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 demonstrated 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.

Key stakeholders from across the wider brain community – scientific, clinical, economic, industry – and other relevant actors met to present on their work and co-create towards further action to place brain health at the top of global policy agendas in the post-Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) era. This action is incredibly timely, particularly in 2024, where 64 countries worldwide will 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.

The days focused on three key areas, through presentations, guided panel discussions and interactive discussion:

• The challenge, impact and need for action;
• Brain health and society – the brain in the life course;
• Boosting global partnerships, capacity building and investing in neuroscience

Dr Galvin’s intervention was a talk on patient-led advocacy at the global level. Here Dr Galvin highlighted EFNA’s work as co-founders of the OneNeurology Partnership, its work to date and the focus on aligning the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and other Neurological Disorders (IGAP) with global policy drivers such as the SDGs and preparation for the next UN High Level Meeting on NCDs. It also provided the opportunity to call for more OneNeurology members and ambassadors.

Speaking following the events Dr Galvin reported:

“The content of both days was highly valuable, intense, broad and inclusive. Selecting highlights therefore is difficult but I was most delighted to hear the absolutely clear message from Werner Obermeyer, Director, World Health Organization (WHO) Office at the United Nations speaking on “Developments in the WHO Global Action Plan” to include patient and caregiver involvement in all implementation.

I was shocked to learn of the higher than expected prevalence of childhood dementia, as with many neurological conditions this condition often goes misdiagnosed, with cases occurring in isolation, and cases with terminal outcomes. The presentation from Prof. Sameer Zuberi (EPNS) captivated the attendees and highlighted the need to share knowledge, insights and information about all neurological conditions particularly in the area of pediatric neurology.”