The Role of the Brain Economy in Advancing Clinical Care: A Paradigm Shift

The twenty-first-century economy increasingly depends on the cognitive, emotional, and social capabilities of individuals and populations. The emerging concept of the Brain Economy recognizes Brain Capital, which is the collective cognitive, emotional, and social resources that enable individuals and societies to thrive, as a critical driver of productivity, innovation, resilience, and human flourishing. However, healthcare systems remain largely oriented toward the diagnosis and treatment of disease rather than the proactive preservation and optimization of brain health. This In-depth Perspective examines the need for a new clinical paradigm that emphasizes brain health across the lifespan and shifts from reactive treatment toward proactive stewardship. It further considers opportunities to operationalize this paradigm through objective measurement of Brain Capital, emerging technologies, personalized interventions, workplace and community-based approaches, and new models of care. Finally, we propose the Brain Economy Learning Health System as a framework for integrating clinical care, research, data analytics, quality improvement, and cross-sector collaboration to continuously generate and apply knowledge that advances brain health. Aligning healthcare and broader societal systems around the preservation and enhancement of Brain Capital may represent a critical step toward realizing the full potential of the Brain Economy.