Catalight Pitches Brain Health as Economic Engine at Davos

DAVOS, Switzerland – January 19, 2026 – Amidst the snowy peaks of the Swiss Alps, where global leaders gather to debate the world’s most pressing economic challenges, a new conversation is taking center stage: the economic imperative of brain health. Leading this charge at the 2026 World Economic Forum is Catalight, a U.S.-based nonprofit aiming to convince policymakers and investors that transforming care for autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) is not just a social good, but a crucial driver of global economic resilience.

The Brain Economy's Trillion-Dollar Imperative

The organization's presence is closely tied to the burgeoning "Brain Economy" movement, an initiative championed by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey Health Institute. This framework reframes brain health—encompassing everything from mental wellness to neurological disorders—as a form of "brain capital" essential for productivity, innovation, and societal stability. The economic stakes are staggering. Research supporting the initiative projects that brain-related challenges could cost the global economy $16 trillion annually by 2030. Catalight argues that a significant portion of this cost stems from outdated, inefficient systems for I/DD care.

"Our presence at Davos reflects a fundamental truth: The systems that support brain health, developmental care and family wellbeing are under enormous strain, and change isn't happening fast enough," said Catalight CEO Susan Armiger. She is in Davos to demonstrate that a different approach is not only possible but already working. "We're here to show that value-based care, early intervention, workforce innovation and modern research integration are not abstract ideas – they're working for us and they can work for others, too."

This value-based model shifts the focus from the volume of services delivered to the actual outcomes achieved, a paradigm change Catalight believes is key to unlocking both better health and economic benefits. The nonprofit is positioning its proven success as a real-world application of the Brain Economy's principles.

A Blueprint for a Global Care Crisis

Families seeking support for autism and I/DD worldwide face a daunting landscape of systemic failures: cripplingly long waits for diagnosis, a severe shortage of trained clinicians, fragmented services, and prohibitive costs. In many countries, the wait for a diagnostic assessment can stretch for months or even years, a critical delay that research shows is linked to poorer long-term outcomes.

Catalight arrives in Davos with what it presents as a scalable blueprint to dismantle these barriers. At the core of its model is a strategic shift away from the traditional fee-for-service system, which often incentivizes quantity over quality. Through its value-based approach, the organization reports a 30% reduction in care costs while maintaining high patient satisfaction. A key innovation is its "Eliminate the Wait" initiative, which leverages streamlined processes and telehealth to provide a diagnostic assessment and a path to treatment within 10 days for over 93% of its cases.

This model is built on several key pillars:
* Rapid Diagnosis and Telehealth: By embracing technology, Catalight has expanded access to care, removing geographical barriers and ensuring continuity, a lesson learned and scaled since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
* AI-Enabled Efficiency: The organization uses artificial intelligence to automate workflows and personalize care experiences, helping to close access gaps and manage the strain on its clinical workforce.
* Parent-Mediated Models: Empowering caregivers with the skills to integrate therapeutic strategies into daily life is a cornerstone of the approach. This lower-hour model is highly scalable and cost-effective, building sustainable capacity within families, especially in areas with limited professional resources.
* Workforce Development: Through the Catalight Academy and post-doctoral programs, the nonprofit is actively training the next generation of practitioners to address the global workforce shortage.

"There is a growing recognition that brain health is not just a medical issue, it's also an economic one," said Rodrigo Mahs, executive vice president of growth at Catalight. "When we invest in early intervention, modern care models and the workforce that delivers them, we're investing in productivity, innovation and the wellbeing of society worldwide – imperatives for long-term sustainable economic development."

Convening Leaders for Systemic Change

Catalight's strategy at Davos is not just to present its model, but to build a coalition powerful enough to drive systemic change. The organization is hosting a series of high-profile panels designed to bring together key stakeholders from across the healthcare, government, academic, and investment sectors.

On Wednesday, a panel titled "The Future of Value-Based Healthcare" will feature Armiger alongside leaders like Bechara Choucair, chief health officer of Kaiser Permanente; Lorna Friedman, global health leader at Mercer; and Devdutta Sangvai, North Carolina's secretary of health. The discussion aims to move value-based care from concept to necessity, tackling the practical challenges of scaling these models, aligning payment structures, and integrating innovation.

A second roundtable, "What Brain Health Means to Me," moderated by Armiger, will feature a diverse group of thinkers, including Shankar Vedantam, founder of the "Hidden Brain" media project, and the CEOs of the American Heart Association and the Wyss Center for Bio- and Neuro-engineering. This session is designed to humanize the issue, exploring personal perspectives on why brain health is fundamental to the future of society.

Armiger will also take the stage at a panel hosted by The Brain House and the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative, titled "Brain Matters: Equity in the Age of Cognitive Health." She will be joined by George Vradenburg, chairman of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative, and Peter Lee, President of Microsoft Research, to discuss how diagnostics, digital tools, and workforce training can improve equity and sustainability in health systems, particularly in under-resourced regions.

From Proven Model to Global Vision

While Catalight's model has demonstrated significant success within its large U.S. network—serving 24,000 clients annually with 16,000 practitioners—the ultimate test is its global scalability. The organization's leadership acknowledges the challenges ahead, including navigating disparate regulatory environments, adapting to diverse cultural contexts, and overcoming significant infrastructure and economic gaps in low- and middle-income countries.

However, the message they bring to the World Economic Forum is one of urgent optimism. They argue that the core principles—focusing on outcomes, empowering families, leveraging technology, and investing in the workforce—are universally applicable. Their message at Davos is a clear call for coordinated action across governments, investors, academia, and healthcare.

"This is a critical moment," Mahs stated. "The data is clear. The demand is growing. The workforce is strained. But the solutions exist. If governments, investors, universities and healthcare leaders come together, we can build systems that are both human centered and sustainable. That is the future we are here to help create."