Harris Eyre: A society that promotes brain health is on the path to sustainable growth

"Brain health is the next energy source. In the same way that we are now rapidly moving from a fossil economy to a renewable energy economy, the next big change in health and well-being is related to the brain and neurology."

This is what Australian-born brain scientist Harris Eyre, who lives in the United States, says.

Eyre, who visited Finland in May as a guest of the Finnish Brain Association, is a global change agent in the promotion of brain health.

He travels around the world building action-orientated cooperation networks and promoting the growing importance of brain health.

"It's a huge change in perspective about society and lifestyles," says Eyre.

The reason behind the change is financial pressure. Eyre emphasizes that, as a brain researcher, he is not the greatest friend of efficiency thinking, but he understands that many changes in the world take place under economic conditions. That is why they should be understood.

"In a year, treating mental health and neurological problems, from autism to dementia, costs around 2.2 trillion dollars globally."

It is already more than, for example, the treatment of diseases of the back and supporting organs costs. The costs of treating neurological problems increase by around five percent every year. In Eyre's opinion, it is not realistic that with the current growth rate of expenses, the money will be sufficient in the future. But the economy is not, in Eyre's view, the main motivator. He wants to make taking care of the brain attractive.

Brain health is the new powerhouse of well-being

Eyre reminds us that there is a lot of negative stigma behind brain diseases. Even the word psychiatry brings to mind negative images for many people, ever since lobotomy. Brain health is something else. It is based on an optimistic idea about the brain's potential and resilience. It is possible to support and strengthen the brain function of every person. At the same time, the risk of diseases decreases and the whole person feels better and can flourish. It, in turn, reflects positively on the surrounding community and society.

And correspondingly, if a large majority of people live in a constant state of stress, depressed or suffering from anxiety, communities and society also start to do badly. It is worth investing in the well-being of the brain, because its problems weaken vitality, creativity and the safety of society.

Brain research is currently of widespread interest, and not only in the field of medicine. Among other things, experts in nutrition, architecture and traffic planning have a wide range of research, start-up and development projects worldwide. At the same time, all kinds of funding for brain research and applied research is increasing. "The brain health transition will grow and accelerate as we grow it together," says Eyre.

Finland is the number one country for brain health

Eyre says that in the last three years he has traveled to numerous countries and found different resources in terms of brain health in each one. Finland still surprised him. "Finland is definitely number one, your conditions are the best and the furthest in terms of brain health transition," states Eyre. The reasons he considers to be the state of good educational results, advanced digital literacy, first place in an international happiness comparison and leading in wellbeing economics.

"I like your narrative. It's worth using and continuing to push so you keep leading the world."

Scotland, Sweden and Singapore came close to Finland in the comparison. But only in Finland has a national brain health program been created which is pursing radical approaches across public and private sectors. This program, launched by the Finnish Brain Association in 2022, is considered by Eyre to be an essential tool when the brain health transition starts to really be put into practice.

"The brain program is a platform that articulates the goal and around which different actors can gather."

During Eyre's visit to Helsinki, class teachers, brain researchers, organization experts, members of parliament and international finance professionals came together. The goal is the same for everyone, a healthy future for people's brains and their environment, everyone has their own perspective.

Harris Eyre has promised to coach the Finnish brain health transition. In his opinion, the most important thing now is to inform international actors, financiers and potential partners about the good potential.

"You Finns should brand yourselves as brain health pioneers and go together to future global economic fora to attract big funding from inside and outside of Finland.”

Harris Eyre, 35

• Australian-born physician, brain researcher and author.
• Created an international network to promote brain health. The goal of the Brain Capital movement he founded is to raise brain health to a resource similar to GDP and infrastructure.
• Began research work with the Australian First Nations populations. Now lives and works in Texas at Rice University at the Baker Institute specializing in health and life sciences.
• Suffered from strong migraine symptoms for a long time and considers migraines to be the thing that has mostly influenced his life.
• Chose Finland and The Finnish Brain Association as partners from the beginning of 2024.
• The family includes a wife and a daughter under the age of 1.
• Exercises, meditates and listens to podcasts.
• Strives to sleep 7-8 hours a night. Avoids excessive use of caffeine and alcohol.

Text by Kaisa Viitanen