From Reaction to Action: Living with Dementia

More than 250 attendees from 15 nations attended the Third Dementia Conference at the University for Continuing Education Krems from October 28-30, 2021. For three days, people with dementia, caregivers, representatives of Alzheimer’s associations, international experts, researchers, and policy makers discussed how to actively address dementia. Many Interdem members took part and presented their research.

On 28 October 2021, Christiane Teschl-Hofmeister, Provincial Councilor of Lower Austria, Friedrich Faulhammer, Rector of the University for Continuing Education Krems, and Stefan Nehrer, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medicine, officially opened the conference. Furthermore, Prof Stefanie Auer, Head of the Center for Dementia Studies and event organizer, and Marc Wortman, co-organizer, welcomed the attendees and moderated the program, with the support of dementia activist Helga Rohra, who herself lives with dementia.

On the first day, Prof Wiesje van der Flier, University of Amsterdam, presented her research on interventions and prevention strategies. Thomas Czypionka, Institute for Advanced Studies (Vienna), gave a presentation on the Austrian dementia economic study. According to this study, dementia in Austria costs about 1.39 billion Euros per year and imposes about 1.26 billion Euros in formal care costs. Brigitte Juraszovich from Gesundheit Österreich GmbH presented an update on the Austrian dementia strategy “Living well with dementia” which constitutes an important general action framework for all Austrian Federal States.

Intensified International cooperation and exchange of information in the Dementia Field.

On day two,  several parallel sessions discussing prevention strategies  and technical advances were presented.  Prof Myrra Vernooij-Dassen, former director of the Radboud Alzheimer Centre and chair of Inderdem, spoke about “Social Health” and the necessity for “social prescriptions” in order to avoid isolation and loneliness, important risk factors for dementia. Jochen René Thyrian, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, presented the prevention initiative in Germany, and Prof Henry Brodaty, University of New South Wales in Sydney, presented the Australien “Caring for Your Brain” study (MYB Trial).  A Symposium presented from the Krems Arts and Education Initiative (KAEDI) of the UWK  presented Art as a method for prevention (www.kaedi.at).

The AIDEM II 2021 (Artificial Intelligence for Prevention & Intervention in Dementia) symposium presented in collaboration with Joanneum Research Graz presented  put new media for caregivers and Persons with Dementia in the centre. World-renowned experts such as Lorenz Granrath from Tohoku University in Japan and Prof Craig Stark, University of California shared their study results and potential of this approach. A symposium with Persons with Dementia was presented by  “PROMENZ live” providing  impressive insights into the world of experience of people with dementia and possible solutions for better care provisions in the future.

National dementia plans and how to advocate for them was discussed in a workshop sponsored by Biogen and the diagnostic pathway in a lunch session sponsored by Roche.

The position of migrant workers in dementia care was discussed at the beginning of the third day, including an impressive presentation by Anca-Ioana Romocea from the organization who comes up for their rights.

COVID-19 and dementia as well as the challenges of 24-hour care by caregivers from predominantly Eastern European countries were also an important focus of the third day. Debby Gerritsen from Nijmegen, Netherlands and Clarissa Giebel and Mark Gabbay from Liverpool, UK presented their research findings. The situation of 24 hour professional caregivers was presented in case studies and the urgent need for immediate action was highlighted.

Taking steps for future developments

The third Dementia Conference once again provided a forum for exchange and discussion. Worldwide, experts and Persons with Dementia are highly motivated to create a more active and hopeful future for Persons with Dementia. Only if we work together and culturally adapt evidence-based best practice models of primary and secondary prevention,  the situation will improve for Persons with Dementia and their support providers. We are looking forward to the 4th conference 14-16 November 2022!

Stefanie Auer and Marc Wortmann

Please find further information here: www.donau-uni.ac.at/dementia-conference

Abstractbook: https://door.donau-uni.ac.at/view/o:1427

Cite: Auer, S., Höfler, M., Pürcher, P., & Wortmann, M.(Eds). (2021). Abstracts of the 3rd Krems Dementia Conference Virtual. Dealing with Dementia: From Reaction to Action. 28-30 October 2021, Krems: Danube University of Krems, Austria. doi: 10.48341/z3kr-de55