Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at World Health Organization (WHO) & Technical Advisor to the World Dementia Council

1. Public Health
Perspective on
Dementia:
World Health Organization

2. Global Impact, Global Solutions

3. CARE TODAY, CURE TOMORROW!

4. Reducing
the
Burden of
Dementia
Prevention
Treatment
Care and
Services
Research
Agenda
Knowledge
Transfer
WHO's Support to Global Action Against
Dementia

5. Commitment 2 : Expand dementia
research funding
• Norms and standards and mapping of dementia
research funding: with OECD
– Diverse systems and nomenclature being used by different
agencies
– Comprehensive and accurate information on R&D resource
flows will enable comparison and benchmarking
– Will enable strategic investments, improved coordination
and reduced duplication
• Create an innovative system to translate and map
the diverse research classification systems into a
common standard

6. Commitment 4 : Develop a coordinated
international research action plan
• Developing Dementia Research Priorities and
Setting the Agenda
• Core role of WHO in shaping the research agenda and
stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination
of valuable knowledge
• Research prioritization important for
– maximizing disease burden reduction in equitable and cost-
effective way
– improved health system efficiency and intervention delivery
– discovery and development of new interventions
– education regarding controllable risks

7. Health and
Social Care
System
Country
Policy and
Planning
Epidemiology
Advocacy and
Awareness
Caregiver
SupportEconomic
Impact
Tools
Commitment 3: Improve information sharing and open access

8. Commitment 10 : Support improvements in
care and services
Dementia risk reduction
programme focusing on
healthy lifestyle
– Healthy diet
– Reducing hypertension
– Lowering cholesterol
– Reducing smoking
– Promoting physical activity
– Promoting cognitive
stimulation
• Use of mHealth
WHO's programme for
prevention of NCDs

9. Commitment 10 : Support improvements
in care and services
Dementia drugs and treatment: Creating demand
and improving access and equity
• Important role of WHO in the area of medicines
Regulatory Support
– Development of norms, standards and guidelines
– Open access innovation
– Provision of guidance and support to national
regulatory authorities to implement global guidelines

10. Commitment 10 : Support
improvements in care and services
Information and
Communication Technology
for Dementia caregivers:
iSupport
• Most care for people with
dementia is provided by family
caregivers
• Dementia is overwhelming for
the caregivers – physically,
emotionally and economically
• Support is required from the
health, social, financial and legal
systems

11. Global Dementia Observatory
Commitment 3: Improve information sharing and open access
• Observatory will provide
data and analyses highlights
on dementia burden and
response
– Global epidemiological trends
– Policy formulation and
adoption
– Country implementation
through health and social care
system
– Partnerships