Established by Rectoral Decree No. 1133/2022 of 1 December 2022
Presentation
The Brain Health Centre, administratively based at the Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, aims to promote research on the maintenance of brain health and the prevention of brain damage, as well as the early diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment associated with neurological diseases and ageing.
Several factors associated with brain health have been identified, including physical health, social connectedness, an active lifestyle and a balanced diet. The interaction among these factors and the individual’s context contributes to the continuous adaptation of brain structure and function and may help slow both physiological and pathological brain ageing.
Identifying the determinants and stakeholders that contribute to improving brain health, and implementing prevention programmes, is strategically important for improving quality of life and reducing the burden of chronic neurological, geriatric and psychiatric conditions.
Steering Committee
- Prof. Alessandro Padovani - Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia
- Prof. Barbara Borroni - Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia
- Prof. Alessandra Marengoni - Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia
- Prof. Antonio Vita - Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia
- Prof. Marina Pizzi - Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia
- Prof. Silvia Clara Giliani - Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia
- Prof. Francesco Bertagna - Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia
- Prof. Roberto Gasparotti - Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia
- Prof. Monica Di Luca - Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan
Other members of the Research Centre
- Dr Andrea Pilotto — Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia
- Dr Alberto Benussi — Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia
- Prof. Giovanni Mirabella — Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia
- Prof. Giorgio Biasiotto — Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia
- Prof. Arianna Bellucci — Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia
- Dr Roberta Ghidoni — IRCCS Fatebenefratelli, Brescia
Faculty members and researchers belonging to Departments of the University, as well as faculty members external to the University, contribute to the activities of the Centre.
The Centre operates according to interdisciplinary principles. Its principal scientific purpose is to promote, support, develop and disseminate studies on brain well-being and successful ageing.
The Centre’s activities include:
- conducting interdisciplinary research aimed at studying protective factors and preventive determinants of brain health;
- conducting interdepartmental and interdisciplinary research on pathogenetic mechanisms and on the development of early diagnostic markers and outcome markers of brain health status;
- promoting and organising registries and observational studies aimed at evaluating factors associated with brain ageing and its prevention;
- developing screening programmes for the early identification of risk factors and protective factors for brain health;
- implementing research aimed at developing pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions to promote brain health, including the testing of new remote-monitoring methods, the adoption of new educational systems and the assessment of adherence;
- evaluating the efficacy of new treatments, including Phase I and Phase II studies and participation in Phase III studies;
- organising seminars, continuing education activities, and national and international scientific meetings related to the Centre’s research objectives;
- organising workshops on prevention objectives, implementation of new diagnostic and therapeutic protocols, and methods for assessing brain health;
- promoting and supporting associations of patients, family members and interested physicians, with the aim of raising awareness of issues related to brain damage associated with brain ageing and neurological diseases.