Angelini Pharma proud to champion Brain Health and Prevention on World Brain Day
Lead by the World Federation of Neurology in collaboration with six WFN regions, World Brain Day (https://wfneurology.org/world-brain-day-2024) is a global initiative that occurs annually on 22nd July and is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of Brain Health and advancing education on neurological diseases.
This year’s campaign — #WorldBrainDay2024 — is dedicated to Brain Health and Prevention. As defined by the World Health Organisation, prevention encompasses interventions on both an individual and population level to mitigate the impact of diseases and their associated risk factors. Recent findings by the Global Burden of Disease Study highlight the preventable nature of many neurological conditions with a substantial proportion of neurological diseases — including 90% of strokes, 40% of Alzheimer’s and 30% of epilepsy cases — recognised as preventable. Nevertheless, disparities in education and access to quality care underscore the urgent need for prevention strategies for all.
These prevention strategies can be encompassed within five main actions, as the World Brain Day suggests us: Prevention, Awareness, Access, Collaboration and Education & Advocacy. Angelini Pharma recognizes World Brain Day as an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of Brain Health, deciding to enlist five internal representatives to amplify some of the key messages for maintaining a healthy brain.
Participating in one of three social reels produced by Angelini Pharma for World Brain Day, Marcello Laurenti (Pharmacokinetics Researcher) introduces the theme of Prevention: what it means, why it’s important and the supporting data. Stating ‘prevention is the set of actions that we take to maintain our Brain Health’, Laurenti shares both informative and practical instruction for maintaining a healthy brain — backed by recent studies, statistics and the recommendations of recognised organisations.
A second reel featuring Valeria Di Franco (Global Medical Advisor) explores preventative neurological care through the pillars of awareness, education & advocacy and access, with Di Franco asserting: ‘Education about Brain Health begins with recognising that everyone has the right to a healthy brain. Effective prevention involves teaching healthy lifestyle choices and integrating this knowledge into schools, workplaces and media channels’.
A third and final reel featuring Patrizia Dragone (Bioanalytical Study Manager), Valeria Tellone (Senior Study Manager) and John Paul Leach (Senior Clinical Fellow) expands upon Laurenti and Di Franco’s messages with seven healthy lifestyle tips for maintaining a healthy brain. Coming together to emphasise the importance of a balanced diet, regular exercise, good quality sleep, mental stimulation, stress management, active social relationships and the avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, Dragone encourages viewers to ‘adopt a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, wholegrain and lean proteins; […] drink a lot of water, about 2 litres a day ; [and] exercise regularly — 30 minutes three times a week of moderate activity or, even better, if you have a dog 15 minutes of power walking […] in green areas’. Meanwhile, Tellone invites us to ‘be curious, put [our] brain[s] to work and acquire new skills and competencies’ and Leach articulates the importance of ‘managing stress, practicing relaxation techniques — such as deep breathing or meditation […] — [and] maintaining active social relationships’ — factors which are more often overlooked.
By integrating education on Brain Health and Prevention across media channels and spreading information widely using the hashtag #WorldBrainDay2024 the WFN and its coalition of partner organisations, advocates, professional societies, traditional media and social platforms aim to empower individuals, communities and policymakers to make informed decisions and access the resources they need to promote and maintain Brain Health throughout their lives. To watch Angelini Pharma’s social reels, please visit the following links: https://www.instagram.com/angelinipharma/, https://www.facebook.com/AngeliniPh/, and https://www.linkedin.com/company/angelinipharma/