By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cybersecurity
    4 Helpful Tips on How to Protect Your Medical Practice Against Cyber Attacks
    October 24, 2021
    Health Check Diagnosis Medical Condition Analysis Concept
    6 Health Woes With Online Remedies
    January 19, 2022
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    Eight Things Men Should Know About the Male Menopause
    April 24, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    pharmaphorum
    Democracy Comes to Healthcare
    May 12, 2015
    health reform
    Medical Regulations Run Amok!
    March 11, 2013
    The Risk of Concussions in Contact Sports
    September 22, 2017
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Leaders at G8 Dementia Summit Declare Global Fight Against Dementia
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Global Healthcare > Leaders at G8 Dementia Summit Declare Global Fight Against Dementia
Global Healthcare

Leaders at G8 Dementia Summit Declare Global Fight Against Dementia

Siemens Healthcare
Siemens Healthcare
Share
5 Min Read
dementia summit
SHARE

dementia summitAs the world watched, the G8 dementia summit convened in London on 11 Dec 2013 to finally place dementia on the global stage next to other major killers like cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS. The numbers are alarming.

dementia summitAs the world watched, the G8 dementia summit convened in London on 11 Dec 2013 to finally place dementia on the global stage next to other major killers like cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS. The numbers are alarming. Alzheimer’s Disease International estimates that 44 million people are currently living with dementia, a figure expected to double every 20 years. Already 62% of people with dementia live in low and middle income countries, and with increasing life expectancies across the globe, this proportion is projected to increase to 71% by 2050. Worryingly, less than half of dementia sufferers in high income countries and less than 10% of those in low and medium income countries have received a dementia diagnosis1.

In the words of the first speaker, WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan, ‘we are empty-handed’. There is no cure for dementia. Drugs can ease the symptoms but not treat the underlying nerve cell death, which leads to the deterioration in mental functions including memory, language, orientation and judgement. Spearheaded by UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the goal of this G8 summit was to galvanize international efforts to find a cure, with Britain leading the way. At its close, leading nations committed to developing a cure or treatment for dementia by 2025, with all countries pledging to significantly increase funding to meet that goal.

Science is central to finding a cure for dementia. The research community has learned from previous failures that future phase III clinical trials must focus on the early, asymptomatic stages of dementia. However, the asymptomatic phases are not well understood. This is when molecular dysfunctions ultimately lead to unscheduled nerve cell death. Nevertheless, Francis Collins of the US National Institutes of Health highlighted several rapidly gaining areas of dementia science. For example, recent genetic studies have identified novel risk factors, revealing the involvement of unexpected molecular pathways. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cells will expedite molecular comparisons between healthy and diseased cells. Finally, newly discovered biomarkers and existing imaging technologies for Alzheimer protein beta amyloid, and more recently tau, will facilitate the study of early disease progression and treatment response. However, advances in pre-clinical studies need to be matched by global and innovative clinical trial design. For example, Dr Edo Richard from the University of Amsterdam suggested trials should target large populations at intermediate risk as opposed to small populations at high risk.  Finally, the data generated by the international research community must not only be shared, but also coordinated. Existing efforts such as the International Alzheimer’s Disease Research Portfolio project were highlighted and the scientific community was encouraged to contribute more actively.

More Read

Peer for Performance – Financial Incentives in Global Health
MRI Sedation Options: What You Should Know Before Screening
How Technology Can Change Healthcare In Developing Countries
Screening for Dementia: A Cautionary Tale Yet to Begin
Can An Medication Reminder App Boost Adherence?

In a radio interview leading up to the summit, Professor Simon Lovestone of King’s College London hailed the G8 dementia summit as the most significant event since Alzheimer first described the disease and made it visible to the world. With funding increases pledged by G8 health ministers, and David Cameron’s determination to lead the way, Professor Lovestone might just have been right.

At the G8 Dementia Summit, Siemens was represented by Dr. Bernd Hofmann, Global Head  Neuroscience.

More information on Alzheimer research can be found on Medical Solutions Online – the Magazine for Healthcare Leadership: http://sie.ag/1gBOTVy

Text by Dr. Alysia Battersby, Cardiff
Credits for image: gettyimages / Delight


[1] Alzheimer’s Disease International. The Global Impact of Dementia 2013-2050 – Policy Brief for Heads of Government. [Online]. Available from: http://www.alz.co.uk/research/GlobalImpactDementia2013.pdf. Accessed 12/12/13.

TAGGED:dementiaSiemens
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

9 Study Tips for the Medical College Admissions Test

July 15, 2016
The basics of getting health insurance
Global HealthcareHealth care

The Basics of Getting Health Insurance

June 2, 2022
Global Healthcare

Really Oxfam? Really?

March 14, 2011
Image
eHealthGlobal HealthcareMobile Health

Mobile Health Around the Globe: eMocha Delivers Knowledge at the Point of Care

March 18, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?