Future of Digital Health and AI for Brain Health
Description
In this presentation, Dr. Mendizabal will explore the role of digital health and AI in health services, including equity risks and opportunities relevant to brain health.
ANA-SEQUINS Health Services and Health Opportunities SIG – Brain Health and Technology: Innovation, Equity, and Impact *
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Room: Coral 1
Track: Cross-Cutting Special Interest Group (SIG)
Session Description
Rapid advances in digital health, artificial intelligence, and social media are transforming how brain health is understood, delivered, and promoted across the lifespan. However, without careful attention to access, ethics, privacy, and implementation, these innovations risk widening existing disparities. This session brings together leaders in technology, policy, and youth engagement to explore how emerging tools can be leveraged responsibly to advance equitable brain health worldwide.
The session will begin by examining the “great technology divide” in brain health, highlighting challenges and opportunities related to digital health platforms, wearables, and global health applications. Key topics will include electronic health record (EHR) integration, data overload, interoperability, privacy concerns, and real-world barriers to adoption across diverse healthcare settings. Dr. Adys Mendizabal will present on the future of digital health and AI for brain health.
Dr. Baibing Chen will explore strategies to empower youth to take an active role in managing and promoting their brain health. The session will conclude with a forward-looking, policy-focused discussion on the ethical development and implementation of AI in brain health. Dr. Amy Guzik will examine frameworks to ensure AI-driven tools enhance clinical care without reinforcing bias, compromising trust, or excluding vulnerable populations, with an emphasis on governance, regulation, and cross-sector collaboration.
Overall, this session will provide clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and innovators with actionable insights to help bridge technological divides and build a more ethical, equitable digital ecosystem for brain health.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Identify key opportunities and challenges associated with digital health technologies, artificial intelligence, and social media in advancing equitable brain health across diverse populations and healthcare settings.
- Apply practical strategies to evaluate, implement, and integrate digital health and AI-enabled tools into clinical and public health workflows while addressing barriers related to interoperability, privacy, clinician burden, and health equity.
- Discuss ethical, regulatory, and governance considerations for the responsible use of artificial intelligence and digital platforms in brain health, including approaches to mitigate bias, misinformation, and unintended disparities.
Speakers
- (Chair) Neha Dangayach, MD, MSCR, FAAN, FCCM, FNCS, FCCP, FANA
- (Co-Chair) Rachel Forman, MD
- (Speaker) Adys Mendizabal, MD, MS
- (Speaker) Baibing Chen, MD, MPH
- (Speaker) Amy Guzik, MD, FAHA, FAAN
Brain Health and Youth
Description
In this presentation, Dr. Chen will provide how the modern digital landscape presents unprecedented cognitive demands on the youth brain. This presentation focuses on the impact of generative AI, social media algorithms, and shifting peer-culture dynamics on adolescent neurodevelopment. We will trace the trajectory of these influences from acute clinical presentations to long-term neurological health outcomes, emphasizing the equity gap in technological exposure and digital literacy. The discussion will highlight how clinicians can leverage tech-driven insights to mitigate risk and optimize brain health in an increasingly digital society.
The Great Digital Divide
Description
In this presentation, Dr. Guzik will discuss how technologies are expanding access for patients in their communities. How can we span the digital divide to promote equitable neurological care?