Brain Health Buzz: the Globalization of Brain Health and What this Means for Society
Summary Abstract:
Over the past half millennium, fierce debates have smoldered within Western societies between scholars, philosophers, and medical professionals over fundamental questions concerning mental life. Owing in large part to Cartesian dualism in the 17th century, the "mind" began to be considered separate from the "body" in both substance and purpose. During the late 1800's and early 1900's, the birth of psychoanalytic theory gave rise to novel ways to conceptualize the mind through a psychological lens. Around the same time, competing perspectives pitching mental illness as biological in origin began to take root and would eventually gain prominence with the discovery of psychotropic drugs. Over the ensuing near-century, the fields of psychology and psychiatry would struggle to reconcile these evolving and oft-competing psychosocial and biological perspectives.
Importantly, emerging research over the past several decades have elucidated the undeniable, biological impacts of social determinants on the brain and how these impacts correlate with mental health, physical health, and other societal outcomes. Pioneers in the fields of evolutionary neuropsychiatry, attachment theory, early childhood development, brain/body medicine, and social connection research have begun to tie previously disparate ideas together, setting the stage for unifying understandings of the brain, mind, and body like never before.
The concept of "brain health" represents a timely opportunity to elevate the message that the social and biological are intimately intertwined. This talk will analyze the rising popularity of "brain health" and what this means for clinical practice and society today. Drawing on experiences working with the World Health Organization, Dr. Kolappa will review the latest evidence on the social and environmental determinants of brain health, as well as the interrelatedness of brain health, mental health, physical health, and well-being. Lastly, she will explore crucial advocacy needed to prioritize brain health at the societal level and how you as a clinician can get more involved.
Number of Credit Hours: 1.0
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the key determinants of brain development and brain health across the life course
2. Recognize the relationship between brain health, mental health, physical health, and other societal outcomes
3. Leverage the relevance of brain health in your clinical practice
Presenter(s):
Kavitha Kolappa, MD, MPH
Psychiatrist, Massachusetts General Hospital
Kavitha Kolappa, MD, MPH, is a psychiatrist specializing in the public health and societal implications of brain/body medicine. Originally from North Carolina, Dr. Kolappa was a Robertson Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received a BA in International Studies. She subsequently received her MD from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and her MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed her psychiatry residency training at the Massachusetts General and McLean Hospitals, and her academic interests include the brain/body interface, stress physiology, and the social determinants of health. She has lived and worked abroad in several contexts including Cuba, India, Tanzania, South Africa, and Switzerland. She has worked in various capacities with the Global Health Council, International Rescue Committee, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Universities Allied for Essential Medicines. She has also consulted extensively for the World Health Organization’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Use. Most recently, she was the lead author of WHO's seminal position paper, "Optimizing brain health across the life course," which was released in 2022. She enjoys yoga, dogs, and warm cups of tea.
