The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that in 2010 35.6 million people globally had dementia and this number is expected to almost double every 20 years. The very oldest members of society and countries where life expectancy is increasing most rapidly will be most affected by this growth. The costs of providing dementia care are substantial (and unsustainable) and a reliance on informal care in both high and low and middle income countries predominates. The G8 recently met in London to acknowledge the increasing burden of dementia and to call for a unified international approach to support global dementia innovation. They confirmed an ambition to identify a cure or disease modifying therapy by 2025 and committed to collectively increasing funding of dementia research in order to reach that goal.

Dementia is a global priority and there is an increasing and urgent need to identify and disseminate innovative and cost-effective approaches for diagnosis and management. The Forum on dementia will focus on post-diagnostic support and treatment and examine innovative systemic, staffing and funding solutions to providing better care.