Where Brain Health Meets Digital Health and Big Data

2013 is an exciting time to have a brain. Over the past two decades, our understanding of the human brain has grown exponentially. Fueled by this new information, the number and variety of brain applications available commercially is exploding, potentially transforming the way we care for our brains across our entire lifespan. Having a brain is not a medical condition, yet in practice that seems to be our unspoken assumption. The truly revolutionary and often untold story these days is about the tools becoming available to consumers to take better care of their own brain health and performance, thanks to new digital platforms that can access large quantities of data. This trend can take brain health (and health overall) to a whole new level, away from its traditional overemphasis on a constellation of medical conditions, pharmacological interventions and small clinical trials. While neurological and psychological conditions take a terrible toll on society, from ADHD to depression and Alzheimer’s Disease, it is time for a new paradigm that doesn’t address each of them in isolation. True Brain Health requires preserving and enhancing a variety of cognitive, emotional and executive functionality, going far beyond the absence of disease. A holistic Brain Health approach, additionally, would serve as the best way to delay, if not prevent, the neurological and psychological conditions mentioned above. This opportunity is becoming true thanks to a nascent cultural shift. Previou...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neurologists Authors: Tags: Education & Lifelong Learning Health & Wellness Technology big data Brain-health digital health neuroplasticity World-Economic-Forum Young Global Leaders Source Type: blogs