Life Course Epidemiological Trends and Social Determinants in Brain Health
Dixon Yang, MD
In this focused update, Drs. Hilal and Brayne discuss the role of life course inequalities in brain health and successful aging. Brain health is defined as the development and preservation of optimal brain integrity and neural network functioning for a given age [1]. Sustained brain health over a lifespan is important in the maintenance of an individual’s ability and independence. Poor brain health may manifest as cognitive impairment or stroke in later life. Especially as the proportion of the older population increases worldwide, maintaining brain health will likely become a growing public health challenge. In this article, the authors outline the epidemiological trends and social determinants of health that underpin healthy brain aging. As many of these trends start early in life, Drs. Hilal and Brayne discuss possible mechanisms for healthy brain aging and opportunities for research and societal approaches towards promoting brain health across the lifespan.