The next epidemic is coming, and we know what it is. In 2017 the Lancet Commissions identified dementia as “the greatest global threat to health and social care of the 21st Century.” It devastates families, and by mid-century it will have devastated our communities, our economy, and our efforts at equity. But if we act now on dementia prevention, intervention, and care, then we can expect to make a significant impact on not just quality of life but also in terms of family, community, and the broader economic impact. We must take quick action to dispel the myth that “there is nothing to be done” to treat dementia, which perpetuates a delay in diagnosis. Preventative and early-stage interventions are proving to be markedly most effective, but most people do not know that they exist, leading to market forces that are slowing the proliferation of early-stage services, which then perpetuates the delay in diagnosis, and on the cycle goes.
During this Summit session, Dr. Sherrie All, a leader in brain health and cognitive rehabilitation will share with you her toolbox for early-stage interventions designed to help people build and maintain cognitive reserve and functional skills to maintain independence.