AAN Brain Health Initiative

AAN Brain Health Initiative

The American Academy of Neurology’s groundbreaking Brain Health Initiative focuses on enhancing brain health at every stage of life, from a person’s earliest years of development to their oldest years.

In an era where cognitive well-being is increasingly recognized as paramount to overall health and productivity, we are proud to take a pioneering step towards promoting rigorous education, public policy, scientific discovery, and collaborative partnerships. Our commitment is to improve lives and make a meaningful impact on the landscape of brain health. 

Read the AAN’s Brain Health Position Statement.


AAN Mission

To enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all.


Brain Health Definition

A continuous state of attaining and maintaining the optimal neurologic function that best supports one’s physical, mental, and social well-being through every stage of life.

The AAN updated its figure on the global burden of neurological disease in line with the World Health Organization's analysis, which found over 1 in 3 people worldwide are living with a neurological condition. 

The complete analysis was published in The Lancet Neurology in March.

Pillars of Brain Health

The Initiative’s pillars of science, patient care, public policy, and public education provide the framework for the AAN’s vision of brain health for all. 

Science 
Accelerating research and discovery to achieve scientific breakthroughs in preventing neurologic conditions and advancing brain health research.

Patient Care 
Providing trustworthy brain health resources to medical professionals at all stages of training. 

Public Policy 
Advancing brain health by working with policymakers on the federal and state levels. 

Public Education 
Engaging with the public about how to keep your brain healthy through every stage of life. 

The first-ever Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health have been awarded to two researchers, Patrick Devlin, Ph.D., of Houston, Texas, and Cyprien Rivier, M.D., M.Sc., of New Haven, Connecticut. Each will receive a $150,000 two-year scholarship to support continuing scientific research in brain health. Devlin and Rivier also receive the honor of being named the first inaugural “Sacco Scholars.”

Learn More

Brain Health Resources

Science

 

Patient Care

 

Public Policy

 

Public Education

EVENTS

24-AM-color-logo.pngAAN Annual Meeting

The AAN Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of neurologists and neuroscience professionals and offers top-tier education, the latest in scientific discoveries, and an abundance of opportunities to connect with friends and colleagues from around the globe. 

Interested in viewing brain health content from the 2024 Annual Meeting? Conferences On Demand allows you access to over 500 hours of content, including 375+ CME through March 1, 2025.  

Access 2024 On Demand


Brain-Health-Summit.pngAAN Brain Health Summit

The 2023 AAN Brain Health Summit was held on September 21, 2023, in Washington, DC. The summit brought together leaders in brain health, representing dozens of academic and research organizations, professional medical societies, patient-centric associations, as well as key public and private sector stakeholders and United States policymakers as they continue to collaborate on shaping the future of brain health.

For further details, read the summit agenda and see the attendees list.

The 2024 Brain Health Summit will take place on September 19, 2024.


Carlayne Jackson, MD, FAAN headshot
Your brain controls every aspect of your life, so it’s important to keep it as healthy as possible. The AAN, which has promoted brain health for decades through its advocacy and public outreach, is proud to stand united with a coalition of multidisciplinary stakeholders as we pursue a plan to improve brain health across each stage of your life.

Carlayne E. Jackson, MD, FAAN
President, AAN

Media coverage

Update on Brain Health with Dr. Rost (Neurology® Podcast) | June 24, 2024

Brain Health and the Need for Preventive Neurology (Medscape) | May 20, 2024

The Future of Brain Health: How Neurologists Can Lead the Way (Clinical Neurology Update from NEJM Group; pages 10-12) | April 2024

Lowering Your Risk of Dementia (The Chris and Amy Show on KMOX) | February 15, 2024

The Behavioral Health Integration Collaborative Part 2: Neurology (AMA STEPS Forward® Podcast) | February 14, 2024

How to Fight Dementia, According to Neurologists (CNN) | February 12, 2024

Exploring Brain Health and Confronting Veteran Suicides (What's Health Got to Do with It?)  | January 6, 2024

Collaborators

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