About this Research Topic
Dementia is a global health priority, with huge human and financial costs. Over 50 million people worldwide live with dementia, a figure which is set to rise to 130 million by 2050. The current cost of dementia to the global economy is a staggering $1 trillion per year.
Around 60% of people with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), countries in which population ageing is occurring at the most rapid rate and which already have the least capacity to cope. Key challenges in these regions include limited reliable epidemiological data, poor public understanding of dementia, inadequate health and social care systems and a lack of coherent, national or transnational dementia strategies. These challenges require concerted effort towards innovative, collaborative and technology-driven solutions involving clinicians, academics, engineers, economists and policymakers.
LMICs also present new opportunities for globally relevant dementia research: for example, the study of novel genetic and environmental factors that modify vulnerability and resilience to disease, as well as innovative approaches to dementia diagnosis and care in resource-poor situations. Whilst some established institutions in the developing world are already engaged in exploring these research opportunities, there is enormous potential for benefit from greater international exposure and collaboration.
The 2015 World Health Organization First Ministerial Conference on dementia concluded that “A sustained global effort is required to promote action on dementia and address the challenges posed by dementia and its impacts. No single country, sector or organization can tackle these challenges alone.” The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together, in one volume, research addressing problems that specifically relate to the impact of dementia in the developing world. In doing so, we hope to identify new challenges for future investigation.
We welcome submissions from a broad range of disciplines and are particularly interested in work that illustrates the collaborative coming together of disciplines and centers. Topics that will be considered include, but are not restricted to, epidemiology, diagnosis (clinical, neuropsychology, biomarkers, imaging), genetics, modifiable risk factors, treatment, diversity and under-represented populations, health economics, social science and public policy. Whilst submissions covering the full range of article types are encouraged, we are particularly interested in Original Research on dementia that specifically addresses issues relating to the LMIC context.
Around 60% of people with dementia live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), countries in which population ageing is occurring at the most rapid rate and which already have the least capacity to cope. Key challenges in these regions include limited reliable epidemiological data, poor public understanding of dementia, inadequate health and social care systems and a lack of coherent, national or transnational dementia strategies. These challenges require concerted effort towards innovative, collaborative and technology-driven solutions involving clinicians, academics, engineers, economists and policymakers.
LMICs also present new opportunities for globally relevant dementia research: for example, the study of novel genetic and environmental factors that modify vulnerability and resilience to disease, as well as innovative approaches to dementia diagnosis and care in resource-poor situations. Whilst some established institutions in the developing world are already engaged in exploring these research opportunities, there is enormous potential for benefit from greater international exposure and collaboration.
The 2015 World Health Organization First Ministerial Conference on dementia concluded that “A sustained global effort is required to promote action on dementia and address the challenges posed by dementia and its impacts. No single country, sector or organization can tackle these challenges alone.” The aim of this Research Topic is to bring together, in one volume, research addressing problems that specifically relate to the impact of dementia in the developing world. In doing so, we hope to identify new challenges for future investigation.
We welcome submissions from a broad range of disciplines and are particularly interested in work that illustrates the collaborative coming together of disciplines and centers. Topics that will be considered include, but are not restricted to, epidemiology, diagnosis (clinical, neuropsychology, biomarkers, imaging), genetics, modifiable risk factors, treatment, diversity and under-represented populations, health economics, social science and public policy. Whilst submissions covering the full range of article types are encouraged, we are particularly interested in Original Research on dementia that specifically addresses issues relating to the LMIC context.
Keywords: Dementia, LMIC, global health, cognition, neurodegeneration
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
