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Professor Maurice Curtis, Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank Co-Director, CBR In the future we will be clear about what triggers the first events in the brain in dementia and will apply early corrective treatments to stop the advancement to dementia as we know it. This will take innovative and bold science focused on the complex combination of risk factors that predispose to dementia years before the symptoms might normally be evident. Dr Imogene Scott, neurologist and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) researcher Dementia research is in a very exciting place right now. We finally have monoclonal antibody therapies that are able to slow the progression of Alzheimer's when used in the very early stages of the disease. While these therapies do have significant side effects, hopefully they are the starting point for a new generation of safe and effective disease-modifying medications. Historically, it has been challenging for patients to get a definitive diagnosis of their dementia subtype, but we may soon have a blood test for Alzheimer's and potentially spinal fluid tests to confidently diagnose other forms of dementia. This will help to make clinical trials more accessible to a lot of people. Dr Campbell Le Heron, Christchurch-based neurologist & neuroscientist and 2024 Alzheimers NZ Fellow The future of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is prevention: applying society-wide lifestyle changes to prevent the slow development of AD pathology in the first place; using accurate markers of AD to identify people in whom early changes have occurred and administering specific therapies to prevent this process of Alzheimer’s ever leading to a state of dementia; and, in people who’ve developed dementia because of AD, consistently applying the community-based interventions and medical therapies that make a difference to maximise quality of life and prevent unnecessary suffering. The future of Alzheimer’s disease is prevention, and this must be driven from across Aotearoa. Dr Erin Cawston, University of Auckland CBR, co-lead of the Dementia Prevention Research Clinics’ biobank I see a future where dementia is not feared – where accurate and reliable screening tests (particularly blood tests) are available to everyone in New Zealand. This will enable early detection and timely access to appropriate interventions and treatments. Angela Caughey, Neurological Foundation supporter and author of A Better Brain for Life (2022) Having lived close to dementia for nearly 40 years, I don’t believe that a brain diminished by dementia can ever be restored. Research towards treatments should be reduced and efforts increased to promote prevention. Late last century, UK research showed that a significant decrease in not only dementia but chronic diseases could be achieved by people who ate wisely, had lifelong exercise and mental and social stimulation, avoided excess alcohol, smoking and stress, and slept well. Further research showed that prevention could start in early childhood or even in the womb. Greg, Neurological Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee member, and caregiver Carers of people with dementia provide 52.7 million hours of unpaid care valued at $1.19 billion per year (Alzheimers New Zealand and the University of Auckland, 2021). As a carer of someone with dementia, I don’t find these figures surprising. The role entails a 24/7 commitment – not always hands-on, but always “there” because the effects of dementia are unpredictable. Being able to share experiences with other carers or close non-family friends is essential. Bottling up the challenges and frustrations is unhelpful and potentially stressful. If funding were not an issue, research on the physical, social, mental and economic costs to carers of individuals with dementia could be of significant value to society. Linking this research with the development of a National Dementia Plan for New Zealand would provide an opportunity to inform health policy that included the partnership between carer and individual with dementia. 18 Headlines