Alzheimer's Association International Conference® Convenes Health Leaders From Around The World to Discuss Global Action Against Dementia

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Jul 15, 2014, 02:30 ET

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association International Conference^® (AAIC 2014^®) will host health leaders from G7 governments to continue discussing the Global Action Against Dementia Legacy Events stemming from the first-ever G8 (now G7) Dementia Summit organized by U.K. Prime Minister Cameron in December 2013. As the world's premier forum for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, AAIC 2014 will serve as the platform for a global update on the Legacy Events as the G7 works toward its collective goal, which mirrors the U.S. National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease, to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's disease by 2025.

The presentation, titled, "The Global Action Against Dementia Legacy Events – Towards an Integrated Follow-Up Plan to the UK G8 Summit on Dementia," is a special Focused Topic Session at AAIC 2014 on Tuesday, July 15 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Bella Center A/S in Copenhagen.

"The G8 Dementia Summit marked the first collaborative effort by governments to make Alzheimer's and dementia research a global priority. It is fitting that we share progress and next steps for the Legacy Events at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference – the global forum for sharing the latest research in diagnosis, treatment and prevention," said Harry Johns, President & CEO of the Alzheimer's Association, who was an invited presenter at the G8 Dementia Summit in the United Kingdom and is a member of the World Dementia Council. "With an estimated 44 million people worldwide living with Alzheimer's or another dementia and those numbers projected to grow to 135 million by 2050, it is critical that we continue to keep Alzheimer's disease at the top of the global health agenda and achieve the necessary milestones to achieve the 2025 goal."

Last December, Prime Minister Cameron called together national health and science ministers, leading global experts and industry executives to find ways to work together to address the global Alzheimer's and dementia crisis. Summit participants created and released a final declaration, agreed to develop a coordinated international action plan for future dementia research, and announced a series of Legacy Events to carry the work forward.

The four Legacy Events cover key research and policy topics in the fight against Alzheimer's, including new financial models for research funding, novel care systems, collective/collaborative approaches to accelerate discoveries, and new directions in research. The events include:

"Social Impact Investment" in United Kingdom (June 2014).
"Harnessing the Power of Discoveries: Maximizing Academia-Industry Synergies" in Canada (September 2014).
"New Care and Prevention Models" in Japan (November 2014).
"Alzheimer's Disease Research Summit 2015" in United States (February 2015).

AAIC 2014 presenters on these topics included:

Gillian Ayling, Department of Health, UK
Yves Joanette, CIHR, Canada, and Etienne Hirsch, AVIESAN, France
Kenji Toba, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan
Richard Hodes, M.D., National Institute on Aging/NIH, U.S.
Dennis Gillings, World Dementia Envoy (consultant to the pharmaceutical industry and founder of Quintiles)
Geoff Huggins, Protection of Rights and Mental Health Division, Scotland

In addition to the Legacy Events, participants at the G8 Dementia Summit agreed to "increase collectively and significantly the amount of funding for dementia research to reach that goal."

According to the Alzheimer's Association 2014 Alzheimer's Disease Facts & Figures, Alzheimer's disease will cost the U.S. alone $214 billion in 2014 and that number is project to soar to $1.2 trillion by 2050. Yet for every $26,500 Medicare and Medicaid spend on caring for individuals with Alzheimer's, the NIH spends only $100 on Alzheimer's research. According to the World Alzheimer Report 2010 from Alzheimer's Disease International, worldwide costs of dementia now exceed 1% of global GDP.

"It is only through adequate funding by our national governments and a strong implementation of the national and international plans in place that we will meet our collective goal to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's disease by 2025," said Johns.

AAIC 2015 will be held in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit alz.org/aaic.

About AAIC
The Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world's largest gathering of leading researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer's and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer's Association's research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community. Scientists leading the advancement of research gather to report and discuss the most current data on the cause, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

About the Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's disease care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's through the advancement of research; provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. Visit www.alz.org or call 800-272-3900.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association