Objective: Brain health is essential for overall well-being, yet its
determinants vary across regions due to geopolitical, cultural, and
socioeconomic factors. Southeastern Europe (SEE) faces unique
challenges that influence brain health outcomes. Addressing brain health
in this region requires tailored approaches that consider the complexity
and diversity of these factors. This paper reports on a region-specific
framework for addressing brain health challenges in SEE by identifying
key determinants through expert collaboration and evidence-based
analysis.
Methods: In 2023, a Brain Health Task Force convened in Ohrid,
North Macedonia, gathering input from brain health experts across 13
SEE countries and individuals with lived dementia experience. The Task
Force focused on the World Health Organization (WHO) brain health
determinants, integrating expert feedback with a literature review and
a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. A
scoring system was developed, and the results were visualized through
thematic maps, highlighting brain health performance variations across
the region.
Results: The initial findings reveal significant disparities in SWOT
across 25 WHO subdomains of brain health determinants among the 13
SEE countries. Kosovo and Bosnia & Herzegovina scored overall lower
(greater weaknesses and threats), while Slovenia and Serbia exhibited
stronger outcomes (greater strengths and opportunities). The thematic
maps provide a visual representation of these differences, underscoring
the diverse challenges and opportunities for brain health across the SEE
region.
Conclusions: These findings provide a foundation for further
examination of brain health in SEE, guiding policy and strategic
interventions, addressing stigma, and fostering cross-sectoral, crossborder,
and interregional collaboration.
Keywords: brain health, dementia, health care services, healthy
environments, learning, physical health, safety, security, social
connection, southeastern Europe, SWOT