Setting Dementia Research Priorities – Drawing lines in the Sand

During its successful third annual events in Toronto last November, the CCNA held a panel session discussing setting dementia research priorities with over 200 attendees.

Dr. Howard Feldman kicked-off the session by asking attendees to consider the practical and ethical implications of setting research priorities.

“It’s not only that we set research priorities, but we also, in doing so, create accountabilities,” he explained.

The panel spoke on various topics, such as the ‘top 10’ questions Canadians with lived experience of dementia want researchers to answer, as identified by The Canadian Dementia Priority Setting Partnership. This portion of the session was led by Dr. Katherine McGilton, who co-leads the CCNA’s quality of life theme (7:25).

“I think… we should really be including persons living with the disease. There are arguments for better patient involvement because it’s methodologically more sound,” said Dr. McGilton.

The global reach and impact of research prioritization was also discussed (25:35) with Dr. Yves Joanette emphasizing Canada’s important role and responsibility as a nation already leading within the global dementia research community.

Dr. Joanette shared thought provoking figures such as the global cost of dementia, which will reach an estimated $2 trillion (US) by 2030 – far greater than the costs of cancer and diabetes combined, asserting the need for urgent action.

Dr. Tarun Dua, of the World Health Organization, spoke on leading the dementia global action plan (54:38). Dr. Dua shared that more than 60% of dementia cases worldwide take place in low to middle-income countries and stressed the need for collaborative global action.

Click the video to learn more, or please see the highlighted time-stamped sections of the video to go directly to individual topics/speakers.

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