Did you know that 1 in 3 people around the world are affected by brain-related conditions?
Yet, brain health barely gets the attention it deserves in everyday health conversations.
That’s why, every year on July 22, World Brain Day is celebrated. It’s a powerful reminder of how important it is to take care of our brain, and to make brain health a global priority.
“Neurological conditions cause great suffering to the individuals and families they affect, and rob communities and economies of human capital.”
– Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
A global divide in brain care
Neurological conditions are the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide. But the access to brain care remains unequal.
Over 80% of neurological deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries, where healthcare systems often don’t have enough doctors, specialists, necessary infrastructure or support services to provide proper treatment.
In fact, rich countries have up to 70 times more brain health professionals per person than poorer ones. This disparity means that millions suffer in silence, without access to diagnosis, care, or rehabilitation.
Their symptoms are ignored, misunderstood, or even dismissed due to stigma. And when they do seek help, care is often too far away or delayed.
So, what exactly are neurological conditions?
These are disorders that affect your brain, spine, and nervous system. They can be:
- Chronic (like epilepsy, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s)
- Acute (like stroke or brain injury)
- Developmental (such as cerebral palsy or autism)
Early warning signs you mustn’t ignore
The theme for World Brain Day 2025 is “Brain Health for All Ages.”
It highlights the consistent need to take care of our brains from childhood through old age. Because many brain-related issues start silently and worsen over time.
Here are some signs you must watch for:
- Frequent or severe headaches
- Memory loss or confusion
- Sudden changes in mood or personality
- Difficulty walking, speaking, or moving parts of the body
- Seizures, numbness, or vision problems
Can we prevent brain conditions?
Not all brain conditions are preventable, but many can be delayed, managed, or improved with the right lifestyle choices.
Some simple, science-backed steps include:
- Regular exercise to improve blood flow to the brain
- A balanced diet rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and whole grains
- Avoiding smoking, alcohol, and drug use
- Getting enough quality sleep
- Staying mentally active through reading, learning, or brain games
- Seeking help for anxiety, depression, or high stress
Brain health startups stepping up with innovation
As public health systems struggle to keep up, brain health startups are stepping in with innovative tools to fill the gap. They are combining AI, neuroscience, and personalised analytics to improve how we monitor, manage, and even predict neurological conditions.
Here are some promising players driving this transformation:
#1 Beynex (Turkey)
Founders: Elif Bayındır, Ogulcan Bagatır, Saim Emre Şahiner, Türker Şahiner
Beynex is a brain health coaching app that continuously monitors cognitive performance using cognitive scans, brain games, and lifestyle scores.
Its Smart Coach feature combines data from diet, mood, exercise, and sleep to offer tailored recommendations, helping users detect and address potential brain issues early on.
#2 Ivory (India)
Founders: Issac John and Rahul Krishnan
Ivory focuses on healthy ageing with neuroscience-backed assessments and games. It empowers users (especially seniors) to detect neurodegenerative risks early and provides personalised brain health strategies, educational resources, and cognitive wellness tools.
#3 Silvia (South Korea)
Founders: Myung Jin Ko and Jaemin Cheun
Silvia provides AI-powered brain health solutions for early dementia prevention. Its flagship app Silvia includes brain training, health tracking, and preventive routines. The suite also features Sopy for mild cognitive impairment and Sage, a public-use screening station, making early detection accessible and scalable.
#4 BrainCast Neurotechnologies (Australia)
Founder: Govinda Poudel
BrainCast offers neuroimaging solutions tailored for sports medicine. By enabling athletes to scan and track brain changes through advanced MRIs, the platform helps prevent and manage sports-related brain injuries, including CTE, using precise 3D brain visualisations and normative comparisons.
#5 Sama Therapeutics (USA)
Founders: Shobi Ahmed, Franz Hell, Adam Teed and Aurina Arnatkeviciute
Sama Therapeutics combines generative AI with computational neuroscience in its iMAGiNE platform. It offers predictive biomarkers and advanced diagnostics to accelerate personalised treatments for cognitive, emotional, and behavioural disorders, reducing the time and cost of developing effective therapies.
Looking forward
Brain health is complex and deeply personal. However, science and technology are bridging it within reach. The convergence of neuroscience and technology offers hope, access, and action for better brain health.
World Brain Day 2025 reminds us that brain care isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.
Because when the brain is healthy, everything else is possible, be it learning, working, connecting, creating or just thriving.
It’s time we invest in scalable and inclusive brain health solutions.
-Rinkle Dudhani and the AHT Team
