CAS in Brain Health

Scope and structure

The CAS programme comprises a total of at least 15 ECTS credits. It is made up of four modules, each worth 3-5 ECTS credits.
The programme covers the following topics: Introduction to Brain Health, Brain Disorders and its Risk Factors, Brain Health Interventions, Brain Health Implementation.

Goals of the course

The participants

• understand the determinants of brain health, including physical, psychological and social factors, and can analyse their effects on brain function
• develop a sound knowledge of various brain diseases and disorders in order to understand and apply diagnostic, preventive and treatment strategies
• learn intervention techniques and strategies to promote brain health and can apply these to support patients' cognitive abilities and well-being
• develop individualised action plans for improving brain health based on the knowledge and skills learnt to bring about sustainable changes in quality of life.

Didactic principals

The programme uses various teaching methods to optimally support the transfer of learning and knowledge and to ensure a lively learning culture.
In addition to imparting theory- and practice-orientated knowledge and skills, the courses offer space for reflection and discussion. The content and form of the events take into account the needs and wishes of the participants. Their specialist knowledge and experience as professionals are incorporated into the teaching and learning process.

Language

All courses, exams, and course materials are in English.

The CAS Brain Health is structured modularly. It is comprised of 4 modules:

• Module 1 – Introduction to Brain Health

  • What is Brain Health?
  • Brain evolution from an anthropological perspective
  • Brain development and anatomy
  • Interoceptive rhythms in the brain
  • Sleep and wakefullness
  • Language evolution
  • Language development
  • Learning and memory
  • Emotional system
  • Autonomic system
  • Brain-Heart interactions
  • Brain-Gut interactions
  • Brain-Hormone interactions
  • Neurodiversity (incl. Sensory processing sensitivity)
  • Neuroplasticity - use it or loose it
  • The Aging Brain: Plasticity and Cognitive Reserve
  • Immunosenescence
  • Genetic epidemiology
  • What is environment?
  • Developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD)
  • Exposome
  • One Health

• Module 2 – Brain Disorders and its Risk Factors

  • Traumatic brain injury & chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
  • Stroke
  • Neurodegenerative disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Gait disorders & falling
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Neuropediatric disorders
  • Sleep disorders
  • Headaches & Chronic Pain
  • Functional Neuronal Diseases (FND)
  • Developmental disorders
  • Depression
  • Myalgic encephalomyelitis / Chronic fatique syndrome
  • Bipolar disorders
  • Adjustment disorder & Burn out
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder
  • Substance abuse
  • Obesity and eating disorders
  • ADHD / ADD
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) + Anxiety
  • Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) & other personality disorders
  • Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders

• Module 3 – Brain Health Interventions

  • Preserving prenatal health & healthy birth
  • Preserving child health
  • Preserving mental child health
  • Education & Cognitive Reserve
  • Resilience and emotional regulation
  • Clarity & Fortitude
  • Preserve mental activity
  • Social Connectedness and Cognitive Longevity
  • Sexual health
  • Sleep Health
  • Stress Management
  • Healthy use of digital media
  • Healthy use of artifical intelligence
  • Physical activity & physical health
  • Physical activity & mental health
  • Healthy diet
  • Nutritional supplements
  • Smoking stop
  • Prevention & treatment of infections
  • Prevention of environmental neurointoxication
  • Air pollution
  • Water pollution
  • Noise pollution
  • Light
  • Electrosmog & radiation
  • Climate change & neurological disorders
  • Climate change & psychiatric disorders
  • Neuroprotection Strategies
  • Pharmacological cognitive enhancers
  • Brain-Computer Interfaces: Applications
  • Neurostimulation
  • Promises of brain technology
  • Music and art therapy for mental health
  • Wearable Technology for Brain Health
  • Neurorehabiliation
     

• Module 4 – Brain Health Implementation

  • Assessment of brain health
  • Health impact assessment
  • Implementation of Brain Health Programm
  • Implementation of Mental Health Programm
  • Nurses contribution to Brain Health
  • Patient-Centered Approaches in Brain Health Interventions
  • Health communication theories and models
  • Argumentation, rhetoric and persuasion
  • The importance of habbits - or how to change lifes
  • Strategies for healthy birth & childhood
  • Strategies for health education
  • Strategies for social health
  • Strategies for work health
  • Strategies for healthy lifestyle
  • Vaccination strategies
  • Strategies for avoidance of substance abuse
  • Strategies for healthy lifestyle
  • Vaccination strategies
  • Strategies for avoidance of substance abuse
  • Green & blue cities
  • The impact of different health care philosophies and cultures
  • Strategies to influence policymakers
  • Brain capital and brain economy
  • Brain health for skill based transitions
  • Investing Strategies
  • Self responsibility - chance but also risk
  • Ethics and responsible innervation
  • Future Directions in Brain Health

Subject to alterations.

The CAS in Brain Health is operated by the University of Bern and the Department of Neurology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern.

Organising committee

• Simon Jung (Programme Director, Neurology)
• David Tanner (Director of Studies)
• Franka Theile (Programme Administrator)

International Faculty

• Emiliano Albanese, Switzerland
• Astri Arnesen, Norway, President EFNA
• Claudio Bassetti, Past President EAN, Chair of International Faculty, Switzerland
• Thomas Berger, Austria
• Indrit Bègue, Switzerland
• Paul Boon, President EAN, Belgium
• Suzanne Dickson, President EBC, Sweden
• Geert Dom, President EPA, Belgium
• Raphael Guzman, President SSNC, Switzerland
• Peter Falkai, Past-President EPA, Germany
• Andrea Fiorillo, President SIPS, Italy
• Antoine Flahault, President SSPH+, Switzerland
• Giovanni Frisoni, Switzerland
• Wolfgang Grisold, President WFN, Austria
• Annette Hackenberg, President SSNP, Switzerland
• Albert Hofmann, USA
• Peter Kelly, Ireland, President ESO
• Matilde Leonardi, Italy
• Karl-Olof Loevblad, Past-President SSNR, Switzerland
• Anita Lüthy, Past-President SSN, Switzerland
• Marco Medina, Past-President PAFNS, Honduras
• Elena Moro, President-elect EAN, France
• Mayowa Owolabi, Nigeria
• Irena Rektorova, Czech Republic
• Jacques Reis, Co-Chair WFN-ENSG, France
• Hakan Sarikaya, Switzerland
• Peter S. Spencer, Chair WFN-ENSG, Oregon Health & Science University, USA
• Barbara Tettenborn, Switzerland
• Susanne Wegener, Switzerland
• Corina Wirth, President Public Health Switzerland, Switzerland
• Thomas Zeltner, Past-President BAG, Switzerland

Local Faculty

• Simon Jung (Programme Director, Neurology)
• David Tanner (Director of Studies)
• Kristina Adorjan (Psychiatry)
• Marcel Arnold (Neurology)
• Lia Bally (Endocrinology)
• Tatiana Brémovà Ertl (Neurology)
• Bogdan Draganski (Neurology)
• Tanja Belser (Neurology)
• Annika Frahsa (Social and Preventive Medicine)
• Urs Fischer (Neurology)
• Mirjam Heldner (Neurology)
• Michael Kaess (Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
• Andrea Klein (Neuropediatrics)
• Stefan Klöppel (Geriatric Psychiatry)
• Claudio Nigg (Sport Science)
• Iris Penner (Neuropsychology)
• Julia Schmid (Sport Science)
• Adrian Vatter (Political Science)
• Anna Maria Vicedo Cabrera (Social and Preventive Medicine)
• Claudia Weiss (Swiss Association of Nursing Science)
• Roland Wiest (Neuroradiology)
• Matthias Wilhelm (Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine)

Prerequisites for admission to the Certificate programme are

• a (university) degree and
• professional experience in the healthcare sector

Target group:

• Doctors with or without specialisation
• General practitioners
• Psychologists and neuropsychologists
• Sport scientists
• Nurses
• Physical, occupational and speech therapists
• Health care providers
• Public Health Specialists

Exceptions regarding admission requirements may be approved by the programme director «sur dossier». 

Permission to participate in the course is decided by the programme administration upon application by the course management. There is no automatic entitlement to admission.

Application deadline

The application deadline is October 31st, 2024.

Tuition fees

The fees are CHF 6'000. Scholarships are available.

Scholarships

Personal sponsor:

We encourage you to find your personal sponsor for your tuition fee. Your employer might take over some of the costs.

EAN scholarships:

The European Academy of Neurology offers different scholarship types for participants:

• who are residents from EAN member countries and corresponding member countries
• who come from low, lower-middle or upper-middle income countries*: 3 partial scholarships (4.000 CHF)
• who come from high-income countries*: 3 partial scholarship (2.000 CHF)

* as defined by the World Bank

To be considered for an EAN scholarship, please read the EAN scholarship information for CAS in Brain Health programme.