Putting the brain at the heart of the matter
Brain health will be the focus of a new American Heart Association pre-conference symposium the day before ISC.
The American Heart Association has a new priority: advancing brain health and increasing awareness of the profound relationship between brain health and cardiovascular health. The collaborative effort builds on the association’s foundation through research, scientific statements and guidelines.
“Brain Health,” a featured pre-conference symposium on Tuesday, Feb. 3, will showcase emerging research in brain health and neuroscience. Mitchell V. Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA, chief science officer of brain health and stroke of the American Heart Association, and Anne Leonard, MPH, BSN, RN, FAHA, national senior director, science and medicine, American Heart Association, helped organize the full-day program.
8:45 a.m.-5 p.m. | Tuesday, Feb. 3 | Room 217-219
“This holistic approach prioritizes prevention at primordial and primary levels and seeks to ‘do for the brain what the association has done for the heart,’ — bridging established credibility in stroke and vascular cognitive impairment to broader brain health advocacy, education and innovation,” Elkind said. “The initiative also recognizes the bidirectional relationship between heart and brain health, emphasizing that ‘what’s good for the heart is good for the brain — and vice versa’.”
In the symposium, expert clinicians, researchers and innovators will present key findings and describe actionable approaches for clinical care, prevention and advocacy. Elkind said the program is organized into four main sessions:
- The Heart-Brain Connection, which focuses on health conditions such as cardiac and cerebral amyloidosis, autonomic dysfunction and neurogenerative disease, and atrial fibrillation and cognition
- Post-stroke cognition and mental health problems
- Changing the course of dementia and cognitive decline
- Brain in society and the impact that arts and the built environment have on well-being and brain recovery from injury
“With content that bridges science, clinical practice and community engagement, the event will offer tremendous value for those committed to improving brain health outcomes and advancing the field through innovation and advocacy,” said Elkind.
Presentations and panels will be rooted in evidence-based research that supports whole-person care and offers relevant multidisciplinary insights.
“Ultimately, the goal is for attendees to leave equipped to champion brain health within their own spheres of influence — translating science into practice and advancing the Association’s vision of improving brain health across the lifespan,” Elkind said.
