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Ways To Improve Health & Wellness Based On Latest Brain Science And Neurotechnologies

How can we begin learn more building better bridges between existing brain science and neurotechnologies and the real-world health challenges we're facing, such as ADHD, depression, and Alzheimer's Disease? These are 10 priorities to consider, based on the author's participation in the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China (September 10-12th, 2014).

Last month I had the fortune to join over 1,900 pioneers from 90 countries at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Tianjin, China, to discuss how innovation can improve the state of the world.

Throughout hundreds of panels, workshops, private meetings and social gatherings, we examined how to deal with climate change, how to invest in public infrastructure, how to better regulate financial services, and dozens of other pressing topics. In addressing these issues, everyone -- independent of nationality or discipline - brought to the table our most precious asset: the amazing Human Brain.

During stimulating and captivating sessions we explored the new frontiers in neuroscience. A prominent focus was around how emerging neurotechnologies, such as those enabled by the White House BRAIN Initiative, will help detect and record brain activity in unprecedented detail and, therefore, revolutionize our knowledge of the brain and the mind.

In parallel, high-ranking government officials and health experts convened to brainstorm about how to "maximize healthy life years." The conversation revolved around physical health and promoting positive lifestyles, but was largely silent on the subjects of cognitive or emotional health. The brain, that key asset everyone needs to learn, problem-solve and make good-decisions, and the associated cognitive neurosciences where so much progress has occurred over the last two decades, are still largely absent from the health agenda.

What if existing brain research and non-invasive neurotechnologies can be applied to improve public health and well-being? How can we begin building better bridges from existing science and the technologies towards tackling wards real-world health challenges we're facing?

Good news is that a transformation is already underway, albeit under the radar. As William Gibson eloquently said, "The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed." Individuals and institutions worldwide are expected to spend over $1.3 billion in 2014 in web-based, mobile and biometrics-based solutions to assess and enhance brain function. Growth is poised to continue, fueled by emerging mobile and non-invasive neurotechnologies, and by consumer and patient demands for self-driven, proactive brain care. For example, 83% of surveyed early-adopters agree that "adults of all ages should take charge of their own brain fitness, without waiting for their doctors to tell them to" and "would personally take a brief assessment every year as an annual mental check-up."