2nd Middle East and North Africa Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International

Alzheimer’s Disease – The Global Health Crisis of the 21st Century

Dubai was the host country for the 2nd Middle East and North Africa Regional Conference of ADI on 8-9 December 2013, with the Oberoi Hotel as the venue. ADI members shared news of their most recent work during the ADI business meeting, which highlighted the growing awareness and interest in dementia across the region. During the conference opening ceremony a representative from the Dubai health authority expressed their support and this was followed by speeches from three carers on their experiences in the first conference session.

Other conference sessions included an overview of dementia prevalence in the region as well as presentations from ADI Chairman Jacob Roy and ADI Policy Adviser Mike Splaine. Bupa’s Graham Stokes shared knowledge on non-pharmacological interventions for managing challenging behaviours and, with the support of Prof Stokes, an Arabic translation of the Bupa and ADI charter on the rights of people with dementia was launched at the conference.

ADI thanks Lilly, GE Healthcare, Bupa, TauRx Therapeutics, the Government of Dubai, Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Convention and Events Bureau for their support of the meeting.

Programme and presentations

Many of the presentations are available to download below, in PowerPoint format.

Plenary Session 1 – Societal Perspective of Dementia

• Marc Wortmann – Overcoming the Stigma of Dementia
• Diane Mansour – Psychological Effects of Alzheimer’s Disease on Families

Plenary Session 2 – Dementia – A Global Health Challenge

• Jacob Roy Kuriakose – Dementia: A Global Public Health Challenge

Plenary Session 3 – Latest Developments in Dementia Research

• Steve DeKosky & Mohammed Khezrian – Current and Future Treatments
• Claude Wischik – Novel Approaches to Diagnosis
• Raymond H. Hamden & Nicole El Marj – Assess, Diagnosis, Early Intervention: Awareness for Medical and Para-Medical Professionals

Plenary Session 4 – Dementia Care Management

• Graham Stokes – Non-pharmacological Interventions in Response to Behaviours that Challenge
• Nasser Loza & Mairose Doss - Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
• Michael Splaine – A Report on National Initiatives in Hospital care for People with Dementia

Session 1 - Dementia Research

• Hossein Nahvinejad – Comprehensive Prevention Scheme for Healthy Seniors
• Samia A. Abdul-Rahman – Dementia, Thyroid Function and Serum Level of S100B
• Kamal Kallab - Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer Disease, Challenges and Grey Zone of Uncertainty
• Elie Stephan - Frailty and Alzheimer’s Disease
• Emer Macsweeney - Full Service Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis and Management

Session 2 - Dementia in the Middle East and North Africa

• Monique Chaaya - Prevalence of Dementia: A Pilot Study in Lebanon
• Georges Eli Karam - Dementia Research in the Arab World: Where do we Stand?
• Mohammed Gamil El Noamani – Status of Alzheimer in Dubai
• Salwa Alsuwaidi – Health Care Services for the Old Middle East Populations

Session 3: Dementia Care

• Rawad Sheikh Al Shabab – “Touching Care” E-Healthcare Mobile Application Contributes to Caregivers’ Quality of Life
• Sara Faisal Al Rasheed - Support Groups for Family Caregivers of Dementia Patients in Saudi Arabia: Obstacles and Opportunities
• Federico Palermiti - Mediterranean Alzheimer Alliance: Making Alzheimer’s Disease a Priority across the Mediterranean
• Hossein Nahvinejad - A National Photography Competition Aiming at Reduction of Stigma in the Society Improving Quality Life of People with Dementia
• Amira Abdou El Baqary - Developing Dementia Awareness Among Community and Health Care Professionals in Egypt

Programme documents

• View the full programme here
• View the abstracts here