Our Co-President Professor Henrietta Moore introduced the concept of Cognitive Taxation in her keynote speech at UNGA during the Global Brain Economy Summit 2026. One of the most overlooked consequences of insecure livelihoods is cognitive taxation. Uncertainty about income, housing, or basic needs places a constant demand on our attention, leaving less mental capacity for creativity, reflection, and long-term decision-making. If we want people to thrive, we need to think beyond economic security alone and consider the cognitive burden that insecurity imposes on everyday life. Brain capital isn’t just brain health plus brain skills. It’s the bandwidth people have left to use them. Watch the recording.