EBC Welcomes S7 Joint Statement Calling for Brain Health to Become a Global Priority

The European Brain Council (EBC) warmly welcomes the publication of the S7 Academies Joint Statement “Advancing Brain Health (including Mental Health) for Global Societal Resilience”, delivered in the framework of the G7 process and calling for brain health to become a cross-cutting global policy priority.

Signed by leading scientific academies from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, the statement represents a major milestone in the growing international recognition of brain health as not only a health and research challenge, but also a societal, economic and geopolitical imperative.

The statement calls on G7 leaders to adopt brain health as a cross-cutting priority across policy domains ranging from health and education to research, innovation and economic growth. By embracing a holistic and integrated approach to brain health, the statement recognizes the interconnections between neurological and mental health conditions, their shared determinants and risk factors, and the need for coordinated action across the entire life course.

This publication clearly echoes EBC commitment at global, European and national levels and reflects the broader global momentum that has accelerated significantly over the past years.

Recent developments have indeed demonstrated a clear shift toward stronger political recognition and coordinated action on brain health worldwide.

Globally, momentum has also been building through the WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP), Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan, growing international discussions on brain capital and the brain economy at the World Economic Forum and G7/G20 levels, as well as the emergence of new global collaborations and advocacy initiatives. The OneNeurology movement, engagement during the United Nations General Assembly and several regional and national brain strategies have further contributed to positioning brain health higher on international agendas.

In Europe, the launch of the European Partnership for Brain Health (EP Brain Health) in January 2026 marked a historic milestone for brain research and innovation. Bringing together over 55 partner institutions from more than 30 countries with a planned budget of approximately €500 million, the Partnership represents one of the world’s largest collaborative efforts in brain research. At the same time, discussions around an EU Coordinated Approach to Brain Health continue to gain traction within the European policy landscape, alongside increasing attention to neurological and mental health in the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The S7 statement therefore arrives at a particularly strategic moment, as discussions begin shaping the future post-2030 global agenda and broader international governance frameworks related to health, innovation, resilience and sustainable development.

Against this backdrop, EBC and the Global Brain Coalition are intensifying efforts to advance brain health within the United Nations ecosystem.

Recent developments at the 79th World Health Assembly have further reinforced this growing momentum. Member States adopted the first-ever World Health Assembly resolution on stroke, strengthening global commitments around prevention, acute care, rehabilitation and health-system readiness, while explicitly linking these efforts to the WHO IGAP. At the same time, the OneNeurology Partnership continued advancing implementation efforts around IGAP and the Political Declaration on NCDs through high-level discussions with WHO, policymakers and civil society, further highlighting the increasing recognition of neurological disorders and brain health within global health governance.

Building on the growing momentum generated during previous editions, the Brain Days at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81), taking place in New York on 23–24 September 2026, will focus the path “Towards a UN Resolution for the Brain”.

The event will bring together policymakers, scientists, clinicians, innovators, patient representatives, funders and international organisations to discuss the future of global collaboration on brain health, research and innovation, while advancing dialogue around the development of a future UN Resolution on Brain Health.

The publication of the S7 Academies Joint Statement sends a strong signal that the international scientific and policy communities are increasingly aligned around the need for more coordinated, ambitious and integrated action on brain health.

For EBC, this momentum must now translate into tangible policy frameworks, stronger international collaboration, sustained investment in research and innovation, and greater recognition of brain health across all policies.

As global discussions continue to evolve – from the G7 and WHA to the European Union and the United Nations – EBC remains committed to working with partners worldwide to help ensure that brain health becomes a priority for the decades ahead.