SMACKOVER — Shaun Best has been an advocate for brain injury awareness, or as he prefers “cognitive challenges,” ever since he sustained an injury in 1977 which has affected his life in many ways.

He is putting special emphasis on this week, which has been declared as “Brain Awareness Week” by the Dana Foundation. The week is a global campaign to increase public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research.

Best, now 44 and a resident of Smackover, was 12 years old in 1977 when he was riding a three-wheeler which had stopped on the side of the road on U.S...