Young Adult Brain Capital: A New Opportunity for Dementia Prevention

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Farina, Francesca R.^{a; b; *} | Booi, Laura^{b; c} | Occhipinti, Jo-An^d | Quoidbach, Vinciane^d | Destrebecq, Frédéric^d | Muniz-Terrera, Graciela^{e; f} | Eyre, Harris A.^{b; d; g; h; i; j; k; l; m; n}

Affiliations: [a] Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA | [b] Global Brain Health Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and University of California, USA | [c] Centre for Dementia Research, School of Health, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK | [d] Mental Wealth Initiative, Brain and Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Australia | [e] Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Warrensville Heights, OH, USA | [f] Centre for Dementia Prevention, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK | [g] IMPACT, The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia | [h] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA | [i] Neuroscience-Inspired Policy Initiative, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France | [j] Center for Health and Bioscience, The Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA | [k] Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Dallas, TX, USA | [l] Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain | [m] Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA | [n] Brain Capital Alliance, San Francisco, CA, USA

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Francesca Farina, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Ave., 27th floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Tel.: +01 312 503 4388; E-mail: francesca.farina@northwestern.edu.

Abstract: The potential for future prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) through healthy lifestyle change is spurring a positive brain health movement. However, most ADRD research continues to focus on mid- and later life. We lack evidence regarding risk exposure and protective factors in young adulthood, i.e., 18–39 years. Brain capital is an emerging framework that represents the combination of education, knowledge, skills, and optimal brain health that people accumulate over their lives. Building on this framework, we present a new model that focuses on optimizing brain health in young adulthood; namely, young adult brain capital. Increasing focus on younger populations is critical for developing citizens who are emotionally intelligent, resilient and can anticipate and cope with rapid changes in the world. By understanding the values that are key drivers and motivators for young adults, we can empower the next generation to become active agents in optimizing their brain health and reducing their risk for future ADRD.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, brain capital, brain health, prevention, risk reduction, young adults

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-230260

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 94, no. 2, pp. 415-423, 2023