Empathy as a crucial skill in disrupting disparities in global brain health
Front Neurol. 2023 Dec 15;14:1189143. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1189143. eCollection 2023.
ABSTRACT
Brain health refers to the state of a person's brain function across various domains, including cognitive, behavioral and motor functions. Healthy brains are associated with better individual health, increased creativity, and enhanced productivity. A person's brain health is intricately connected to personal, social and environmental factors. Racial, ethnic, and social disparities affect brain health and on the global scale these disparities within and between regions present a hurdle to brain health. To overcome global disparities, greater collaboration between practitioners and healthcare providers and the people they serve is essential. This requires cultural humility driven by empathy. Empathy is a core prosocial value, a cognitive-emotional skill that helps us understand ourselves and others. This position paper aims to provide an overview of the vital roles of empathy, cooperation, and interdisciplinary partnerships. By consciously integrating this understanding in practice, leaders can better position themselves to address the diverse challenges faced by communities, promote inclusivity in policies and practices, and further more equitable solutions to the problem of global brain health.
PMID:38162446 | PMC:PMC10756064 | DOI:10.3389/fneur.2023.1189143
Authors
![Fasihah Irfani](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Fifi.jpg?h=4b722f14&itok=N1pot0C-)
Fasihah Irfani, MD
Neurologist
![Carmen Lage headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-469%20%281%29.jpg?h=776aaa02&itok=yys6G590)
Carmen Lage, MD, PhD
Behavioral Neurologist
![Tatyana Mollayeva](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/TMollayeva.jpg?h=75a2d558&itok=Rg4hXQMJ)
Tatyana Mollayeva, MD, PhD
Scientist and Assistant Professor
![hernando santamaria](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/hernando_santamaria.jpg?h=1969fba6&itok=W98t-Vqb)
Hernando Santamaría-García, MD, MSc, PhD
Psychiatrist and Researcher
![Melissa Chan](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/melissa.jpg?h=07e5f291&itok=HkJbTvEv)
Melissa Chan
Service Designer and Social Entrepreneur
![Marcia Cominetti](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Marcia-resized.jpg?h=3fa99922&itok=lcMCQNa_)
Marcia Cominetti, PhD
Biologist
![tselmen daria](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/tselmen_daria.jpeg?h=64697902&itok=zvKa0qrW)
Tselmen Daria, MD
Clinical Scientist
![Gillian Fallon headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-415%20%281%29.jpg?h=74245973&itok=OHihLPBQ)
Gillian Fallon, MA, MFA
Arts administrator, curator, producer
![Dominic Gately](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Dominic-resized.jpg?h=047edc94&itok=Odfkko2C)
Dominic Gately
Actor, writer and theater-maker
![muthoni gichu](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/muthoni_gichu.jpg?h=797a7fde&itok=iEreihwJ)
Muthoni Gichu, MB.Ch.B, MSc
Medical gerontologist and researcher
![Sandra Gimenez headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Sandra%20Gimenez%20%281%29.jpg?h=995a47a8&itok=hMjIGlYF)
Sandra Giménez, MD, PhD
Clinical Neurophysiologist
![Raquel Gutiérrez Zúñiga](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Raquel_0.jpg?h=b1f3e0cd&itok=xji5XIEu)
Raquel Gutiérrez Zúñiga, MD, PhD
Neurologist
![Rafi Hadad headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-1.jpg?h=97a6fbd8&itok=rONwe6Cj)
Rafi Hadad, MD
Neurologist
![Tanisha Hill-Jarrett](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Tanisha%20Hill-Jarrett.jpeg.jpg?h=69b1f1b9&itok=fg9Z1aye)
Tanisha Hill-Jarrett, PhD
Neuropsychologist
![mick o'kelly](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/mick_o_kelly.jpg?h=f1376a39&itok=VaXvOj1T)
Mick O'Kelly, PhD, MFA, BFA
Artist
![Luis Martinez headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-455%20%281%29.jpg?h=4785a921&itok=nqlfEDhP)
Luis Martinez, MD, MPH
Neurologist and Clinical Researcher
![Paul Modjadji](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Paul-resized.jpg?h=2565a842&itok=yhri9rr5)
Paul Modjadji
Artist
![Khanyo Ngcobo](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Khanyo-resized.jpg?h=d20827dc&itok=YNJcKGWY)
Khanyo Ngcobo, MBChB, FcPsych, MMed
Psychiatrist
![Rafal Nowak headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-308%20%281%29.jpg?h=6c067cd5&itok=u0PlfFPC)
Rafal Nowak, PhD
Neuroscientist
![Chukwuanugo Ogbuagu](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-430%20%281%29.jpg?h=4fd079d9&itok=RIMNyJuX)
Chukwuanugo Ogbuagu, MBBS, PhD, MWACP
Public Health Physician and Lecturer
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Moïse Roche, MSc
Researcher in Dementia
![Cristiano Schaffer Aguzzoli headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-444%20%281%29.jpg?h=4121c188&itok=A9PHN6KA)
Cristiano Schaffer Aguzzoli, MD
Neurologist
![So Young Shin headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/IMG_20211025_1%20%281%29.jpg?h=cac9c712&itok=GM0DEBQJ)
So Young Shin, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC
Nursing Professor, Researcher, Educator
![Erin Smith headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-410%20%282%29.jpg?h=a06483b2&itok=rL0WEFTw)
Erin Smith
Creative technologist
![Selam Yoseph headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-394%20%281%29.jpg?h=bcdbf6b1&itok=DDApgeX0)
Selam Yoseph, MD
Psychiatrist
![Yared Zewde headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/202101012_GBHI-303%20%281%29.jpg?h=8391086e&itok=-h6u7OxN)
Yared Zewde, MD
Neurologist
![Yavuz Ayhan](/sites/default/files/styles/image_1x1_small/public/profile/Yavuz%20Ayhan%20%281%29.jpg?h=a5ac4bf3&itok=ld5lUw8r)
Yavuz Ayhan, MD
Psychiatrist