Inaugural Dementia Conference in Africa, Convened by Nature, Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative, and Aga Khan University, to Advance Lifespan Brain Health Innovations Across Diverse Communities
16 Mayo 2024 - 7:54AM
- Researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from the global
south will convene to showcase Africa’s unique brain health and
dementia learnings for the world.
- Aim is to catalyze funding for African brain health
initiatives, emphasizing the importance of brain health throughout
the lifespan including prevention and primary care
interventions.
The Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC),
the organization leading an unprecedented global response to
Alzheimer’s, today announced their inaugural brain health and
dementia conference in Africa, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from
September 11-12 in partnership with Nature Conferences and
the Aga Khan University’s Brain & Mind
Institute. The conference, “The Future of Dementia in
Africa: Advancing Global Partnerships,” focuses on scientific
advancements in understanding the impact of dementia, risk factors
(e.g. genetics), and early detection methods, both in Africa and
worldwide. This is a significant step in advancing brain health
innovation, dementia care and research efforts across Africa and
globally.
The conference will be attended by
interdisciplinary experts and dementia stakeholders based in Africa
and internationally, including researchers, industry leaders, local
governments, policymakers, funders, and individuals with lived
experience. The agenda will cover a broad range of
issues, from current treatments, community-based healthcare
initiatives, to emerging clinical trials. Building on scientific
discourse, sessions will also be geared towards engaging
policymakers, funders, and industry leaders to implement research
innovations across international health systems and identify
collaborative funding
opportunities. Africa’s
growing healthcare landscape, characterized by rapid growth,
urbanization, and a vibrant youth population, presents a unique
opportunity for innovation in dementia and brain health. With an
emphasis on grassroots initiatives, global partnerships, and
leveraging advancing technologies, the continent stands poised to
lead the charge in addressing diverse healthcare
challenges. With the older African population set to
triple by 2050, it's crucial to address the gaps in dementia and
overall brain health research now.
“This first-of-its-kind conference on brain health
in Africa focuses on the importance of brain health throughout the
lifespan. From the brain skills required by younger generations for
21st century innovation, to the brain health risks from the
escalating chronic health conditions in mid-life, to the emerging
brain disorders of elders at risk for dementia, Africa’s unique
demography is a rich source of brain health learnings for the rest
of the world,” said George Vradenburg, Founding Chairman of the
Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative. “The African opportunity aligns
with DAC’s commitment to link and scale brain health innovation
from the world’s diverse racial and ethnic tapestry and across all
resource settings to build the global brain resilience needed to
address the massive 21st challenge of brain disorders.”
“Our conference will highlight the great strides
we’ve made to address the gap in brain health research among
indigenous Africans, despite Africa's rich genetic diversity. We'll
delve into emerging research exploring how increasing African
representation in research could unlock new insights and strategies
for preventing and effectively treating dementia." said Zul Merali,
Director, Brain and Mind Institute at the Aga Khan University.
The conference builds on DAC’s
intervention-focused position targeting lifestyle factors that can
reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s. At the
conference, DAC will hold a roundtable geared towards allocating
funding for brain health at the community and primary care
physician level.
This conference will intentionally prioritize
learnings from the global south with an emphasis on community
health. The discourse offers a platform for leaders to share
successes, understand shared challenges, and foster new
collaborations that will drive future dementia research and care in
Africa. The event is designed to facilitate a stronger network of
dementia researchers and create a collaborative environment that
can catalyze progress against dementia and Alzheimer’s and
positively impact brain health. Learn more about the
event here.
About the Davos Alzheimer’s
CollaborativeLaunched at the World Economic Forum’s 2021
meeting on The Davos Agenda, The Davos Alzheimer’s
Collaborativeis a multi-stakeholder partnership committed to
aligning stakeholders with a new vision for our collective global
response against the challenges Alzheimer’s presents to patients,
caregivers, and healthcare infrastructures. Convened by The World
Economic Forum and The Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease
(CEOi) and fueled by a mission of service to the estimated 150
million families and half a billion people inevitably impacted by
this disease by 2050, DAC is a collaborative for the benefit of all
people, in all places.
About the Aga Khan University’s Brain &
Mind InstituteThe Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) at the Aga
Khan University, operates in East Africa and Central/South
Asia. BMI’s ethos is to span from neuron to the
neighborhood, and across multi-country campuses. The
operational model is to empower and strengthen neuroscience and
mental health research and interventions through capacity building
and partnerships; connecting the rich tapestry of academics,
research entities, stakeholders, and communities of lived
experience.BMI facilitates interdisciplinary research, education
and innovation in mental health and neurosciences. Through
transdisciplinary research approaches, BMI aims to impact the lives
of people who are affected by debilitating neurological and mental
health problems. Whether it is uncovering the causes of illness or
advancing breakthrough research into treatments or interventions,
BMI’s approach is always mindful of the local needs of the people
and communities at risk.
Nature ConferencesNature Conferences are
events tailored to the international scientific community to foster
communication and collaboration between scientists at various
research levels. Held in face-to-face and virtual formats, a
multi-disciplinary schedule of events is launched each year in
partnership with leading industry and institutional organizations
in the scientific field globally. As part of the world-renowned
Nature Portfolio of journals, editors carefully curate event
programs to create immersive experiences that blend cutting-edge
research with insightful discussions.
The Nature Portfolio of journals is home
to Nature—the leading international weekly journal of science
first published in 1869— and to selective subject-specific journals
including Nature Medicine, Nature Aging, Nature
Communications and Communications Medicine. Together,
these journals publish some of the world's most significant
scientific discoveries. Nature Portfolio, its journals, and Nature
Conferences are all part of Springer Nature.
Learn more about Nature
Conferences here and follow @Natureconf.
- Collaborating Organizations for Dementia Conference to Be Held
in Nairobi, Kenya
Susan Oliver
Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative
703-216-4078
soliver@davosalzheimerscollaborative.org