Conference highlights Africa’s growing role in the global brain health landscape.
By Morris Freedman
From left to right: Dr. Temitope Farombi, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Trinity College, Dublin, and neurologist at University College Hospital in Ibadan, George Vradenburg, board chair of Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, and Dr. Morris Freedman.
The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) Brain House, in partnership with the Science for Africa Foundation, convened a landmark conference, Brain Health as a Driver of Global Prosperity: A G20 Call to Action, on Nov. 4, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa. I attended as a representative of the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), serving as a trustee and treasurer.
Livestreamed on CNBC Africa, the event brought together global leaders, scientists, policymakers, and advocates to reframe brain health not only as a medical priority, but also as a critical economic and societal investment — particularly for Africa and the broader Global South.
A major theme of the conference was Africa’s growing role in the global brain health landscape. Although Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias were once considered challenges primarily in high-income countries, recent projections reveal a striking shift. By 2050, nearly 70% of dementia cases are expected to occur in low- and middle-income countries, with Africa accounting for a significant share. The number of cases on the continent is projected to rise sharply, reaching an estimated 14 million by mid-century. That’s roughly 12% of global dementia cases and up from around 3 million in 2019. This dramatic increase underscores the urgency of prioritizing brain health as a central component of Africa’s public health and economic development strategies.
Fifi Peters, journalist and senior anchor at CNBC Africa, opened the session by underscoring the urgency of placing brain health at the center of global development dialogues. She was followed by George Vradenburg, founder and chair of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, who issued a compelling call for governments to invest in human intelligence with the same intensity devoted to artificial intelligence (AI). He spoke about the concepts of brain capital and the brain economy.
Brain capital is a form of human capital that combines brain health with essential cognitive, emotional, and social skills. These include empathy, creativity, analytical thinking, and adaptability. The brain economy is an economic paradigm that positions brain capital as a core asset. This model is driven by advances in neuroscience and responds to the increasing demand for these skills in the modern workforce.1, 2
From left to right: Dr. Lawrence Tucker, president of AFAN, George Vradenburg, and Dr. Morris Freedman.
Brain health has long been a priority for the WFN. Over the past four years, the WFN has dedicated consecutive World Brain Day campaigns to brain health, with a focus on prevention, disability reduction, and the promotion of brain health across the life course. These global initiatives underscore the central role of brain health in overall well-being, productivity, and societal resilience.
Speaking at the conference, Mireille Wenger, provincial minister of health and wellness for South Africa’s Western Cape, underscored brain health as a fundamental aspect of human dignity. She highlighted the necessity of health systems that safeguard both the mind and body to ensure social and economic thriving. Wenger emphasized the importance of Africa’s role in conversations about global brain health, including research and policy, noting that the continent is beginning to age and must prepare for this demographic shift. She stressed that prevention must begin early — even before birth.
Reinforcing this, Dr. Holly Baines spoke about The First 1000 Days (1kD), a $45 million initiative uniting experts in life sciences, engineering, and computer science from universities, nonprofits, and the private sector to develop scalable methods for measuring and promoting healthy brain development in infants.
Dr. Tom Kariuki, CEO of the Science for Africa Foundation, highlighted the transformative potential of AI and digital innovation to advance mental wellness and early childhood development, particularly in low-resource settings. He emphasized that Africa’s true wealth lies in the human minds of its people and argued that investments in brain health are investments in the continent’s long-term prosperity.
From left to right: Prof. Riadh Gouider, Dr. Temitope Farombi, George Vradenburg, Dr. Chi Udeh-Momoh, neuroscientist at Aga Khan University and Wake Forest University, Dr. Morris Freedman, and Dr. Lawrence Tucker.
The conference also featured an inspiring address by Hatim Eltayeb, CEO of the African Leadership Academy, which is dedicated to identifying, developing, and connecting a new generation of effective leaders across Africa.
Several panel sessions highlighted key themes in brain health. These included:
Brain Economy Around the World: Perspectives From the Global South (Moderator: Fifi Peters)
Panelists discussed how investing in brain health can catalyze economic development and resilience across the Global South. They shared perspectives from their regions and proposed scalable strategies for strengthening health systems while promoting inclusive economic growth.
The Economic Imperative of Brain Health (Moderator: Drew Holzapfel)
This session examined why brain health is a critical economic investment and how different stakeholders can prioritize it. Panelists highlighted the fact that brain health disorders — including mental health conditions, substance use disorders, and neurological diseases — impose a heavy economic burden, costing trillions in lost productivity. They emphasized that investing in brain health not only creates a healthier workforce but also stimulates innovation and strengthens economic resilience.
The 6×5 Plan: A Roadmap for Africa’s Future (Moderator: Dr. Mie Rizig) 3
A major highlight of the conference was DAC’s 6×5 Plan, a five-year roadmap built around six pillars to advance early detection, timely care, data-driven systems, and equitable innovation to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and improve brain health globally, particularly in the Global South.
The plan aligns with G20 priorities while addressing Africa’s pressing health system needs. Speakers emphasized that investing in brain health translates to investments in education, workforce productivity, and national resilience, and that achieving these goals requires collaboration across sectors.
Brain Health as Co-Investment in Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) (Moderator: Dr. Chi Udeh-Momoh)
This panel explored brain health as an essential component of the NCD agenda. The discussion followed the life course, highlighting interventions at critical inflection points — from nutrition and socialization to education, cardiovascular health, and healthy aging. Panelists emphasized the need for a whole-of-life approach to build brain resilience, prevent cognitive decline, and co-invest in strategies that strengthen both brain health and broader health systems.
Innovation, Digital Health, and Artificial Intelligence for Brain Health (Moderator: Dr. Vaibhav Naryan)
I participated in this panel in which innovation, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as powerful enablers for brain health. Experts discussed how AI and digital health solutions could help Africa overcome traditional barriers to care with a focus on “Why Africa, why now?”
I emphasized that Africa is facing a rapidly growing prevalence of dementia, and we need to act now to be prepared. Although the solutions must be multipronged, virtual care is a key strategy to ensure equitable access to dementia care and prevention across the continent. Virtual care allows people to receive care wherever they are, without traveling to a hospital. It relies on widely available cell phones and internet connectivity, which remains a challenge in many areas but can and should become more accessible.
Dr. Temitope Farombi from Nigeria reported there are about 70 neurologists in Nigeria for 230 million people, with 60% of those aged 60 years and older living in rural areas. She underscored the potential of 800 million mobile phones in Africa to deliver scalable digital health services to individuals at higher risk of dementia.
Prof. Riadh Gouider from Tunisia, then WFN first vice president-elect, stressed virtual care and telemedicine’s role in reducing health care disparities, especially for the large proportion of Africans living in rural areas. He emphasized that Africa must not “miss the train” on advances in AI and digital health, which are essential to the continent’s future, particularly for brain health.
I showcased the novel Virtual Behavioral Medicine (VBM) program, which was developed at Baycrest, in Toronto, Canada.4 VBM is unique in the world and functions as a “virtual inpatient behavioral neurology unit” for management of patients with severe neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia such as physical aggression.
The program has demonstrated a 60% reduction in need for admissions to specialized behavioral units in people living with dementia and behaviors such as aggression. Patients are assessed and managed virtually, remaining in their familiar community or long-term care environments rather than being transferred to emergency departments or acute care hospitals. The VBM model can be adapted and co-developed for Africa and other regions globally.
I also highlighted plans for development of an AI-driven chatbot for caregivers to provide 24/7, year-round support for caregivers of people with dementia in Africa. Discussions are underway to co-develop this AI chatbot in collaboration with experts in Nigeria, Tunisia, and Canada. Both VBM and the AI chatbot are cost-effective, adaptable, and suitable for Africa and other regions of the world.
Closing Conversation: The Path Forward (Moderator: Fifi Peters)
The conference concluded with a high-level discussion moderated by Fifi Peters, featuring George Vradenburg, Dr. Claudi Bassetti of the European Brain Council, and Kana Enomoto of the McKinsey Health Institute. Recommendations for advancing brain health included:
- Investing in dementia prevention
- Childhood nutrition and education
- Human intelligence
- Fostering public–private partnerships
- Supporting data-informed policy making
- Translating essential human health priorities into new economic and geopolitical strategies
- Promoting collaborations between artificial intelligence and humans
As George Vradenburg noted, the vision shared in Johannesburg is grounded in Africa’s unique context and innovations. With sustained investment and collaboration, Africa could become a global leader in brain health. •
Morris Freedman, BSc, MD, FRCPC, is the treasurer of the World Federation of Neurology. He is also a professor of neurology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto; and medical director of the Pamela and Paul Austin Centre for Neurology and Behavioral Support at Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto, Canada.
References:
- Eyre HA, Ayadi R, Ellsworth W, et al. Building brain capital. Neuron 2021;109:1430-1432.
- Smith E, Ali D, Wilkerson B, et al. A Brain Capital Grand Strategy: toward economic reimagination. Mol Psychiatry, 2021;26:3-22.
- Rizig M, McLaughlin C, Narayan VA, et al. Strengthening Africa’s brain health and economic resilience. Nat Med, 2025;31:2506-2517.
- Freedman M, Binns MA, Serediuk F, et al. Virtual Behavioral Medicine Program: A Novel Model of Care for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Dementia. Journal of Alzheimer’s disease, 2022;86:1169-1184.
