More than 300 people attended the XXX edition of the Technical Symposia of the Institut Guttmann focused this year on one of the Great Medical Challenges of the 12th century; how to keep the healthy brain long for a lifetime.

After the institutional Welcome In charge of Dr. Josep M. Ramírez, director of the Institut Guttmann and Mr. Àngel Font, Corporate Director of Research and Strategy of Fundación Bancaria La Caixa, began the presentations with a lecture by Dr. Yaakov Stern, a professor of neuropsychology at the University of Columbia. He is the creator of the "cognitive reserve" concept and he explained  the factors contributing to promoting the cognitive reserve and a better aging population.

Under the title "How to Take Care of Our Brain", this round table moderated by the journalist scientist Daniel Arbós had the participation of Oscar Sans, a neurophysiologist who spoke about sleep, the doctor in medicine and neurobiologist Mara Dierssen who explained the mutability of the brain and David Bartés-Faz, doctor in psychology that explained the importance of Cognitive Training and how it could improve intellectual function.

The biologist and doctor in Psychology, Andrés Martín Asuero offered an interesting conference where he assured that the practice of mindfulness and the art of being present, brings personal well-being, Improve the quality of work and increase the quality of relationships. A Practical session of mindfulness with the Assistants allowed everyone to briefly experience a few benefits of this personal tool.

After lunch, in the afternoon, we continued to deepen the factors that contribute to the health of the brain and the well-being of people. The journalist Gaspar Hernàndez, director of the radio and TV programs "L'Ofici de Viure", moderated one table of Vital Witnesses: The mountaineer Òscar Cadiach spoke about his passion for the sport and the mountain, Natalia Jurado, meditation teacher of Kadampa Buddhism, talked about spirituality and mental peace, the disseminator of science Jordi A. Jauset explained the effects of music, and the nutritionist Marta Vergés on how to discover the world of food transformed her life.

Also in the afternoon was the II Meeting of Volunteers of the Barcelona Brain Health Initiative project, presented by the journalist Jordi Basté. The neurologist and scientific director of BBHI, Dr. Álvaro Pascual-Leone, presented the results of the first phase of the project that has progressed significantly and that has managed to recruit 5,000 participants. We also had 3 of the volunteers of the project, who shared their experience participating in this research project.

Thanks to everyone who participated and attended the Conference, which, once again, was a success!