New horizons - Innovation for dementia - Day 3

The third and final day of the 34th Alzheimer Europe Conference in Geneva centered on intersectionality in dementia and brain health and prevention, bringing expert voices to the forefront on critical issues in dementia care and research. The sessions explored the ways gender, ethnicity, and other factors intersect to shape the experiences of individuals living with dementia, while also emphasizing the importance of brain health and prevention strategies.

Intersectionality in Dementia

Opening the day’s discussions, Dr. Antonella Santuccione Chadha, Founder of the Women’s Brain Foundation, shared her insights on the gender disparities in dementia, noting that women are disproportionately affected as both patients and caregivers. She emphasized the need for tailored clinical evaluations, explaining: “Our research shows that the way we assess Alzheimer's may need to be adjusted when the primary caregiver is female, highlighting the complex role gender plays in dementia care."

Next, Dr. T. Rune Nielsen from the University of Copenhagen addressed the importance of reaching minority ethnic groups in dementia research. He reminded the audience: “Minority ethnic groups are not hard to reach, they just require a different approach from researchers. Flexibility and creativity are key to truly inclusive research practices.” Nielsen urged for greater consideration of these groups in recruitment strategies, emphasizing that diverse representation is crucial for improving care outcomes.

From the LGBTQ+ Dementia Advisory Group at the University of Stirling, John Angel Bond and Mike Parish presented their talk, "Queering Up Dementia Care", which highlighted the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals living with dementia. Bond stressed the importance of inclusive care environments: “Providing dignified care for LGBTQ+ individuals requires recognising chosen families, creating affirming spaces, and ensuring staff receive proper training in LGBTQ+ needs.” Their presentation advocated for policy reforms and increased funding to ensure LGBTQ+ people receive the support they need.

Closing this session was Dr. Eimear McGlinchey from Trinity College Dublin, who drew attention to the link between Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. She explained the stark reality: “Virtually all individuals with Down syndrome show Alzheimer’s-related changes by age 40, and Alzheimer’s has become the leading cause of death in this population. Yet, they remain largely excluded from critical research and clinical trials.” McGlinchey urged for greater inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in global Alzheimer’s research initiatives to address healthcare inequities.

Brain Health and Prevention

The day’s final plenary session focused on brain health and prevention, chaired by Dr. Giovanni Frisoni from Switzerland. Kicking off the session, Professor Daniela S. Jopp from the University of Lausanne shared her research on healthy aging, asking: “Is it possible to escape dementia?” Jopp highlighted the diversity in cognitive functioning among centenarians, underscoring that dementia is not an inevitable outcome of aging.

Jean-Charles Lambert, Inserm Research Director at the Université de Lille, followed with a presentation exploring the genetic aspects of dementia. While genetics play a significant role, Lambert noted: “Except for rare monogenic forms of Alzheimer's, genetic information alone is not enough to predict dementia outcomes in most people.” He added that advancements in personalised medicine, especially with immunotherapy, offer hope for more targeted treatments in the future.

Dr. Ira Haraldsen from Oslo University Hospital discussed the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in predicting dementia onset, stating: “AI can identify early risk patterns from diverse data sources that are often missed by traditional methods, allowing for earlier interventions.” She also emphasized the ethical challenges, particularly around data privacy and the implications of early risk information.

The session concluded with Professor Bogdan Draganski from the University of Bern, who spoke on the importance of preventing vascular dementia. He explained that "Small vessel disease can cause cognitive deficits and often goes undetected until it's too late. Efficient treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in mid-life is key to preventing its progression."

A Forward-Looking Conference

As the conference drew to a close, Maria do Rosário Zincke dos Reis, Chairperson of Alzheimer Europe, reflected on the event: “These three days have been filled with invaluable exchanges between people with dementia, carers, researchers, and professionals. We are all working towards the same goal—to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their families.”

The event concluded with the announcement of the 35th Alzheimer Europe Conference, which will take place in Bologna, Italy, in 2025 under the theme: "Connecting Science and Communities: The Future of Dementia Care."

Geneva may have said "Au revoir", but the future of dementia research and care is already looking brighter.

Do not miss the next hybride Nationale Demenz Konferenz in Bern: "Zukunft der Alzheimer-Behandlung: Neue Horizonte in der Medikamentenentwicklung" am 29. April 2025