There is No Excuse: Investment in Dementia Prevention is Needed Now

August 7, 2024, 9:45 pm

When, if not now, should governments and civil society unify their approach to dementia policy and actions and commit to sustained, equitable investments in prevention, therapies, and enhancing quality of life?

The 2024 report of the Lancet Commission for dementia prevention, intervention, and care was unequivocal in its findings and message to governments, NGOs, industry, academia and society.Dr Livingston together with 26 of the world’s leading dementia experts concluded that potential for prevention of dementia is high and, overall, nearly half of dementias could theoretically be prevented by eliminating a number of risk factors.

Vision loss and high cholesterol are added to the 12 previously identified modifiable risk factors in the 2020 Report namely less education, head injury, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, hearing loss, depression, infrequent social contact, and air pollution.

Figure 2. Possible brain mechanisms for enhancing or maintaining cognitive reserve and risk reduction of potentially modifiable risk factors in dementia

But let’s turn to the nature and focus of dementia funding.In the 2019 Lancet paper, “The scale and profile of global dementia research funding” Pickett and Brayne pointed out not only the general state of funding but also the significant lack of investment in health and social care innovations that could enhance the quality of life for people with dementia.

They also emphasized the need for increased coordinated global leadership and mobilization to address this gap.It seems that a great deal of energy and oxygen not to mention funding processes for coordination and leadership and less into the translation of evidence into sustained investment into prevention.

Be part of this dialogue across sectors to advocate for essential policy changes that prioritize dementia prevention strategies and actions.