Category: CBRS News

As the cost of brain conditions is expected to balloon to $16 trillion by 2030, G7 leaders and Canada are uniquely positioned to deliver solutions.

June 13, 2025 (Calgary, Alberta) — A growing international coalition of scientific, business, and policy leaders has issued a declaration calling on G7 leaders to adopt a policy roadmap that will deliver sustained progress on brain health through the 2026 G7 Leaders’ Summit in France. 

The Canada Brain Economy Declaration builds on the expanding body of evidence that an erosion of brain health represents an imminent crisis that could cripple major economies if businesses, health systems, and governments do not adopt transformative and coordinated solutions.

The recommendations will be made public during the G7 Canada Brain Economy Summit in Calgary on June 14. They outline concrete steps G7 leaders can take in 2025 to prioritize the creation of a global brain economy—one that will power a more resilient, productive future fueled by healthy brains to meet the rising global demand for brain capital. 

Sustainable economic growth and human development depend on brain capital—a combination of brain health and brain skills that is rapidly emerging as a key driver of competitive advantage. Realizing its full potential will require nations to support healthy brain function across the workforce, address conditions such as mental, neurological, and substance use disorders, and promote brain skills like creativity, emotional regulation, and adaptability.

The core recommendations included in the Canada Brain Economy Declaration are:

• Instruct Finance and Health Ministers to develop a coordinated plan to accelerate the brain economy, including concrete investment and policy proposals
• Establish a G7+ Brain Economy Working Group to align efforts across countries and sectors
• Convene a G7 Brain Economy Conference to scale proven solutions and forge new partnerships
• Include brain capital in the 2025 Leaders’ Communiqué, positioning it as central to economic stability and innovation

“Governments are treating human brain health as an economic cost, not as an asset that can be harnessed for significant competitive and societal advantage,” said Jennie Z. Young, PhD, Executive Director of the Canadian Brain Research Strategy. “There is momentum across all sectors in Canada and other nations. But without G7 leadership, we won’t unlock the full economic potential that can be harnessed by investing in brain capital initiatives.”

“Brain health is foundational to our future economy, especially as aging populations and the rise of neurodegenerative and mental health disorders threaten national fiscal stability,” said George Vradenburg, Founding Chairman of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative. “No nation can afford to ignore the multi-trillion-dollar cost of unaddressed brain disorders. This is higher than the annual GDP of Germany, France, Italy, and the UK combined. The G7 has a unique opportunity to solve this crisis, joining the private sector and civil society to create a global brain economy.” 

The economic burden of brain and mental health conditions is mounting. In G7 countries, these conditions are now the leading cause of disability and a major driver of lost productivity. Yet government investment and policy coordination remain decades behind the scale of the crisis—leaving people and economies vulnerable. Brain health includes mental, neurological, and substance use disorders that affect individuals across all life stages—from early childhood and adolescence to working-age adults and older populations.

The Declaration makes clear that this is not simply a health or aging issue: It is a business and labor issue that drives national competitiveness and global economic growth. G7 countries have strong, educated workforces, but they are failing to convert that potential into productivity gains. In Canada, for example, GDP per capita has declined for three consecutive years despite having the largest proportion of working-age people in the G7. That mismatch, the Declaration argues, is the brain economy gap.

The push for coordinated action is gaining ground. In September, global stakeholders will reconvene at a high-level side event hosted by the European Brain Council (EBC) during the Science Summit at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York. The event, organized under the banner of the Global Brain Coalition, will continue the work of shaping a shared, global response to the erosion of brain capital. This G7 Canada work will also be integrated into the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Brain Economy Action Forum and Insights Report to be published at the January 2026 WEF Annual Meeting. 

“The future of brain health depends on international cooperation,” said Frédéric Destrebecq, EBC Executive Director. “At UNGA80, we are bringing together voices from science, policy, civil society, and industry to shape a global response to one of the century’s greatest health challenges.”

The Summit is also part of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative Brain House Tour, a global initiative launched at the 2025 World Economic Forum. Each stop convenes leaders from science, business, and policy to shape the systems-level change needed to reduce the burden of brain conditions and build the brain capital required for future generations. The tour will culminate in the release of a global roadmap at Davos 2026.

G7 leaders have a precedent for this kind of action. Past summits have led global responses to pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and financial instability. The erosion of brain capital is another systemic risk—but this one is preventable. The Declaration urges leaders to act now—and to commit to sustained progress through the 2026 G7 Summit in France.

About the Canada Brain Economy Declaration

The Canada Brain Economy Declaration represents the culmination of a months-long effort that brought together more than 100 senior global leaders from government, business, research, and civil society through a series of roundtables, consultations, and convenings aligned with the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit.

The effort was convened by the Alzheimer’s Society of Montreal, Canadian Brain Research Strategy, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, European Brain Council, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Ontario Brain Institute, Rice University, and the University of Calgary.

We also gratefully acknowledge the hundreds of other individuals and organizations—across sectors and borders—whose thought leadership, time, and collaboration helped shape this global movement and the Declaration it has produced.

Learn More

Read the Canada Brain Economy Declaration:
canadianbrain.ca/canada-brain-economy-declaration

For more information about the Summit:
canadianbrain.ca/g7-canada-brain-economy-summit

Media contact 

Lindsay Borthwick

communications@canadianbrain.ca 

 +1 416 706 7522

More than 250 Canadians sent letters, reaching over 40% of newly elected MPs to call for urgent federal action on brain and mental health research!

Help us keep brain health front and center.

Send a letter to congratulate your MP and remind them that brain health belongs in Budget 2025.

Because when it comes to brain health, the stakes are too high to ignore — and our community isn’t done raising its voice.

What’s Next: Voices from the Community

We’re continuing the momentum with Voices from the Community, a storytelling series featuring Canadians speaking out on why brain health matters. These stories show that brain health is personal, urgent, and worth championing — and they keep pressure on policymakers to act.

Check out the stories in our Voices from the Community series on LinkedIn:

Lindsay Borthwick

Dr. Caroline Menard

Vote for Brain Health Now!

🧠 Brain health is Canada’s future—but it’s missing from national priorities.

1 in 5 people—7.5 million Canadians—live with a brain condition, making brain disorders the leading cause of disability in the country. Whether it’s mental illness, autism, substance use disorders, brain injuries, or dementia, the burden is growing. It’s affecting families, straining healthcare, and undermining our workforce and productivity.

That’s why Canada’s brain research community—research leaders, people with lived experience, health charities, non-profits and industry partners—has come together to develop a national strategy. The roadmap is in place. It’s time for government to drive progress.

With a federal election ahead, we must ensure brin health is on the national agenda.

Key Messages:

• Breakthroughs are within reach: Advances in prevention, treatment, and cures depend on strategic, sustained investment to bring innovation to reality.
• Excellence needs coordination: A national initiative is needed to unite individual discoveries into collective solutions, ensuring Canada’s research efforts work together for greater impact.
• Investing now secures our future: A commitment to brain research today secures the Canadian talent to drive new discoveries for better brain health—now and for generations to come.

Making Brain Research Matter with Evidence for Democracy

In advance of Canada’s federal election, CBRS partnered with Evidence for Democracy (E4D) to deliver a timely and practical advocacy training workshop, Making Brain Research Matter: Advocacy Tools for a Critical Election Year.

Participants heard from E4D Executive Director Sarah Laframboise and CBRS Executive Director Jennie Z. Young in a 90-minute session that equipped researchers, advocates, and engaged citizens with the skills and tools to engage policymakers on the importance of brain health and research.

Participants learned how to:

• Navigate advocacy pathways to effectively engage with policymakers and drive change

• Frame brain research in ways that resonate with decision-makers and the public—by connecting it to broader issues like healthcare sustainability, workforce resilience, and economic growth

• Use effective advocacy tools—including CBRS’s ongoing Vote for Brain Health campaign and embedded letter-writing platform—to take action and mobilize others.

The session also spotlighted E4D’s Vote Science campaign because a Vote for Brain Health is a vote for science, so while each has a distinct focus, they work together to strengthen the voice for science and research in Canada.

Whether you’re passionate about science, brain health, or both, now is the time to speak up and encourage others to do the same.

Download the presentation slides here.

Key moments in the workshop recording:

• Welcome & why advocacy matters now — [03:45]

• Introduction to the Canadian Brain Research Strategy — [14:25]

• Engaging in effective science advocacy — [21:15]

• Framing brain research for broader impact — [52:30]

• Live walkthrough of the Vote for Brain Health campaign & letter-writing tool — [1:19:34]

• Tips for personalizing your letter & mobilizing others — [1:21:21]

• Resources & ways to stay involved — [1:29:15]

Let’s keep the momentum going and make brain health and research matter this election—and beyond.

Une nouvelle campagne nationale – www.Vote4BrainHealth.ca – menée par la Stratégie canadienne de recherche sur le cerveau, exhorte les décideurs politiques à inclure la santé cérébrale à l’ordre du jour des élections.

OTTAWA, le 10 mars 2025 /HRI Portal/– La santé du cerveau est le prochain grand défi – et la prochaine opportunité – du Canada. Un Canadien sur cinq vit avec une affection cérébrale, faisant des troubles neurologiques la principale cause d’invalidité et coûtant des dizaines de milliards de dollars chaque année au système de santé et à l’économie en raison de la perte de productivité. Parallèlement, le Canada est un pôle mondial de recherche sur le cerveau, et ce domaine est à un tournant, avec des avancées majeures pour des affections comme la maladie d’Alzheimer, la dépression et les accidents vasculaires cérébraux à portée de main. Une action nationale coordonnée est nécessaire pour transformer des découvertes isolées en solutions bénéfiques pour tous les Canadiens.

C’est pourquoi la Stratégie canadienne de recherche sur le cerveau (SCRC) lance Votez pour la santé du cerveau (www.Vote4BrainHealth.ca), une campagne nationale appelant tous les partis fédéraux à s’engager à faire de la recherche sur le cerveau et de la santé cérébrale une priorité lors des prochaines élections. Lancée en pleine semaine « Cerveau en tête » (du 10 au 16 mars), cette campagne met en lumière l’urgence d’une Initiative canadienne de recherche sur le cerveau – un effort national ciblé visant à faire en sorte que le leadership canadien en matière de recherche sur le cerveau se traduise par de meilleurs traitements, une main-d’œuvre plus forte et un avenir plus sain pour tous les Canadiens.

Comment les Canadiens peuvent soutenir Votez pour la santé du cerveau

Les Canadiens sont invités à s’exprimer et à faire de la santé du cerveau un enjeu électoral. Visitez Vote4BrainHealth.ca pour agir dès maintenant :

• Signez l’appel à l’action. Contactez les candidats fédéraux leur demander de faire de la santé cérébrale une priorité de leur programme électoral.
• Mobilisez votre réseau. Partagez le message sur les réseaux sociaux en utilisant #Vote4BrainHealth et publiez une photo avec le libellé : « Je vote pour la santé du cerveau. Vous joindrez-vous à moi ? »

Un moment charnière pour la santé cérébrale et l’avenir du Canada

La recherche sur le cerveau ouvre la voie à une nouvelle ère de la médecine, avec des thérapies novatrices qui transforment les soins pour des maladies autrefois considérées comme incurables, comme la maladie d’Alzheimer. En parallèle, cette recherche façonne aussi l’avenir de l’économie. Tout comme l’intelligence artificielle redéfinit l’industrie et les emplois, les progrès en neurosciences transforment notre manière de travailler, d’apprendre et de rester en bonne santé. Dans un monde où le marché du travail est en constante évolution, la santé du cerveau devient un moteur économique clé, les fonctions cognitives et la résilience mentale étant plus cruciales que jamais.

Un investissement fédéral fort et coordonné en recherche sur le cerveau permettra de :

• Accélérer les découvertes – Une meilleure coordination favorise des percées plus rapides et une utilisation plus efficace des fonds de recherche.
• Transformer la santé cérébrale – Des avancées en matière de prévention, de traitement et de soins sont à portée de main. Un investissement structuré garantit que les découvertes passent du laboratoire à la clinique, ce qui se traduit par une amélioration de l’état de santé des Canadiens.
• Soutenir la prochaine génération – Investir dans les jeunes chercheurs assure une innovation continue dans le domaine de la santé cérébrale, engendrant des bénéfices économiques à long terme.

« La santé du cerveau est essentielle à l’avenir du Canada, et pourtant, elle est largement absente des discussions politiques nationales. » – Dr Jennie Z. Young, direction générale de la SCRC.
« Avec des élections à l’horizon, il est temps que le gouvernement fédéral prenne les devants et fasse de la santé cérébrale une priorité. Une Initiative canadienne de recherche sur le cerveau permettrait d’unir et d’accélérer les travaux de nos scientifiques de classe mondiale, en veillant à ce que les percées dans la recherche sur le cerveau se traduisent par de meilleurs soins, de l’innovation et de la croissance économique ».

Un appel à l’action du gouvernement fédéral

La campagne Votez pour la santé du cerveau exhorte tous les partis à s’engager à soutenir une Initiative canadienne de recherche sur le cerveau – un investissement stratégique visant à coordonner et à accélérer les efforts de recherche sur le cerveau au Canada. Le Comité permanent des finances de la Chambre des communes a déjà recommandé de financer une initiative nationale de recherche sur le cerveau dans le budget 2025, mais sans volonté politique, cette opportunité pourrait être perdue.

À propos de la Stratégie canadienne de recherche sur le cerveau (SCRC)

La SCRC est un mouvement pancanadien visant à faire progresser la recherche sur le cerveau et la santé mentale grâce à une coordination stratégique, au développement de politiques et à une collaboration intersectorielle. En tant qu’initiative unificatrice, la SCRC rassemble plus de 40 des principaux instituts et programmes de neurosciences et de santé mentale du Canada, ainsi que des chercheurs en début de carrière, des détenteurs de savoirs autochtones, des personnes vivant avec des troubles cérébraux, des bailleurs de fonds, des organismes de bienfaisance en santé, des organisations à but non lucratif et des partenaires de l’industrie.

Notre mission repose sur la vision d’une science du cerveau comme catalyseur du progrès politique, social, sanitaire et économique, au bénéfice du Canada et du monde entier.

Pour en savoir plus sur le CBRS, consultez le site canadianbrain.ca.

Contact pour les médias

Dr Jennie Z. Young, Ph.D.

Direction générale, Stratégie canadienne de recherche sur le cerveau

jennie.young@canadianbrain.ca

A new national campaign – www.Vote4BrainHealth.ca – led by the Canadian Brain Research Strategy, urges policymakers to put brain health on the election agenda.

OTTAWA, March 10, 2025 /HRI Portal/ – Brain health is Canada’s next big challenge—and opportunity. One in five Canadians lives with a brain condition, making brain disorders the leading cause of disability and costing the economy tens of billions each year in healthcare and caregiving hours. At the same time, Canada is a world-renowned hub for brain research and the field is at a turning point, with breakthroughs for conditions like Alzheimer’s, depression, and stroke within reach. Coordinated national action is needed to turn isolated discoveries into solutions that benefit all Canadians.

That’s why the Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS) is launching Vote for Brain Health (www.Vote4BrainHealth.ca), a national campaign calling on all federal parties to commit to prioritizing brain research and brain health in the next election. Timed with Brain Awareness Week (March 10-16), the campaign highlights the urgent need for a Canadian Brain Research Initiative—a focused national effort to ensure that Canada’s brain research leadership translates into better treatments, a stronger workforce, and a healthier future for all Canadians.

How Canadians Can Support Vote for Brain Health

Canadians are invited to speak up and make brain health an election issue. Visit Vote4BrainHealth.ca to act now:

• Sign the call to action. Contact federal candidates to urge that brain health be a priority in their platforms

Activate your network. Share the message on social media using #Vote4BrainHealth and post a photo with the printout sign: “I’m voting for brain health. Will you join me?”

A Pivotal Moment for Brain Health and Canada’s Future

Brain research is unlocking the next frontier of medicine, with new therapies transforming brain conditions once considered untreatable, like Alzheimer’s. At the same time, it is shaping the future of the economy. Just as AI is redefining industries and jobs, advances in brain science are reshaping how we work, learn, and stay healthy. As workplaces rapidly evolve, brain health is emerging as a key economic driver, with cognitive function and mental resilience more critical than ever.

A strong, coordinated federal investment in brain research will:

• Accelerate Discoveries – Smarter coordination means faster breakthroughs and more effective use of research funding.
• Transform Brain Health – Advances in prevention, treatment, and care are within reach. Coordinated investment ensures that discoveries move from the lab to the clinic, leading to improved health outcomes for Canadians.
• Support the Next Generation – Investing in young researchers ensures continuous progress in brain health innovation, creating long-term economic benefits.

“Brain health is central to Canada’s future, yet it remains largely absent from national policy discussions,” says Dr. Jennie Z. Young, Executive Director of CBRS. “With an election on the horizon, it’s time for federal leadership to step up and make brain health a priority. A Canadian Brain Research Initiative would unite and accelerate the work of our world-class scientists, ensuring that breakthroughs in brain research translate into better care, innovation, and economic growth.”

A Call for Federal Action

Vote for Brain Health urges all parties to commit to a Canadian Brain Research Initiative—a strategic investment to coordinate and accelerate Canada’s brain research efforts. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance has already recommended funding a national brain research initiative in the 2025 budget, but without political will, this opportunity could be lost.

About the Canadian Brain Research Strategy (CBRS)

CBRS is a pan-Canadian movement to advance brain and mental health research through strategic coordination, policy development, and cross-sector collaboration. As a unifying initiative, CBRS brings together more than 40 of Canada’s leading neuroscience and mental health institutes and programs, along with early career researchers, Indigenous Knowledges Holders, people with lived experience of brain conditions, research funders, health charities, non-profits, and industry partners. Our work is driven by the vision of brain science as a catalyst for policy, social, health, and economic progress for Canada and the world.

Learn more about CBRS at canadianbrain.ca

Media Contact

Dr. Jennie Z. Young, Ph.D.

Executive Director, Canadian Brain Research Strategy

CBRS and global experts have released a new editorial, based on a policy concept note, calling on the G7 to recognize brain health and brain skills as core economic priorities. With Canada chairing the G7 in 2025, this is a pivotal moment to put brain capital at the heart of economic policy. 

Why Brain Capital Matters for Economic Growth 

The future of economic resilience depends on brain capital—the combination of brain health and cognitive skills that fuels innovation, productivity, and adaptability. Yet, despite its critical role, brain capital is missing from major economic strategies, leaving a significant gap in policy planning.  

The evidence shows that failing to invest in brain capital has serious economic consequences because: 

• The workforce is changing: Half of the top emerging job skills identified in the 2025 Future of Jobs Report are brain-related (e.g. creativity, analytical thinking).
• The economic impact of brain disorders is massive: Brain disorders cost the global economy an estimated $2.5–$8.5 trillion annually in lost productivity. 
• Aging populations and workforce stress are on the rise: Without investment in brain health, economies risk lower productivity, higher healthcare costs, and declining innovation. 

What’s at Stake If We Don’t Act? 

Failing to prioritize brain capital could mean: 

• Workforce decline: Brain-related conditions already impact 1 in 5 Canadians, limiting economic participation. 
• Innovation slowdown: A healthy, resilient workforce drives scientific and technological breakthroughs. 
• Economic stagnation: Without cognitive resilience, countries will struggle to compete in the global economy. 

A Blueprint for the G7 

To future-proof the global economy, the editorial’s authors call on the G7 to: 

1. Establish a G7 Brain Economy Working Group to integrate brain capital into health, finance, workforce, and innovation policies. 
2. Host the first-ever G7 Brain Economy Summit to drive global action. 
3. Align with the private sector to encourage corporate investment in brain health and productivity. 

From National Advocacy to Global Action 

CBRS has long advocated for brain research as a driver of not only better health outcomes but of economic growth, innovation, and workforce resilience. Key milestones include: 

• Brain Research Must Be a National Priority for the Social, Health, and Economic Advancement of Canada – written submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance: Pre-budget consultations in advance of budget 2023 
• Brain Research: The Cornerstone for Canada’s Future Socio-Economic Wealth – a panel discussion at the 2023 Canadian Science Policy Conference 
• Brain Science is the Foundation of the Brain Economy Transformation – an editorial at Sciencepolicy.ca
• Scaling Research for Impact: From Local Insights to Global Solutions – a symposium and workshop at the 2024 Canadian Science Policy Centre Conference 

With Canada leading the G7 in 2025, we see an unprecendented opportunity to elevate brain health and brain research on the global stage as critical drivers of economic resilience, workforce productivity, and prosperity.

Read the editorial.

Read the policy concept note.

Reflecting on 2024, I’m proud to share the incredible progress CBRS has made alongside our many partners and supporters. Together, we’ve advanced shared priorities and strengthened the foundation for brain and mental health research in Canada.

I invite you to watch our 2024 highlights video and celebrate these accomplishments!

As we look ahead to 2025, CBRS will continue driving efforts to establish a national brain research initiative—a key step in securing Canada’s leadership in brain health and innovation. Let’s build on the momentum we’ve created together and keep brain and mental health at the forefront of the nation’s agenda.

Dr. Jennie Z. Young