VWS is organizing the international conference Defeating Dementia | on October 2 News item

News item | 25-09-2023 | 23:59

The ministry does this to underline the importance of the fight against dementia and to strengthen cooperation between G20 countries, healthcare, the research field and other stakeholders. Minister Helder for Long-term Care and Sport is the host of the conference. The meeting will take place in the Art Museum in The Hague and is organized by VWS in close collaboration with the World Dementia Council (WDC).

The conference focuses on the latest developments in the field of dementia care, medicines, technology, participation of people with dementia, diagnostics and prevention.. More than 120 participants and speakers consisting of representatives of G20 countries, the WHO, international top researchers, managers of healthcare organizations, interest groups, people with dementia and their informal caregivers come together. In addition to Minister Helder, Prime Minister Rutte will also speak during ‘Defeating Dementia’. The aim is to make international agreements on concrete actions that will improve dementia care worldwide and boost investments in scientific research.

Minister Conny Helder: “The enormous challenge that dementia poses for societies worldwide must receive more attention on a structural basis. We see hopeful developments in the field of scientific research, but much more effort is needed and we are also in a hurry. As part of the National Dementia Strategy, the Netherlands has significantly increased our budget for scientific research into dementia. But we will have to collectively increase our efforts to make a difference. It is crucial that we join forces internationally to improve the lives of people with dementia and ultimately work together to eradicate dementia from the world.”

Global impact
Dementia has far-reaching consequences for a person’s life and also affects his or her environment, family and friends. Due to damage to the brain, memory, orientation and language comprehension continue to decline. As a result, more help and care is needed step by step. In the Netherlands, 1 in 5 people develop the brain disease.

The growth in the number of people with dementia also has a major impact on the accessibility and affordability of care. It is estimated that dementia costs economies worldwide €1.2 trillion and this will increase to €2.6 trillion by 2030. All this underlines the importance of investing more internationally in scientific research and appropriate care and support for people with dementia. During the international conference, representatives from more than 20 different countries – including the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Canada – will discuss this. Attention is not only paid to the development of new medicines, but also to prevention and technological innovations that can relieve the burden on informal caregivers and healthcare workers.

Premiere ‘Human Forever’
During the conference an abbreviated version of the documentary ‘Human Forever’ by healthcare innovator Teun Toebes (24) will be visible to the participants present. The documentary is about the journey he made together with documentary maker Jonathan de Jong. They visited 11 countries across 4 continents to investigate how people worldwide deal with dementia and especially how we can work together towards a hopeful future for people with the disease. The film will premiere in full on October 9.

Further will the Participation Choir provide a performance during the afternoon program for the international representatives present. The choir consists of people with dementia and ‘mantle singers’ without dementia. Together they are accompanied by professional singers (soloists), instrumentalists and a conductor. Research into this initiative shows that participation in the choir ensures, among other things, improved cognitive functions, stronger social relationships and more self-confidence in people with dementia.