Event title: ‘The Brain Health Imperative: Policy and Innovation for European Impact’
Organised by: The European Brain Council (EBC)
Event date: Nov 12, 2024
Event location: EU Parliament, Brussels

The policy opening of the Brain Innovation Days 2024 took place on 12 November in the European Parliament. Hosted by MEP Tomáš Zdechovský, this high-level, policy-focused event set the stage for two days of innovation and collaboration centered around the theme ‘Navigating the Brain Across a Lifetime’. The event featured key opinion leaders from the brain health community and explored how policy can drive tangible impacts in brain health, research and innovation.

EFNA President, Astri Arnesen was invited to speak on a panel together with Péter Kéri, President of GAMIAN-Europe. The topic of discussion was ‘The Need for Action in Managing Brain Disorders.’

Astri spoke about the need to change how things are managed in clinical brain health research.  There has been a high percentage of negative trials in neurology.  This is due to many factors, not least that the brain is the most complex organ in our bodies. But its also due to the fact that we have not developed tailored outcome measures. We need to have a good assay of validated biomarkers as well as good tools for patient experience data.

“One big issue is that patients report that they are not believed when they talk about their “invisible” symptoms.  How can we tailor health care services when we don’t believe what patients tell about their needs?”, asked Astri.