What is the aim of the SFCNS Swiss Brain Health Plan?

Brain health and the prevention of brain diseases should become a top priority with the Swiss Brain Health Plan. So far, there is no national plan and no national guideline. I believe that Switzerland now has the opportunity to become a flagship project for the implementation of a national brain health plan.

In 2022, the WHO adopted the so-called IGAP, Intersectoral Global Action Plan 2022-2031. One goal of the IGAP is for 85% of countries to draw up a brain health plan. This currently applies to very few countries in Europe. So far, there are only concrete projects in Germany, Norway and Switzerland.

We would like to support the population and the authorities in following the WHO's call. That is why we are committed to developing a Swiss Brain Health Plan.

Why is this important for the general population?

One in two people will suffer a brain disease in the course of their lives. This means that half of the population is affected. The other half should therefore be concerned with prevention.

Brain diseases can be neurological disorders such as headaches, strokes, dementia, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and sleep disorders. Or psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, addiction and eating disorders can manifest themselves.

These illnesses often occur in combination, making it difficult to draw a clear distinction between neurology and psychiatry. A clear example of this is post-Covid syndrome. Both the neurological effects and the social elements play an important role here. I therefore like to compare neurological and psychiatric disorders to the two sides of a coin.

Who can actively support the SFCNS Swiss Brain Health Plan?

The entire population can contribute. The brain is the most important thing we carry with us. The brain is important for thinking, for emotions, for our social behavior and for politics. The brain is important for making decisions about everything in life. We must not forget that. In a society that has many problems, the brain is what can save the world.

If we keep our brains healthy and support them well, society is bound to improve too. It affects everyone. It's what makes us human.

When the question of where the soul is located comes up, most people point to the heart. Instead, they should point to the head. The soul is up there, not in the heart. The heart is just a muscle.

In the morning, everyone has a toothbrush in their hand...most people at least. Everyone knows that you have to brush your teeth in the morning. It is often neglected that you should do something for your brain every day, similar to how you take care of your teeth. I believe that brain health is not just for specialists, but for everyone. Everyone can benefit from it.

To ensure that people function well and feel good, especially in terms of well-being, we need to do more for this organ than we currently do.