On May 21, 2025, CBRS Executive Director Jennie Z. Young joined global business leaders for high-level discussions on Brain Capital: The New Competitive Advantage in a Shifting Economy in Houston, Texas.
Hosted by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s Business Collaborative for Brain Health, Rice University, and partners, the roundtables convened nearly 200 business executives, policymakers, neuroscientists, and investors to explore how brain health drives innovation, productivity, and long-term economic growth. Global leaders signaled growing private-sector commitment to the brain economy, opening new pathways for investment in brain health and research.
Dr. Young contributed to the session International Markets: Global Brain Health Challenges and Strategies, highlighting Canada’s national efforts to unite research, policy, and industry around brain health. The discussions underscored how countries are moving from narrative to action—with India piloting brain health clinics, Europe pooling €500 million into a new partnership, and Canada preparing a cross-sector roadmap for the G7 Summit in Calgary.
Across sessions, participants framed brain health as critical infrastructure for resilient societies, showcased emerging AI tools to measure brain capital in schools and workplaces, and emphasized the role of employers in creating brain-healthy environments. Houston itself was positioned as a “lighthouse” for the world’s first local brain economy strategy, linking business, health systems, and policy to workforce well-being.
