Public perceptions of brain health : an international, online cross-sectional survey
Budin-Ljøsne, Isabelle (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)
Mowinckel, Athanasia Monika (Department of Psychology. Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition. University of Oslo)
Friedman, Barbara Bodorkos (Department of Psychology. Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition. University of Oslo)
Ebmeier, Klaus (Department of Psychiatry. University of Oxford)
Drevon, Christian André (Vitas AS)
Carver, Rebecca Bruu (Department of Communication. Norwegian Institute of Public Health)
Zsoldos, Enikő (Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging)
Fredheim, Nanna Alida Grit (Department of Genetics and Bioinformatics. Norwegian Institute of Public Health)
Sørensen, Øystein (Department of Psychology. Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition. University of Oslo)
Baaré, William Frans Christiaan (Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance. Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research. Copenhagen University Hospital)
Madsen, Kathrine Skak (Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance. Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research. Copenhagen University Hospital)
Fjell, Anders M. (Department of Psychology. Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition. University of Oslo)
Kievit, Rogier Andrew (Cognitive Neuroscience Department. Donders Institute for Brain. Cognition and Behavior. Radboud University Medical Center)
Ghisletta, Paolo (Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES)
Bartrés-Faz, David (Universitat de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina)
Nawijn, Laura (Department of Psychiatry. Amsterdam Neuroscience. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
Solé-Padullés, Cristina (Universitat de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina)
Walhovd, Kristine Beate (Department of Psychology. Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition. University of Oslo)
Düzel, Sandra (Center for Lifespan Psychology. Max Planck Institute for Human Development)
Zasyekina, Larysa (Department of General and Clinical Psychology. Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University)
Iulita, M. Florencia (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Ferretti, Maria Teresa (Women's Brain Project)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2022
Abstract:	Objectives To investigate public perspectives on brain health. Design Cross-sectional multilanguage online survey. Setting Lifebrain posted the survey on its website and social media and shared it with stakeholders. The survey was open from 4 June 2019 to 31 August 2020. Participants n=27 590 aged ≥18 years from 81 countries in five continents completed the survey. The respondents were predominantly women (71%), middle aged (41-60 years; 37%) or above (>60 years; 46%), highly educated (69%) and resided in Europe (98%). Main outcome measures Respondents' views were assessed regarding factors that may influence brain health, life periods considered important to look after the brain and diseases and disorders associated with the brain. We run exploratory linear models at a 99% level of significance to assess correlates of the outcome variables, adjusting for likely confounders in a targeted fashion. Results Of all significant effects, the respondents recognised the impact of lifestyle factors on brain health but had relatively less awareness of the role socioeconomic factors might play. Most respondents rated all life periods as important for the brain (95%-96%), although the prenatal period was ranked significantly lower (84%). Equally, women and highly educated respondents more often rated factors and life periods to be important for brain health. Ninety-nine per cent of respondents associated Alzheimer's disease and dementia with the brain. The respondents made a connection between mental health and the brain, and mental disorders such as schizophrenia and depression were significantly more often considered to be associated with the brain than neurological disorders such as stroke and Parkinson's disease. Few respondents (<32%) associated cancer, hypertension, diabetes and arthritis with the brain. Conclusions Differences in perceptions of brain health were noted among specific segments of the population. Policies providing information about brain-friendly health behaviours and targeting people less likely to have relevant experience may be needed.
Grants:	European Commission 732592
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	BMJ open, Vol. 12 Núm. 4 (april 2022) , p. e057999, ISSN 2044-6055

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057999
PMID: 35437254

15 p, 610.7 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles