More than 100 organizations call on policymakers to make the brain a higher priority on the European political agenda

The No Health Without Brain Health campaign is calling on all stakeholders, policymakers and the public to support critical policy initiatives that will significantly improve brain health, research and care across Europe.

Why it matters: Brain health affects everyone in Europe. Whether it's the ongoing search for cures and treatments for people living with brain diseases, or protecting and supporting healthy brains for our future generations, the challenges are unprecedented. Addressing brain health is not just about dealing with burdens, but also about enabling people to thrive, contributing to labor markets, economies and the overall well-being of society. With the adoption of a number of plans to address mental health and neurological disorders, the World Health Organization (WHO) has required member countries to commit to addressing the burden of brain disorders in a consistent manner. This increased attention to brain health, brain research and brain innovation is particularly reflected in various European initiatives, such as the Helthier Together ("Healthier Together") initiative, the Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health or the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework program.

Despite this, the latest UN report on the Sustainable Development Goals (ESG), published in 2023, notes no progress in combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In fact, SDG target 3.4 to "reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third through prevention and treatment" is far from being achieved1 . In this context, the European Union needs to equip itself with an equally ambitious "Brain Plan," similar to the activities dedicated to oncology in recent years, and create a robust parliamentary mechanism capable of cross-cutting oversight of all current and future initiatives in a coherent and effective manner.

Campaign objectives:

Establishing a Parliamentary Group on Brain Health and Research in the European Parliament: The Intergroup will ensure that brain health remains at the center of EU policy discussions. It aims to foster interaction and synergies, ensuring that critical brain health and brain research issues receive the attention they need, while grounding policy-making in evidence-based science.

Support for national and EU brain plans: The campaign advocates for the further development of national brain plans and a comprehensive European brain strategy. The initiative aims to promote brain-healthy and prosperous economies for current and future generations, increase investment in brain research and innovation, and improve care for the millions of Europeans living with brain diseases, both neurological and mental. Join us: The current international and European momentum in brain health is an unprecedented opportunity to make concrete policy changes that would directly benefit all European citizens, including the millions of people living with brain disease and their families and caregivers, while strengthening the EU's competitiveness and its role as a global leader.

We invite all stakeholders, partners and supporters to join this important effort. Together we can make a significant impact on the well-being, health and future of millions of Europeans including Poles.

Source: press mat.