The AARP is launching an independent collaborative of scientists, doctors, scholars and policy experts to provide information on what actions people can take to support their brain health. The Global Council on Brain Health will release quarterly white papers, scientific reviews and other research.

In its latest survey on brain health, the AARP found that although 98% of adults aged 40 or more years believe that it is important to maintain or improve their brain health, only 56% are doing one of the two most important activities to support their brain health: engaging in exercise and eating a healthy diet. The new council aims to combat that finding.

The GCBH will work with Age UK, which the AARP says is the United Kingdom’s largest charity dedicated to helping people make the most of later life. The collaborative will on the Institute of Medicine’s Cognitive Aging report from April, which provided a basis for understanding the aging brain and described opportunities for actions. Members are neuroscience and geriatrics experts who will address the factors that can affect brain health, and they also will examine key priority issue areas such as physical exercise, mental engagement, stress levels and medications and supplements.

GCBH members:

  • Marilyn Albert, Ph.D., professor of neurology and director of the division of cognitive neuroscience at Johns Hopkins.
  • Kaarin Anstey, Ph.D., director of the Center for Research on Aging, Health and Wellbeing at the Australian National University College of Medicine, Biology and Environment.
  • Linda Clare, Ph.D. Sc.D., professor of clinical psychology of aging and dementia at leader of the Center for Research in Aging and Cognitive Health at the University of Exeter.
  • Peggye Dilworth-Andersen, Ph.D., professor of health policy and management in the Gillings School of Global Public Health of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  • S. Duke Han, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, associate professor of behavioral sciences and conjoint associate professor of neurological sciences at the Rush Alzheimer¹s Disease Center.
  • Yves Joanette, Ph.D., scientific director at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Agingand a professor on the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Montreal.
  • Jason Karlawish, M.D., professor of medicine, medical ethics and health policy, University of Pennsylvania
  • Miia Kivipelto, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director of research, development and education at the Center for Alzheimer Research & Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institute; and head of clinical trials, Karolinska University Hospital.
  • Jessica Langbaum, Ph.D., principal scientist at the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute and associate director of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Initiative.
  • Jacobo Mintzer, M.D., professor at the Medical University of South Carolina and director of the Roper St. Francis Clinical Biotechnology Research Institute.
  • Martha C. Morris, Sc.D., professor of internal medicine and director of the section of nutrition and nutritional epidemiology at Rush University Medical Center.
  • Ronald C. Petersen, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center and the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging.
  • Kate Zhong, M.D., senior director of clinical research and development at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas and Cleveland.