The Global Brain Care Coalition (GBCC) is a nonprofit initiative born from one of the world's leading academic medical centers. We unite clinicians, researchers, community organizations, and individuals around a shared mission: reducing the global burden of brain disease through prevention, early action, and evidence-based tools.
Our Story
The Global Brain Care Coalition (GBCC) and the Mass General Brigham (MGB) Brain Care Labs were founded to bridge the gap between clinical research and everyday life. While conditions like stroke and depression remain leading causes of disability around the world, the data are clear: many cases are preventable by taking action early and taking small steps to change our health habits.
In our clinical practice, we see the profound toll of dementia, stroke, and depression every day that affect individuals, families, and communities. But we also see something else – opportunity. The latest research confirms that many of these conditions can be delayed or even prevented through early awareness and evidence-based action.
Our work is anchored by the Brain Care Score, a validated tool designed to make brain health assessment easy and measurable. Developed with leading experts, patients and clinicians, this tool translates complex science into a clear, actionable measure to support improving brain health. We aren’t just identifying risk; we are empowering people to lower it.
The global challenge is significant, but through collaboration and a renewed focus on prevention, we are transforming the way the world approaches brain care—moving away from treating disease after it starts and toward protecting brain health before problems begin.
The Brain Care Score Origin
For more than 6 years, a team of doctors, therapists, patients, and families worked together to figure out how to best answer the question of “What can I do so I don’t end up getting dementia, stroke, or depression like my loved one?” The Brain Care Score is a culmination of the best science made simple to understand your risk of these conditions. More importantly, the 12-item 21-point tool gives simple guidance on what you can do to better protect your own brain health.
We want to acknowledge and thank our collaborators who have provided feedback while implementing the Brain Care Score in a community setting. Their input is the foundation for co-development and will drive our future work and our toolkit. As more people use the Brain Care Score in unique communities and populations, we look forward to learning from your experiences and updating the toolkit to make it useful for everyone looking to improve brain health and brain care.
Our Mission
Brain health is the foundation of a healthy life, yet conditions like dementia, stroke, and depression affect millions of families every year. At the Global Brain Care Coalition (GBCC), we believe these challenges can be stopped before they start. By focusing on prevention and early action, we help people protect their minds and bodies today so they can have a brighter tomorrow. We bring together top medical experts and local community leaders to share the best science in a way that is easy to understand and use.
Our work is built on trust and honesty. We know that every stakeholder is different, so we listen first and act with humility. Whether we are working with clinicians on new research or helping a family find local resources, our goal is the same: to make brain care available to everyone, everywhere. Together, we are raising awareness and breaking down barriers to ensure that a healthy brain is a right for all, not a privilege for some.
Build integrity through transparent, community-centered engagement in every interaction.
Recommendations and interventions are backed by rigorous, evidence-based research and clinical excellence.
Everything is a learning opportunity. By listening to what matters to people, we are better suited to meet their needs.
Empower the global community with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their health needs.
Meet Us
Jonathan Rosand, MD, MSc, is a neurologist, scientist, and global leader in brain health. He is the Founder of the Global Brain Care Coalition and Director of Mass General Brigham Brain Care Labs, as well as the JP Kistler Endowed Chair in Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. His work focuses on translating research into practical tools, such as the Brain Care Score, to help individuals reduce their risk of dementia, stroke, and depression. Driven by both scientific innovation and personal experience, Dr. Rosand is leading a global effort to make brain health accessible and actionable for people everywhere. He graduated from and completed his advanced medical training at Columbia University.
Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, is a world-renowned physician and the former Director of the CDC (2021–2023). She currently serves as a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and is the Chair of the Program Advisory Council at the Global Brain Care Coalition. With a background in infectious diseases and public health policy, Dr. Walensky has spent her career using data to improve healthcare for underserved communities. She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins and Harvard and is widely recognized for her courageous leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and her lifelong commitment to global health equity.
Dana Ball is a nonprofit executive and strategic leader with more than 30 years of experience as a patient advocate advancing innovation, translational research, and cross-sector collaboration to improve health outcomes. As Director of Strategic Operations for the Global Brain Care Coalition (GBCC), he helps translate neuroscience into practical, real-world solutions—supporting the adoption of the Brain Care Score (BCS) across clinical and community settings worldwide.
Previously, Dana was Co-Founder and CEO of T1D Exchange, building a nationally recognized patient-centered clinical research and translation organization that accelerated next-generation diabetes therapies. He has also held leadership roles with the Helmsley Charitable Trust, The Iacocca Foundation, and Three Lakes Foundation, advancing efforts in type 1 diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis. Dana serves on the Board of the Jaeb Center for Health Research and enjoys spending time in Maine, bicycling, and traveling.
Meg Butler Smith, MA is a seasoned professional administrator with over 20 years of experience in higher education and academic medicine. As the Director of Research Operations and Administration for both the Global Brain Care Coalition and the Brain Care Labs, she focuses on bridging the gap between groundbreaking scientific research and its practical, real-world applications to improve individual health.
With a career rooted in administrative leadership in both academic medical centers and in higher education, Meg is an expert in project oversight, team building, and strategic operations. She is particularly dedicated to fostering sustainable workplace culture and collaborative leadership frameworks within healthcare settings. Meg is a proud "Double Eagle," holding both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from Boston College.
Spencer Low, MPH obtained his B.S. in Computational Neuroscience from the University of Connecticut and an MPH from Boston University. He has worked with the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation, supporting initiatives focused on advancing diagnostics, biomarkers, and innovative approaches to Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment. He is passionate about translating research into impact by leveraging digital technologies to make brain care more accessible and scalable.
Within the GBCC, he leads all programming and supports work around the implementation of the Brain Care Score within communities by providing training, resources, and support through a co-creation process.
Kristi Ho, MPH earned her BA in Psychology and Public Health from Brandeis University and her MPH from Boston University. Her previous roles have included work in community health research, clinical research, patient engagement, and exploring digital technologies and their role in early Alzheimer’s disease detection. Her work centers around reducing chronic disease disparities in underserved communities through research and public health initiatives.
In her role with the GBCC, she supports efforts in obtaining Brain Care Score data from research collaborators for analysis. She also helps implement the Brain Care Score within communities and within new and existing health programming, helping empower individuals to take an active role in improving their brain and overall health.
Get Involved
Whether you are a researcher, clinician, community organization, or someone who simply cares about your brain health — there is a place for you in the GBCC. Explore how to get involved.