On 24 March 2025, Dr. Joanne Pike was elected World Dementia Council Chair, and Dr. Paulo Caramelli was named WDC Vice Chair.
The dementia community is at a precipice. At no time in history has there been more hope and more uncertainty in the future of Alzheimer’s and dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.
We’re four years into the first disease modifying treatments on the market. But these treatments are only for those in the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease, access is limited to a few countries and the costs are high. Will more regulatory agencies act to help their citizens get access to these and the next generation of treatments?
We’re closer than ever before to quicker, cheaper, more accessible diagnostic tools. But are health systems globally prepared to implement these tools and are they prepared to help individuals navigate a dementia diagnosis?
We know more than ever before about risk factors and prevention tools. But are governments ready to invest in prevention and will individuals act on these learnings to support their brain health?
These are just some of the challenges that face the dementia research, care and policy fields over the next few years. We’re proud to be leading the World Dementia Council (WDC) at this inflection point. The challenges of this moment will be top of mind for the WDC in our work over the next years.
Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, a number expected to nearly triple by 2050. Dementia is a global public health crisis impacting all communities. As we address these challenges it is essential that our work reaches everyone impacted by this devastating disease.
Indeed, the gap between high income countries and low- and middle-income countries is already stark. As a global community, the WDC is focused on finding solutions for all communities facing dementia. To do that, we’re planning a robust array of innovative programming and publishing designed to educate and engage leaders across the world. We hope to see you at one of our upcoming in-person or virtual events.
Dr Joanne Pike, President and CEO of Alzheimer's Association, Professor Paulo Caramelli, Professor of Neurology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.