The brain is one of the most complex and important organs in the human body. It is responsible for overseeing a variety of important processes, including communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and basic body functions such as breathing. Considering the vital importance of the brain, individuals should take every step they can to ensure optimal brain health.

To start, individuals should not underestimate the importance of overall health and wellness when it comes to protecting cognitive function. Research indicates that the same healthy behaviors that minimize the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer can help prevent early cognitive decline and comparable conditions. According to the Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care, adhering to these behaviors can reduce the risk of dementia by as much as 40 percent.

Smoking tobacco products is extremely hazardous to overall health. Individuals who smoke have a notably higher risk for the above-mentioned conditions, as well as various lung diseases. A 2022 study in the United Kingdom found that the average smoker has a thinner cerebral cortex compared to non-smokers. The cerebral cortex is composed primarily of gray matter and is responsible for thought processes and memory, which means tobacco products kill brain tissue and contribute to cognitive decline.

Maintaining healthy blood pressure levels is another strategy for maintaining proper brain health. Research suggests that roughly half of the American population over the age of 20 lives with high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. There are many consequences of living with high blood pressure, including an increased risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death in America. High blood pressure has also been linked to cognitive issues, premature brain aging, and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. It is equally important to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

Abstaining from smoking and avoiding foods associated with high blood pressure are effective steps toward improved brain health. Other lifestyle changes involve adopting other healthy habits, such as exercising. Physical activity is an effective preventive measure against many health conditions, including high blood pressure and heart disease. Regular exercise also improves sleep and mitigates stress, depression, and anxiety in the body, further contributing to better brain health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderately intense physical activity and two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities every week.

Physical activity is also an effective tool for preventing unhealthy weight gain. Unfortunately, roughly three out of four Americans qualify as overweight, including 43 percent of the adult population that qualifies as obese. Individuals living at unhealthy weights are at increased risk for many of the health conditions described above. Furthermore, obesity results in a reduced flow of blood to the brain, which increases a person’s rate of cognitive decline and chances for dementia.

Studies suggest that at least one out of three Americans does not get enough sleep. The average adult should sleep between seven and nine hours each night. Sleeping less than seven hours increases the risk of several health issues that can negatively impact brain health.

Finally, individuals must remain engaged with their surrounding environment and community, especially as they age. Studies suggest that maintaining social interaction over time can significantly improve health and longevity, especially in relation to cognitive decline.

​The human brain is a complex organ, the development of which can be traced back approximately 6 million years to humankind’s first apelike ancestors. The brain manages and regulates virtually all activities in the body, including breathing, motor skills, vision, thought, memory, emotion, and much more. Scientists and medical researchers have analyzed the brain in many ways, yet the organ still holds untold mysteries.

For context, Dr. Christof Koch of the Allen Institute for Brain Science explains that modern science cannot comprehend the brain of a simple roundworm, which consists of 302 neurons and roughly 7,000 neural connections, or synapses. It has taken years to map the neural network of the roundworm’s brain, and scientists still do not fully understand how each neural pathway interacts with the others. By comparison, the human brain features approximately 86 billion neurons with upwards of 100 trillion synapses.

To start, medical professionals remain unclear on exactly what the human brain is composed of. Generally speaking, the brain is made up of white and gray matter, brain tissue, and bundles of axons, the part of the neuron that forms synapses with other neurons. Scientists are capable of differentiating between neurons and glia, a second type of brain cell, but there are many additional neuron types that researchers cannot identify or explain. White matter, gray matter, and brain tissue are all composed of different neuronal cell bodies, meaning a significant portion of brain architecture is a mystery to modern medicine.

Researchers know that neurons use impulses and the brain’s neural network to communicate and carry out body functions. However, neural communication is far more advanced than synapse-to-synapse messaging. Most neurons use GABA or glutamate as signaling molecules, also known as neurotransmitters, but scientists know there are many additional types of signaling molecules driving communication in the brain. In fact, when humans take common drugs such as opioids or antidepressants, it is not clear what neurons are interacting with the drugs or how they are interacting.

Similarly, medical professionals do not understand how the brain actually functions. Profiling how the brain behaves when computing was previously impossible due to technological limitations. In the past, neuroscientists could only observe a handful of neurons at one time, resulting in an incomplete picture of cognitive function. More recently, scientists have had the opportunity to capture and record the activity of tens of thousands of neurons, allowing teams to work toward common principles of computation, which will presumably unlock the next level of cognitive understanding.

In the same way that the brain is a mystery in its normal, healthy state, scientists are unsure of how the organ changes when exposed to illness and disease. Many diseases that attack the brain are complete mysteries to scientists, including degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. These progressive conditions typically result from neural abnormalities, including the loss of neurons responsible for dopamine regulation, but there is little insight into the actual cause of dementia and similar conditions.

Different diseases impact the brain in different ways, and most conditions emphasize a specific part of the organ. Because of the lack of understanding regarding different types of neurons and how they interact, neuroscientists do not know which cells are vulnerable to which diseases and have the potential to compromise overall brain health. As technology progresses, medical researchers will continue to develop a complete list of brain cell types, investigate which diseases they interact with, and learn how to prevent these cells from triggering diseases in the brain.

​In September 2022, life sciences publication PharmaVoice announced its top picks for its annual PharmaVoice 100 and Red Jacket Awards. The PharmaVoice 100 Award celebrates the most inspiring and influential thought leaders in the life sciences industry, and the Red Jacket Award honors those PharmaVoice 100 winners who consistently have raised the bar in an industry.

The editors at PharmVoice go through a thorough process of selecting candidates for both honors. Candidates chosen for the honor usually have a track record of success for their companies and patients. These people have facilitated industry change and positively impacted everyone around them.

They also excel at being aware of trends in the industry, whether it is diversity, equity & inclusion, patient-centered product development, or other areas. In the past, for instance, candidates for the PharmaVoice 100 have been involved in initiatives that make health equity a priority daily, as is the case with Dr. Mary-Ann Etiebet, associate vice president of Merck and 2022 PharmaVoice 100 honoree.

PharmaVoice 100 honorees are also innovators. They do more than stay ahead of trends. They also create innovation within the industry that culminates in new products, services, or strategies for approaching the various issues in life sciences. Moreover, their quick thinking helps them stay ahead of changes in the market. For example, one past honoree, Armon Sharei, received recognition for creating new ways to deploy cell therapies beginning with a basic premise he discovered while attending MIT.

Beyond innovation, PharmaVoice 100 honorees can see into the future. As visionaries, these life sciences professionals are also entrepreneurs who look at past and present inventions to shape the life science industry far in the future. Further, they are not afraid of risk or being disruptors, and their progressive thinking culminates in transformative changes in the industry. Fahti Khosrowshahi, the founder of Ceek Women’s Health, made the 2022 PharmaVoice 100 list for introducing game-changing speculums (used for gynecological exams).

PharmaVoice 100 honorees also pay it forward. The editors at the publication look at what candidates do with their opportunities to give back to society, whether through patient advocacy, philanthropy, community engagement, or mentorship. One past nominee and winner of the Red Jacket Award, Al Altomari, won because he advocated for women in leadership roles while also developing success in others as CEO of Agile Therapeutics.

Then, some factors make a candidate attractive that do not fall into any one of these categories. Compelling personal narratives, breaking down barriers, or exciting work experiences or connections are all additional factors that make PharmaVoice 100 candidates attractive picks for the distinction.

According to a March 2023 PharmaVoice article, these candidates possess the X factor, which does not fit in any category but has set them apart from the pack. In 2022, Roz Brewer, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance and a 2022 honoree used clinical trials to expand the company’s influence. Further, Bayer Pharmaceuticals president, Sebastian Guth, was honored in 2022 for advancing women in leadership at Bayer, improving access to treatments, community involvement, and facilitating a positive work culture.

Finally, the Red Jacket Awards gives honorees extra kudos for appearing on the list multiple times or for exceeding in creating transformative change in an industry. Not only do they make a change, but they also build the platform for which others behind them can be changemakers.