Brainspan: A Framework for Defining, Measuring, and Preserving Cognitive Longevity

Longevity medicine has achieved substantial gains in extending lifespan, yet these advances have not been matched by equivalent preservation of cognitive and functional capacity. As a result, many individuals now live longer while experiencing prolonged periods of cognitive decline, emotional dysregulation, sleep disruption, and loss of independence. Existing constructs, including lifespan and healthspan, insufficiently capture the central role of brain function in determining meaningful aging outcomes. This article introduces the concept of brainspan, defined as the duration of life during which neural network efficiency remains sufficient to support autonomy, adaptive capacity, and coherent physiological and behavioral regulation. Brainspan is conceptualized as a dynamic systems property emerging from the integrated performance of cognitive, autonomic, sleep, emotional, and behavioral networks. We describe characteristic brainspan trajectories across the lifespan, identify chronic and episodic determinants of brainspan decline, discuss approaches to measuring brainspan using longitudinal, multimodal assessments, and outline implications for longevity medicine. Preserving brainspan reframes longevity from survival alone toward sustained independence, resilience, and functional agency across aging.