You are cordially invited to this national symposium on Dementia, to be held at the Open University at the end of May 2013. The symposium will bring together key researchers from across the UK, who are working in the field of dementia, and will showcase the range of research perspectives from diagnosis and assessment, neurobiology and genetics, to psychosocial aspects and interventions.
Dementia is a global health concern (WHO Report, 2012). Worldwide, more than 35 million people live with dementia and the number is set to double by 2030 and triple by 2050. Dementia has been flagged by Prime Minister David Cameron as one of the most important ‘challenges’ of our times, as the ageing population continues to grow. Improving dementia research and awareness are amongst the key priorities of the ‘PM’s challenge’. The scale of dementia is vast - there are around three quarters of a million people living with dementia in England alone. The cost to the UK economy is estimated at £19 billion a year (more than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined), and one in three people are set to develop dementia in the future.
The UK is a world leader in the field of dementia research. Work carried out by clinical and non-clinical scientists is at the leading edge of research on the international arena. This essential work aims to translate findings gleaned from scientific and clinical investigations into interventions that will enable people with dementia to experience better quality of life, facilitate diagnoses that can be made more reliably and earlier, with the ultimate goal being to halt or prevent dementia. This symposium brings together leading experts from across the UK, to present the latest findings and exchange ideas about dementia, promote discussion and debate aimed at raising awareness and elucidating our understanding of dementia. Themed sessions will cover global aspects and the impact of dementia (including social and cultural perspectives), diagnosis and assessment, genetics and neurobiology of the main forms (Alzheimer’s disease and non-AD dementias), interventions (treatment and management of dementia), and UK research highlights. The sessions will emphasise ‘cutting-edge’ research that has shaped and developed our understanding of dementia over recent years, and progress that is currently being made to tackle dementia.
We are delighted to have such a distinguished line-up of speakers at the symposium. Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE, will be joining us on the evening of 30 May to speak on ‘the challenges and impact of dementia research’ at the symposium dinner. Representation has also been secured from the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK to outline their respective views on the direction and challenges faced in dementia research. We are particularly grateful to the Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer's Research UK, the British Neuroscience Association and the British Neuropathological Society for their generous sponsorship of the event. It is a privilege to have been involved in organising this symposium and to host the event at the Open University.
We look forward to welcoming you in May, to what promises to be a successful and memorable meeting.
with warmest regards,
Payam Rezaie
Head of Brain & Behavioural Sciences
on behalf of the Science Faculty at The Open University