Launch of WHO’s First Blueprint for Dementia Research
Daily Rendezvous Geneva - 4 October 2022 Dementia is one of the greatest health challenges of our generation. “Although dementia is the 7th leading cause of death globally, dementia research accounts for less than 1.5% of total health research output” said Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO’s Chief Scientist. “Sadly, we are falling behind implementing the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-25. Addressing dementia comprehensively requires research and innovation to be an integral part of the response.” Strategies are needed to better understand, prevent, and treat the underlying diseases that cause dementia and, at the same time, provide care and support for people with dementia and their carers. Moreover, dementia research needs to be conducted within an enabling environment, where collaborations are fostered, and equitable and sustained investment is realized. With these objectives, WHO developed a ...