The National Brain Health Strategy (2018-2024) was developed by the Ministry of Health and Care Services with contributions from the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the Norwegian Brain Council and a number of professional environments and user organisations. The strategy period ended in 2024 and the Directorate of Health was commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Care Services in the letter of allocation for that same year to prepare a draft version of an updated brain health strategy. The draft version will form the basis for the Ministry’s final strategy, which is due to be launched in 2025.
This background report describes the insight process behind the drafting of the updated brain health strategy. The Directorate of Health has collated input from various stakeholders of relevance to brain health and pursued a dialogue with professional environments and user communities at both national and international level. Research, experience and knowledge concerning brain health from national and international sources have also been reviewed. The brain health strategy partnership was closely involved in the work. On behalf of the Directorate of Health, Oslo Economics conducted a review in 2024 of the status of the work on the national brain health strategy (2018-2024), in line with the assignment commissioned by the Ministry, which is also reproduced in this report.
The term ‘brain health’ relates to maintaining and enhancing brain function throughout life, including the ability to cope with life in spite of a brain disease. The term ‘brain diseases’ is used as a collective term to refer to diseases, injuries or conditions that affect the brain and the rest of the nervous system, including psychiatric and neurological diseases, as well as dependency disorders. The understanding of brain health and brain diseases has been continued from the previous strategy, but an attempt has been made in the draft updated strategy to provide more precise descriptions and to distinguish between them more clearly.
It is important that everyone has the best possible brain health throughout their lives, because brain diseases pose a significant public health problem and entail substantial societal costs. Many people become disabled and die from such diseases. No curative treatment is available for many brain diseases, so treatment will involve symptom relief. Although chronic conditions can vary in cause, symptoms and progression, common to them all is that they can significantly affect quality of life and require long-term treatment and follow-up. Comorbidity and multimorbidity are common and can have a major impact on those affected, their relatives and society at large. To combat brain diseases, a better understanding of the brain will be needed, which in turn could lead to better treatment methods for such diseases.
As a result, it is important that the authorities implement measures that enhance the brain health of the population. Although not all brain diseases can be prevented, many can be avoided or reduced in severity and the authorities can do much to promote brain health throughout the population. Good brain health depends on both individual circumstances and the structure of society and requires health and care services to be available, safe and inclusive in order to support the population. Health-promoting and preventive measures are being implemented in every sector and the health and care services play an important role in cross-sector public health efforts and cooperation with other public, private and voluntary sector stakeholders.
Based on the insight set out in this background report, the Directorate of Health presents the following general recommendations concerning Norway’s updated brain health strategy:
- Ten-year strategy period: The updated brain health strategy should have a duration of ten years, from 2025 to 2035.
- A holistic approach to brain health: The strategy should have a holistic approach that encompasses a broad range of brain diseases and addresses shared needs and challenges.
- Continue the primary objectives from the previous brain health strategy: The four primary objectives of the previous strategy are considered to be appropriate and comprehensive.
- Fewer and clearer sub-objectives: The strategy should have fewer and clearer sub-objectives, while there should also be scope for different approaches and measures in order to achieve them.
- Action plan after launch of the strategy: In the follow-up to the strategy, an action plan should be prepared as an initial step. This action plan should contain specific measures to achieve the sub-objectives and include a schedule, delegation of responsibilities and criteria for achievement of the objectives, in addition to evaluation methods.
- Status reporting in the work on the strategy: A concise status update should be prepared at regular intervals during the work relating to the updated brain health strategy.
- Midway evaluation: An evaluation midway through the strategy period is important in order to assess progress, identify challenges and adjust measures to ensure that the sub-objectives are achieved.
- Specific objectives for brain health: The sub-objectives should address needs that are not covered by existing strategies and initiatives.
- Experiences at national and international level: The strategy should look at experiences gained within other areas of health and disease, as well as similar work in other countries.
- Communication document with a strong educational approach: The strategy should be educational, with a clear message and a clear direction.
- Collaboration and dialogue with relevant stakeholders: Maintain collaboration with the partnership and other stakeholders to obtain insight into challenges and possible solutions, among other things.