"2nd Meeting of the International Alliance on Brain Health"

This two-day congress will bring together leading experts from around the world to discuss recent advances and future trends in brain health, from neuroscience and clinical medicine to public health and policy. It will provide a valuable forum for exchange, reflection, and collaboration among international and national leaders in the field.

Format: IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL

Organizing Committee: The event is co-organized by Prof. Claudio Bassetti, with the support of the Swiss Brain Health Foundation, and hosted by Prof. Facundo Manes and the INECO Foundation.

In conjunction with the newly established The Lancet Commission on Brain Health.

Brain health has emerged as a central priority for medicine, public health, and social development worldwide. The continued growth in the prevalence and impact of neurological and psychiatric disorders, together with population aging, social inequities, and profound cultural and technological changes, calls for an interdisciplinary approach that integrates science, clinical practice, policy, and community within a shared framework.

In this context, Buenos Aires will host the 2nd Meeting of the International Alliance on Brain Health in April 2026, organized by the Brain Health Institute of Fundación INECO and the Swiss Brain Health Foundation in conjunction with The Lancet Commission on Brain Health. The meeting will bring together international leaders in neuroscience, mental health, neurology, psychiatry, and public policy to reflect on the present and future of brain health at a global scale.

Over the course of two days, participants will discuss recent advances in research, opportunities for the prevention and promotion of brain health across the life course, and the challenges posed by the conceptual and operational integration of brain health and mental health. The social and economic impact of these issues will also be examined, as well as the need for ethical frameworks and sustainable, equitable, and culturally sensitive public policies.

The meeting aims to consolidate a shared vision of brain health as a global public good, fostering a space for critical dialogue and collaboration across disciplines and regions. As an outcome of this process, participants will work toward the development of a joint Brain Health document, intended to provide guiding principles and strategic orientations for the coming decade.

Hosting this meeting in Buenos Aires reinforces Latin America’s commitment to the international brain health agenda and underscores the importance of promoting a humanistic, preventive, and evidence-based approach that prioritizes well-being and quality of life for individuals and their communities worldwide.

By invitation only (for more information, write to asistentefundacion@ineco.org.ar)

Speakers

Natalia Rost

President, American Academy of Neurology

Steven Lewis

President, World Federation of Neurology (WFN)

Danuta Wasserman

Prof., Senior. Past President World Psychiatric Association (WPA)

Devora Kestel

Director, Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization (WHO)

Joanne Pike

President & CEO, Alzheimer’s Association; Chair, World Dementia Council

Juan Rodríguez

Global Council on Brain Health, AARP

Victor Valcour

Director, Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), UCSF

Christopher Chen

President, Asian Society Against Dementia

Alfred Njamnshi

Chair, African Academy of Neurology

Mara Dierssen

President, Spanish Brain Council; President, Spanish Association for the Advancement of Science

Suvarna Alladi

Professor of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore

Claudia Braga

Prof. of Psychiatry University of São Paulo

Matilde Leonardi

Director Neurology, Public Health, Disability Unit & Coma Research Centre

Marcelo Cetkovich

Medical Director of INECO, Head of the Institution's Department of Psychiatry.

Nilton Custodio

Director of Instituto Peruano de Neurociencias

Pratima Murthy

Director and Senior Professor of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India

Oscar Franco

MD, DSc, PhD Dir. Public Health at University Medical Center Utrecht

Caroline Lustenberger

Head of Sleep Lab, ETH Zurich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology (D-HEST)

Andrea Slachevsky

MD, PhD, Center for Memory and Neuropsychiatry (CMYN)

Alexandre N. Datta

Chief and Head of Department of Pediatric Neurology, Developmental Medicine and Neurorehabilitation of Northwestern Switzerland

Roongroj Bhidayasiri

Director of the Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease & Related Disorders, Bangkok

Kristina Adorjan

Director and Full Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (UPD), University of Bern

Andrea Fiorillo

President, European Psychiatric Association

Jacobo Mintzer

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

Indrit Bègue

Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Univesité de Genève

Mitchell Elkind

Chief Science Officer, Brain Health and Stroke

Oscar Gershanik

Profesor Titular de Neurología de la Facultad de Medicina de la UBA

Diego Golombek

Investigador / Researcher en CONICET; Profesor Universidad de San Andrés; Director, Laboratorio Interdisciplinario del Tiempo (LITERA)

Diego Aguilar

Master’s in Public Policies, and degrees in Psychology and Gerontology

Nagaendran Kandiah

Associate Professor at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and Director, Dementia Research Centre (Singapore)

Konrad Rejdak

Consultant neurologist and head of the Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lublin (Poland)

Hernando Santamaría-García

Profesor Asociado, Departamento de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental Universidad Javeriana. Director Doctorado de Neurociencia, Departamento de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental.

Daniel Zutter

Chief Physician and Medical Director, Medical Director of VITREA Switzerland

Paul Boon

MD, PhD, Senior Full Prof. of Neurology and Director of Neuroscience at Ghent University

Roongroj Bhidayasiri

Director of the Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease & Related Disorders, Bangkok

Rajinder K Dhamija

Prof. of Neurlology and Director of Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, New Delhi.

Stéphanie Debette

Associate Professor, Neurology and Epidemiology University Paris Diderot: Paris, France

Augustín Ibañez

MD, Dir. del Instituto Latinoamericano de Salud Cerebral (BrainLat)

Soraya Seedat

Prof. of Psychiatry and Executive Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Stellenbosch University

Andrea Winkler

MD, PhD, Co-Director of the CGH at the Technical University of Munich, Germany

Kailash Bhatia

MD, Prof.. President-Elect European Academy of Neurology (EAN)

Coordinators

Facundo Manes

MD, PhD. Brain Health Institute, INECO Foundation. Institute of Neurosciences, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Claudio Bassetti

Lancet Commission on Brain Health, Swiss Brain Health Foundation

Program

(In-person accreditation will take place from 1 PM to 2 PM)

Day 1

Cognition, dementia and brain aging

09hs
Opening

Opening

Facundo Manes

09.30hs

Promoting Brain Health in Ageing Populations: Public Health Approaches

Sessions

Strategies for Preventing Cognitive Decline in Ageing

Strategies for Preventing Cognitive Decline in Ageing

Jacobo Mintzer

Populations-based Strategies for Dementia Prevention

Populations-based Strategies for Dementia Prevention

Nagaendran Kandiah

Preventing Neurodegeneration Through Vascular Brain Health

Preventing Neurodegeneration Through Vascular Brain Health

Natalia Rost

11hs

Special Communication

Sessions

  • Joanne Pike
  • Victor Valcour
  • Juan Rodriguez

12hs

Lessons to Take in Brain Health and Neurodegenerative Diseases: National and International Perspectives

Sessions

Brain Health and Neurodegeneration in Asia:  Lessons from Thailand

Brain Health and Neurodegeneration in Asia: Lessons from Thailand

Roongroj Bhidayasiri

Key Clinical Lessons from Parkinsonism and  Neurodegeneration

Key Clinical Lessons from Parkinsonism and Neurodegeneration

Kailash Bhatia

Dementia and Brain Health Across Latin America:  Regional Lessons

Dementia and Brain Health Across Latin America: Regional Lessons

Nilton Custodio

Neurodegeneration Without Borders: What Local  Populations Teach the World

Neurodegeneration Without Borders: What Local Populations Teach the World

Suvarna Alladi

The Future of Alzheimer’s Disease: Science, Systems  Readiness and Social Impact

The Future of Alzheimer’s Disease: Science, Systems Readiness and Social Impact

Christopher Chen

15.30hs

Biological and Psychosocial Factors Shaping Brain Health Across the Lifespan

Sessions

Social Determinants of Health and Brain  Ageing in Latin American Contexts: Implications for Public Policy

Social Determinants of Health and Brain Ageing in Latin American Contexts: Implications for Public Policy

Hernando Santamaría-García

Stress, Inequality and the Brain: Cumulative Risk Across  the Lifespan

Stress, Inequality and the Brain: Cumulative Risk Across the Lifespan

Soraya Seedat

The role of Deistituzionalized Strategies: Lessons from  South America

The role of Deistituzionalized Strategies: Lessons from South America

Claudia Braga

 Environmental and Genetic Factors: Lessons from Africa

Environmental and Genetic Factors: Lessons from Africa

Kristina Adorjan

17hs

A) Neurorehabilitation and Brain Health: Global Perspectives

Sessions

Brain Health and Neurorehabilitation in Switzerland

Brain Health and Neurorehabilitation in Switzerland

Daniel Zutter

Brain Health and Neurorehabilitation in Poland

Brain Health and Neurorehabilitation in Poland

Konrad Rejdak

Neurodegenerative Diseases in Low- and  Middle-Income Settings: Lessons from India

Neurodegenerative Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Settings: Lessons from India

Rajinder K Dhamija

17hs

B) Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Brain Health

Sessions

Sleep in the First Years of Life and Brain Health

Sleep in the First Years of Life and Brain Health

Alexandre N. Datta

How to Assess Sleep Health

How to Assess Sleep Health

Caroline Lustenberger

Circadian Health and Brain Health

Circadian Health and Brain Health

Diego Golombek

Day 2

Brain and mental health

09hs

One Brain, One Health: Integration of Neurological and Psychiatric Approaches in Global and Regional Plans

Sessions

 The Lancet Commission on Brain Health

The Lancet Commission on Brain Health

Claudio Bassetti

Mental Health Systems within One Brain, One Health, Euro pean Psychiatric Association (EPA)

Mental Health Systems within One Brain, One Health, Euro pean Psychiatric Association (EPA)

Andrea Fiorillo

European Neurology and Integrated Brain Health Policy, Europe an Academy of Neurology (EAN)

European Neurology and Integrated Brain Health Policy, Europe an Academy of Neurology (EAN)

Paul Boon

The Lancet One Health Commission: harnessing our  inter connectedness for equitable, sustainable, and healthy socioecological systems

The Lancet One Health Commission: harnessing our inter connectedness for equitable, sustainable, and healthy socioecological systems

Andrea Winkler

Overcoming Fragmentation: National and Regional Lessons

Overcoming Fragmentation: National and Regional Lessons

Steven Lewis

Psychiatry’s Role in Integrated Brain Health Strategies,  World Psychiatric Association (WPA)

Psychiatry’s Role in Integrated Brain Health Strategies, World Psychiatric Association (WPA)

Danuta Wasserman

From Global Strategy to Regional Implementation,  Regional Director for the Americas of Alzheimer's Disease International

From Global Strategy to Regional Implementation, Regional Director for the Americas of Alzheimer's Disease International

Diego Aguilar

The Role of Cardiovascular Leadership in Global  Brain Health: The American Heart Association (AHA)

The Role of Cardiovascular Leadership in Global Brain Health: The American Heart Association (AHA)

Mitchell Elkind

Vascular Brain Health and Integrated Brain  Health Approaches: A European Scientific Perspective

Vascular Brain Health and Integrated Brain Health Approaches: A European Scientific Perspective

Stéphanie Debette

Populations-based Strategies for Dementia  Prevention

Populations-based Strategies for Dementia Prevention

Nagaendran Kandiah

Mental Health as a Cornerstone of Brain Health:  From Global Policy to Population Impact

Mental Health as a Cornerstone of Brain Health: From Global Policy to Population Impact

Devora Kestel

Mental Health Stigma in the Burnout Society

Mental Health Stigma in the Burnout Society

Marcelo Cetkovich

 Parkinson’s Disease a Growing Burden on Public  Health: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Parkinson’s Disease a Growing Burden on Public Health: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Oscar Gershanik

14.30hs

One Brain, One Health in Practice: Implementation, Impact and Regional Experiences

Sessions

Population Brain Health and Neurodegeneration: Lessons  from Colombia and the Netherlands

Population Brain Health and Neurodegeneration: Lessons from Colombia and the Netherlands

Oscar Franco

Implementing Integrated Brain and Mental Health Care  in African Health Systems

Implementing Integrated Brain and Mental Health Care in African Health Systems

Alfred Njamnshi

 Integrating Mental Health into Brain Health Programs:  Lessons from India

Integrating Mental Health into Brain Health Programs: Lessons from India

Pratima Murthy

Translating Brain Science into Integrated Brain Health Action

Translating Brain Science into Integrated Brain Health Action

Mara Dierssen

Insights from Switzerland on burden and cost of brain disor ders: opportunities

Insights from Switzerland on burden and cost of brain disor ders: opportunities

Indrit Bègue

One Brain, One Health: Integrating Neurology, Psychiatry  and Social Contexts

One Brain, One Health: Integrating Neurology, Psychiatry and Social Contexts

Augustín Ibañez

Translating Brain Health Research into Policy and Care

Translating Brain Health Research into Policy and Care

Andrea Slachevsky

17hs

International Alliance on Brain Health: Next Steps and Strategic Priorities

Sessions

Roundtable with:
• Kristina Adorjan
• Suvarna Alladi
• Claudio Bassetti
• Indrit Bègue
• Paul Boon
• Marcelo Cetkovich
• Christopher Chen
• MaraDierssen
• Mitchell Elkid
• Devora Kestel
• Steven Lewis
• Facundo Manes
• Alfred Njamnshi

Sponsors

ORGANIZING PARTNERS

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

COLLABORATING PARTNERS

Registration

By INVITATION ONLY (for more information, write to asistentefundacion@ineco.org.ar)