Great Minds live event: New treatments for dementia

On October 19th, 2023, the Great Minds live event was held at the Mercure Hotel in Newport, Wales. This was a great opportunity for our Great Minds participants to stay informed about the latest advancements in dementia research and treatments. You can catch up on the event in the video at link: https://youtu.be/GEAbsRvL5GQ?si=m9-tZ624rU-66P-E 

The event featured speakers from University of Oxford, Newcastle University, and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board with valuable insights into living with dementia, national and local capabilities for dementia care, and exciting scientific developments. 

The event started with an introduction by Dr. Ivan Koychev, Great Minds lead. This was followed by an insightful talk on the experiences of those living with dementia and the challenges they face.

Other notable speakers included Dr. Chineze Ivenso who highlighted local opportunities and capabilities. Oliver John discussed evidence-based approaches to the commissioning of services in Wales'. The presentations after the break by Dr. Robert Barber on new therapies and Dr. Vanessa Raymont on scientific developments were well received by the audience and generated a lot of questions.

Feedback after the fact indicates it was a huge success. Nearly all attendees said they enjoyed the event. Almost everyone (98%) was eager for a similar event in the future.

Key highlights included learning about the experiences of those living with dementia, exciting scientific developments, and insights into how new therapies can be implemented in memory clinics.

The Great Minds event provided an excellent opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing between the community, dementia researchers and healthcare providers. We look forward to future editions of this impactful event.

If you missed the event, you can catch up with the event or watch it at your convenience at this link: https://youtu.be/GEAbsRvL5GQ?si=dchDokFtsue6p0mN