Global voices - all contributors

World Dementia Council Chair Professor Philip Scheltens and Vice Chair Dr Joanne Pike reflect on 2023, government meetings in the Netherlands and Japan and progress in the field. 

The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke at the high-level meeting on dementia hosted by the government of Netherlands and World Dementia Council in October 2023. At the meeting attending governments agreed a new communique on demenita. It commits to the establishment of a new international governmental body on dementia and the establishment of a new international prize.

As part of the global voices series Canadian Health Minister, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos MP, reflects on dementia in Canada and the impact of the government's National Dementia Strategy. 

At the WDC summit at the Francis Crick Centre the Netherland's minister for Long Term Care announced "the Dutch government intends to organise an international high-level conference on dementia this autumn".

Reflecting on entering a golden age of neuroscience – what could well be the most promising period for brain research and potential treatments for cognitive conditions in human history – the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative's George Vradenburg and Phyllis Barkman Ferrell take a look at the readiness of health systems for new developments in detection, diagnostics and treatments in Alzheimer's Disease.

Reflecting on 2021-2030 as the United Nations' Decade of Healthy Ageing, AARP's Chief Executive Officer Jo Ann Jenkins writes how health is central to our experience of older age and the opportunities that ageing brings.

Writing as part of the WDC Summit 2021, the Brazilian minster of health Marcelo Queiroga reiterates Brazil's national initiatives promoted by his ministry in line with the guidelines of the Global Plan.

Writing as part of the WDC Summit 2021, the WHO's director of mental health and substance use Devora Kestel reflects on lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for more global research coordination in dementia.

Writing as part of the WDC Summit 2021, the Japanese Minister of Health, Labour, and Welfare Shigeyuki Gotoh reflects on the efforts led by Japan, based on a shared recognition that the various issues related to dementia require a unified response from all of society.

Writing as part of the WDC Summit 2021, the OECD's deputy general secretary Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen reflects on how we are at a crucial point in the global fight against dementia, and that this global response we have seen develop and strengthen in recent years is too valuable to squander.

Dementia researcher and chair of ISTAART PIA to Elevate Early Career Researchers at University College London, Adam Smith writes that dementia researchers committing their careers to it are the key to unlocking a door to a future which is free of this devastating disease.

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, Dr Theresa Tam, offers reflections on efforts from her country and across the globe on sharing information about reducing the risk of dementia and its increasing importance.

ADI chief executive Paola Barbarino writes about the new report tracking progress made on the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017 – 2025. The plan aims for 146 National Dementia Plans by 2025, and whilst progress has been made with 40 national dementia plans globally, "there is still a mountain to climb".

Chief Scientific Officer of the Alzheimer's Association, Dr Maria Carrillo, reflects on a global dialogue event looking at biomarkers, advances in treatments, and the significant strides the international dementia community has made in research.

WDC trustee and founder of the Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease George Vradenburg reflects on the launch of the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC) at the World Economic Forum’s 2021 Annual Meeting. He takes a look at how the initiative can play a vital leadership role in addressing the growing threat Alzheimer’s poses to global health and wealth.