Brain disorders are becoming more and more prevalent in the population. Kim’s and Alessia’s guest - Frédéric Destrebecq, executive director of European Brain Council (EBC) - is here to tell us about how society can cope with this tendency, discussing prevention and treatment of brain diseases as well as topics like effects of depression, mental illness stigma, stress disorders and burnout syndrome. 

 European Brain Council is a non-profit organization that brings together patient associations, research institutions, and representatives of the relevant industries, with a mission to improve the quality of life among people suffering from neurological disorders. Founded in Brussels in 2002, EBC have spent the last 16 years facilitating communication between their member organizations, as well as between research, industry and policy-makers. 

Furthermore, they have been influencing European Commission and European Parliament to invest more in brain health. Besides the pan-European level, EBC works with National Brain Councils and National Action Groups (check this map to see if you country has one) too,  and on global partnerships.

Kim Baden-Kristensen is the co-founder and CEO of Brain+, a digital therapeutics company that helps people with brain disorders and injuries to recover their fundamental cognitive brain functions and daily life capabilities by using an app-based cognitive rehabilitation platform, which is developed in close collaboration with patients, clinicians and researchers. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbadenk/  

Alessia Covello is a life science IT consultant working in the field of healthcare technology implementation, and advocating for better services for people with brain conditions and learning disabilities. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessiacovello/ 

Discussion points include: 

●     Brain health statistics: prevalence in the population, costs of treatment, current issues (4:00 - 16:20)
●     The role of education and awareness, especially in work environments (13:22)
●     Technology in hospital care and daily life (16:24-22:00)
●     The role, the achievements, and the priorities of EBC (22:15-27:30)  
●     Treatment and prevention - what is more important? (27:44-33:45) 
●     Allocation of the EU sources to brain research (34: 04-46:00)
●     Role of the industry (46:36-48:30)
●     Patient-centered care (48.38-50:45)

Disclaimer:
All references to products, companies, and organizations in this podcast and the article that accompanies it are included with the purpose to inform, rather than promote or advertise. The podcast authors do not receive financial compensation for any of these references.