A Proposed Brain-, Spine-, and Mental- Health Screening Methodology (NEUROSCREEN) for Healthcare Systems: Position of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated neurological, mental health disorders, and neurocognitive issues. However, there is a lack of inexpensive and efficient brain evaluation and screening systems. As a result, a considerable fraction of patients with neurocognitive or psychobehavioral predicaments either do not get timely diagnosed or fail to receive personalized treatment plans. This is especially true in the elderly populations, wherein only 16% of seniors say they receive regular cognitive evaluations. Therefore, there is a great need for development of an optimized clinical brain screening workflow methodology like what is already in existence for prostate and breast exams. Such a methodology should be designed to facilitate objective early detection and cost-effective treatment of such disorders. In this paper we have reviewed the existing clinical protocols, recent technological advances and suggested reliable clinical workflows for brain screening. Such protocols range from questionnaires and smartphone apps to multi-modality brain mapping and advanced imaging where applicable. To that end, the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) proposes the Brain, Spine and Mental Health Screening (NEUROSCREEN) as a multi-faceted approach. Beside other assessment tools, NEUROSCREEN employs smartphone guided cognitive assessments and quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) as well as potential genetic testing for cognitive decline risk as inexpensive and effective screening tools to facilitate objective diagnosis, monitor disease progression, and guide personalized treatment interventions. Operationalizing NEUROSCREEN is expected to result in reduced healthcare costs and improving quality of life at national and later, global scales.

Neuroscience20 (BRAIN20, SPINE20, and MENTAL20) Health Initiative: A Global Consortium Addressing the Human and Economic Burden of Brain, Spine, and Mental Disorders Through Neurotech Innovations and Policies.

Neurological disorders significantly impact the world's economy due to their often chronic and life-threatening nature afflicting individuals which, in turn, creates a global disease burden. The Group of Twenty (G20) member nations, which represent the largest economies globally, should come together to formulate a plan on how to overcome this burden. The Neuroscience-20 (N20) initiative of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) is at the vanguard of this global collaboration to comprehensively raise awareness about brain, spine, and mental disorders worldwide. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the various brain initiatives worldwide and highlight the need for cooperation and recommend ways to bring down costs associated with the discovery and treatment of neurological disorders. Our systematic search revealed that the cost of neurological and psychiatric disorders to the world economy by 2030 is roughly $16T. The cost to the economy of the United States is $1.5T annually and growing given the impact of COVID-19. We also discovered there is a shortfall of effective collaboration between nations and a lack of resources in developing countries. Current statistical analyses on the cost of neurological disorders to the world economy strongly suggest that there is a great need for investment in neurotechnology and innovation or fast-tracking therapeutics and diagnostics to curb these costs. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, SBMT, through this paper, intends to showcase the importance of worldwide collaborations to reduce the population's economic and health burden, specifically regarding neurological/brain, spine, and mental disorders.

Quantitative electroencephalograms and neuro-optometry: a case study that explores changes in electrophysiology while wearing therapeutic eyeglasses.

The brain is equipped with a complex system for processing sensory information, including retinal circuitry comprising part of the central nervous system. Retinal stimulation can influence brain function via customized eyeglasses at both subcortical and cortical levels. We investigated cortical effects from wearing therapeutic eyeglasses, hypothesizing that they can create measureable changes in electroencephalogram (EEG) tracings. A Z-BellSM test was performed on a participant to select optimal lenses. An EEG measurement was recorded before and after the participant wore the eyeglasses. Equivalent quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) analyses (statistical analysis on raw EEG recordings) were performed and compared with baseline findings. With glasses on, the participant's readings were found to be closer to the normed database. The original objective of our investigation was met, and additional findings were revealed. The Z-bellSM test identified lenses to influence neurotypical brain activity, supporting the paradigm that eyeglasses can be utilized as a therapeutic intervention. Also, EEG analysis demonstrated that encephalographic techniques can be used to identify channels through which neuro-optomertric treatments work. This case study's preliminary exploration illustrates the potential role of QEEG analysis and EEG-derived brain imaging in neuro-optometric research endeavors to affect brain function.

Brain injury rehabilitation: cortical and subcortical interfacing via retinal pathways.

Most patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have visual and nonvisual retinal signal processing problems with concomitant dysfunctional sensory systems integration. These dysfunctions often include problems of spatial orientation, motor planning, and motor control. They are generally not visible on diffusion tensor imaging, diffusion spectrum magnetic resonance imaging, or functional magnetic resonance imaging and are not discernible by neuro-ophthalmological, standard optometric, or ophthalmological testing. In contrast, the neuro-optometrist, while examining the TBI patient's conscious cortical processing, puts great emphasis on unconscious ambient processing to assess the patient's ability to tolerate and adapt to environmental changes beneath conscious awareness. This often overlooked, yet potentially critical, information from both subcortical and cortical components of the visual system, sometimes combined with other sensory signals, is used to evaluate and treat patients with processing dysfunctions.

Neuro-optometric diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation following traumatic brain injuries: a brief overview.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) commonly impacts on the connections and interactions between signals from sensory, cognitive, motor and emotional systems and signals transmitted via both visual and non-visual retinal fiber pathways. The non-visual retinal pathways are actively involved in aspects of living, such as spatial orientation, auditory localization, circadian rhythm and motor function. Non-visual retinal signal processing and linkage dysfunctions require more than specialized neuro-ophthalmologic or traditional eye care evaluation. Neuro-optometric techniques, such as discussed herein, are necessary to test the complex, often overlooked interrelationships among these systems. As part of a multi-disciplinary approach, neuro-optometric intervention is an essential consideration for the optimal diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation following a TBI.