Roundtable #11: The Intersection of Technology, Brain Health, and Behavior Change
In July, the Business Collaborative for Brain Health met to explore the intersection of technology, brain health and behavior change. The roundtable featured insights from leaders in digital health and performance optimization that emphasized the potential of technology to enhance cognitive function and, ultimately, improve the well-being and longevity of employees in the workforce today.
Speakers in the roundtable included:
Jack Groppel, PhD, Board Member and Special Advisor, Science & Well-being at NEXT Integrative Minds Life Sciences; Senior Advisor & Executive Coach, Evolve Leadership; and Co-Founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute
Matteo Lai, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Empatica, an AI and medical devices company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Milan, Italy that developed Embrace, the world’s smallest and most accurate wearable sensor suite for research
Cédric Gousseau and Tom Latkovic, Co-Founders of BetterBrain, a platform that improves cognitive function and health to prevent dementia
The Impact of Neuro-Literacy on Performance and Workplace Productivity
Dr. Jack Groppel drew on his extensive experience in sports science and human performance to discuss the value of neuro-literacy—a concept that refers to the brain's ability to adapt and enhance performance by becoming actively aware of its presence and mechanisms.
He highlighted the work of NEXT Integrative Minds Life Sciences and their 90-minute digital course that teaches individuals to become more neuro-literate by helping them identify and modify behavior patterns themselves. The organization’s goal is to continue evolving this technology, executing pilots in different countries, and eventually share it with the masses so everyone has the opportunity to become neuro-literate.
Dr. Groppel emphasized the business implications of neuro-literate training programs. He explained that retraining neural pathways has helped improve the performance of world-class athletes—so why not apply the same brain training to the workforce?
In the not-so-distant future, a 90-minute course, such as the one from NEXT, could help businesses prioritize brain health, increasing productivity, concentration and overall output of their workforce.
Leveraging AI-Powered Remote Monitoring for Workplace Health and Safety
An MIT-spin off, Empatica is a remote patient monitoring platform that collects the vital signs of patients outside of traditional care settings through medically prescribed wearables. Matteo Lai, co-founder and current leader of Empatica, shared how the clinical insights gathered from their platform, combined with the algorithms they’re developing, are helping partner organizations gain a clearer understanding of an individual’s health. Current partners include universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and the armed forces.
Empatica developed the first FDA-approved seizure detection algorithm dependent on machine learning. It has the capability to alert caregivers at the onset of a detected seizure, showcasing a direct impact of AI on personalized healthcare.
The company also works with the U.S. Department of Defense on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research. Empatica’s technology, alongside work done at MIT, has been used in research showing potential in predicting depressive events and aggressive behavior, among others. The aim is to collect data and build individual scores to determine if someone needs medical attention or is at risk, and then support the patient with personalized interventions.
Lai explained the capability of their technology to monitor a range of conditions, which could be employed in traditional business settings. Alerting individuals of potential health conditions can help ensure they receive timely intervention and support to achieve an optimal health outcome, and return to productivity
Using Advanced Diagnostic Tools to Create Personalized, Actionable Intervention Strategies
(Featured image from BetterBrain)
Cédric Gousseau and Tom Latkovic, co-founders of BetterBrain, shared insights into the company's mission to make brain health diagnostics and interventions more accessible. Driven by personal experience with his father's high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s, Gousseau pointed out that while there are various blood and cognitive tests on the market to assess risk, and lifestyle interventions to reduce it, no one has yet combined these elements into a comprehensive format that consumers can easily access.
(Featured image from BetterBrain)
Through the BetterBrain mobile application, individuals get access to comprehensive brain checkups and personalized improvement plans. BetterBrain collects data across genetics, multiple biomarkers, medical history, demographics and more to provide personalized information and guidance. Currently, BetterBrain has a beta offering in the marketplace.
A member of the Collaborative highlighted the need to integrate comprehensive brain health assessments, similar to BetterBrain’s, into primary care settings pointing out that current practices are inadequate and outdated. Dr. Groppel acknowledged the difficulties of aligning preventive care with payer interests and primary care practices, emphasizing the need for robust data that demonstrate benefits and reduce costs. He proposed the use of empirical studies to prove there is a return on investment to then persuade payers and businesses to invest in brain health initiatives.
Additionally, Collaborative members considered the potential for CMS to support digital therapeutics and preventative treatments through new reimbursement codes. One member noted CMS’s development of codes for reimbursing digital therapeutics for mental health and suggested exploring collaborations to improve reimbursement models for brain health interventions. Lai followed this, emphasizing the absence of CPT codes and sufficient incentives for preventative measures, despite their proven benefits.
Business Collaborative for Brain Health Updates
The Brain Health Score has been developed and incorporated into The HERO Health and Well-Being Best Practices Scorecard in Collaboration with Mercer©. Nearly 400 employers have completed the Scorecard and we are beginning discussions with those employers about their results to explore implications for their workforce and businesses.
We encourage employers to complete the Scorecard at: businessforbrainhealth.org/scorecard.
Dr. Noémie Le Pertel, a consultant to the Collaborative, is available to help employers who might need assistance. We’re happy to offer one-on-one support for any company interested in this process. Collaborative members can also expect a packet of materials including an educational guide about the Brain Health Score.
Members of the Collaborative are invited to New York City on September 19–20, 2024, for the Brain Days at the 79th United Nations General Assembly. UsAgainstAlzheimer’s is hosting this event along with the European Brain Council, UNICEF, The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative and the Brain Capital Alliance. The day will include an important discussion with GN Group, Georgia Power, A&O Shearman, Shell and other global employers about how business leaders are beginning to view brain health as a critical and competitive asset for their workforce and their bottom line.
Additionally, the Collaborative has a new LinkedIn Group where members are encouraged to share events or information and take a quick survey about roundtable topics. You can request to join the LinkedIn Group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13053535/.
The Business Collaborative for Brain Health (BCBH) is a collaborative of private sector partners developing innovative solutions to cognitive health throughout the lifespan. The Collaborative hosts regular roundtables to learn from experts and stakeholders and refine the work. If you’re interested in attending or participating in a roundtable discussion or want to learn more about how you can get involved with the Collaborative visit: https://businessforbrainhealth.org/