On 28 May 2025, Spain took a crucial step in addressing one of the most urgent health and social challenges of our time with the launch of the Plan Español del Cerebro (PEC, Spanish Brain Plan). Developed and presented by the Consejo Español del Cerebro (Spanish Brain Council, CEC) at the Spanish Medical Association (OMC) in Madrid, this new national strategy brings together leading scientific societies, patient organisations, researchers and healthcare professionals to coordinate action against the growing burden of brain disorders.
This strategy responds to a critical reality: nearly 43% of the Spanish population – over 21 million people – are living with a brain condition, neurological and psychiatric alike, which now stand as the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death in the country. The PEC aims to provide a comprehensive, multisectoral framework to improve brain health outcomes in line with World Health Organization objectives and the European Brain Council’s call for national brain plans across Europe.
Structured around five priority pillars – data and impact, equitable care, research, prevention and social participation – the PEC is a concrete roadmap to reduce disease burden, address territorial inequalities and promote brain health across the life course. It calls for increased investment in neuroscience research, the implementation of integrated care models, the development of national indicators of impact, the support to early detection strategies and the establishment of an Iberian Brain Observatory in partnership with Portugal.
As national brain strategies become increasingly recognised as vital tools to meet the Sustainable Development Goals and tackle the burden of brain disorders, Spain joins a growing number of countries taking strategic action to integrate brain health into public policy and healthcare reform.
The Spanish Brain Plan represents an essential development – one that aligns with global momentum and has the potential to improve lives, support health system sustainability and contribute to a brain-healthy European Union. EBC will continue to support national efforts like the PEC and advocate for their uptake across the EU.