FRESH TAKES ON BIG IDEAS

Over the past year, I’ve found myself having versions of the same conversation in remarkably different places—from boardrooms to classrooms, from the World Health Assembly to the World Economic Forum and the Vatican. The language changes, but the concern is the same: How do we build a future where humanity, not just technology, thrives? 

Business leaders talk about burnout and cognitive overload amid pressure to scale AI. The World Health Organization projects that the number of cases of dementia is rising. Educators are trying to help young people build resilience in the face of mounting mental health concerns and rapid technological and societal change. Even spiritual leaders, including Pope Leo XIV, are asking deeper questions about human dignity, purpose, and meaning in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

These voices all point to the growing realization that the health and capability of the human brain may be one of the defining challenges—and opportunities—of our time. Earlier this year, we released a report at Davos to elevate the concept of brain capital: the combination of brain health and brain skills that enable people to adapt, relate, and contribute meaningfully throughout their lives. For centuries, we’ve measured economic strength through physical capital and financial capital, and more recently through digital capital. Yet in the age of AI, one of our most valuable—yet underinvested—assets may be brain capital. 

One conversation, in particular, has stayed with me. At the inaugural Borgo Laudato Si’ Dialogues hosted by the Vatican, I found myself walking through the centuries-old gardens alongside CEOs, policymakers, AI pioneers, scientists, university presidents, Olympians, peacebuilders, and faith leaders from around the world. Despite our different backgrounds, there was a sense of common purpose. Our conversations kept returning not to what technology can do but to the kind of humanity we want it to serve. Empathy, resilience, judgment, and purpose emerged as common threads. These are not simply virtues. They are brain skills that can be intentionally strengthened throughout life. At a time when so much attention is focused on what technology can do, these distinctly human capabilities become even more critical.

“Empathy, resilience, judgment, and purpose are not simply virtues. They are brain skills that can be intentionally strengthened throughout life.”

That insight points to a broader truth: Brain capital is about much more than cognition or productivity. Healthier, more skilled brains support stronger relationships and a greater sense of purpose. Brain skills such as empathy, communication, and emotional regulation strengthen social connections, which in turn reduce stress and build resilience. That same interconnectedness extends to spiritual health, a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection to something larger than oneself. As AI raises deeper questions about work, identity, and value, purpose may become one of our greatest sources of resilience. Brain health is also deeply connected to physical health, with increasingly recognized links to metabolic and cardiovascular health.

The encouraging news is that momentum for brain capital is growing. Around the world, leaders are beginning to experiment with new approaches. In Santiago, two mayors are strengthening brain capital through universal access to formative experiences for children (from books and music to robotics and nature), purposeful engagement for older adults, and expanded access to mental health services. Switzerland recently launched a national brain health plan. Houston’s Project Metis aims to position the city as a leader in the brain economy. These efforts reflect a growing recognition that brain capital is shaped by the environments, institutions, and communities in which people live. The workplace is no exception. As organizations redesign work around AI, a similar set of principles is emerging to ensure that the push for productivity doesn’t erode the very cognitive capacity it depends on.

The challenge is now to expand the solution set. In our recent work, we identified five levers for strengthening brain capital: safeguard, foster, study, invest, and mobilize. There is already meaningful progress. The Global Brain Capital Index is advancing measurement and informing the launch of the Nature Medicine Commission on Brain Health for Economic Resilience. The Coalition for Mental Health Investment is catalyzing innovative financing. Brain capital investment mapping is exploring opportunities to improve both the sufficiency and efficiency of funding. A coordinated movement is taking shape with the convening of the Brain Economy Action Forum and the launch of the Global Brain Economy Initiative, aligning leaders around a shared conviction that brain capital is not only a health issue but also a driver of economic prosperity and societal resilience.

Many seemingly unrelated voices—from educators and CEOs to health leaders and faith leaders—are converging around the same idea. They recognize that stronger brains underpin stronger societies. Brain capital may be one of the few assets that simultaneously strengthens economic competitiveness, social cohesion, public health, and human flourishing. Unlike many assets, brain capital does not have to depreciate. With the right support, it can grow throughout life. Technology will undoubtedly shape the future, but our investment in people—in their brain health and brain skills—will determine the kind of future we create.

—Edited by Vanessa Burke, associate editor, Atlanta

ABOUT THIS AUTHOR

Erica Coe is a partner in McKinsey’s Atlanta office and the Global Executive Director of the McKinsey Health Institute.