From Neurodegeneration to Brain Health: An Integrated Approach

Article type: Brief Report

Authors: Petersen, Robert B.^{a; b} | Lissemore, Frances M.^b | Appleby, Brian^{a; b; c; l} | Aggarwal, Neelum^d | Boyatzis, Richard^e | Casadesus, Gemma^f | Cummings, Jeff^g | Jack, Anthony^h | Perry, Georgeⁱ | Safar, Jiri^{a; b} | Sajatovic, Martha^{b; c} | Surewicz, Witold K.^j | Wang, Yanming^k | Whitehouse, Peter^b | Lerner, Alan^{b; l; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA | [b] Department of Neurology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA | [c] Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA | [d] Department of Neurology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA | [e] Departments of Organizational Behavior, Cognitive Science, and Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA | [f] Department of Biology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA | [g] Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, Las Vegas, NV, USA | [h] Department of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA | [i] Department of Biology, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA | [j] Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA | [k] Departments of Radiology, Chemistry, and Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA | [l] Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Alan Lerner, MD, 3619 Park East Drive, #206, Beachwood, OH 44120, USA. Tel.: +1 216 464 6449; Fax: +1 216 201 6424; alan.lerner@uhhospitals.org

Abstract: The term “brain health” integrates general health and well-being with cognitive fitness, in the context of an environment that includes the spectrum of positive and negative factors affecting the individual. Brain health incorporates the effects of neurodegeneration in an ecological sense and the effects of environment and health practices on brain function. It also provides a framework for understanding and maximizing cognitive function across the lifespan. Despite decades of research into the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, our understanding of how to treat them is relatively rudimentary. Unidimensional approaches, such as medication monotherapies, have generally produced negative results in treatment trials. New integrative paradigms that cut across the molecular and cellular level to the individual and societal level may provide new approaches to understand and treat these disorders. This report on proceedings of a multi-disciplinary conference held in Cleveland, Ohio, in October 2013 summarizes research progress in understanding neurodegenerative disorders in a brain health context. A new “brain health” paradigm is essential to finally understand neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and overcome the relative stand-still in therapeutics research that has characterized the last decade. The authors summarize progress in these emerging areas with the aim of producing new integrated scientific models for understanding brain health, potentially modifying disease course and advancing care for individuals and families affected by neurodegenerative conditions.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, brain health, neurodegeneration, Parkinson’s disease, psychosocial approaches

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-150043

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 271-283, 2015