While at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, neuroscientists Tony Wyss-Coray, PhD, and Amit Etkin, MD, PhD, had a webcast conversation with NPR correspondent Joe Palca as part of his series of conversations on brain science. During their conversation, Palca asked about the current state of treatment for mental health and neurodegenerative diseases (bad) and prospects for the future (better).
When asked the single most important thing people could do for their mental health, Etkin answered, "awareness". He said people need to be aware of their mental health and know that help exists if they seek it out. Current treatments aren't perfect, but they are better than no treatment at all.
They also discussed molecular tools for diagnosing degenerative diseases, and the goals of the Stanford Neurosciences Institute's Big Ideas in Neuroscience teams that the two co-lead to develop new diagnostics and treatments for mental health (Etkin) and neurodegenerative diseases (Wyss-Coray).
At the end, Palca summarized the wide-ranging conversation saying, "I think it's a time of actually some hope. I feel quite positive that this globby thing that sits inside our skulls is being understood in enough detail to make some precise changes that can be helpful."
Previously: Neurosciences get the limelight at Davos, Neuroscientists dream big, come up with ideas for prosthetics, mental health, stroke and more
