Global Scientific Committee
Global Scientific Committee
Dementia is a global issue affecting millions across the world. A global collective effort focused on nonpharmacological approaches is needed to improve the quality of life of the nearly 40 million people living worldwide with dementia today and their millions of care partners. wisdem’s Global Scientific Committee (GSC), comprising 28 experts from 16 countries, aims to give nonpharmacological approaches a global voice that transcends cultures. The Global Scientific committee will work to share new evidence-based interventions, test established care models, and develop new approaches so that more and more people can live well with dementia.
The GSC serves as an advisory body for wisdem’s services, scientific strategy, events and publications, and a platform upon which committee members can engage in dialogue and research on the latest dementia focused innovations.
wisdem’s GSC members are internationally recognised experts in their field of practice, be that nonpharmacological interventions, environmental design, technology or evaluation methodologies. Each brings specialist knowledge, experience, methods and practices to the fore. Together the GSC is committed to build a global community that understands how to improve quality of life for everyone living with dementia.
Meet wisdem’s Global Scientific Committee members by clicking on their individual profiles below.
Building together a new globalised and more effective paradigm for nonpharmacological interventions for Alzheimer's, in care, treatment and research.
Renata Ávila
Neuropsychologist, coordinater of psychological sector on a private nursing home
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Clearly, research is starting to catch up and show us that creative engagement fosters meaningful relationships for older adults with dementia and their care partners. I dream of a day when the arts are regularly taught as a way to improve the overall quality of long term care. Rather than demand justification, we should say why not? Why not have staff, families, and residents read and respond to the Odyssey together?
Anne Davis Basting
Director, UWM Center on Age & Community, Associate Professor of Theatre, Peck School of the Arts
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Increase interaction and exchanges between carers and researchers involved in this field.
Joël Belmin
Professor of Geriatrics at the Faculté de Médecine Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, and Head of Geriatrics ward and Memory Clinic at Charles Foix at Ivry-sur-Seine Hospital, France
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Providing practical design suggestions for creating dementia-capable environments
Margaret P. Calkins
President of I.D.E.A.S. Inc. (Innovative Designs in Environments for an Aging Society & Board Chair, IDEAS Institute.
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I hope to see nonpharmacologic interventions for dementia viewed as treatments. I also hope that any treatment used for dementia must demonstrate its clinical effectiveness in real world contexts
Cameron Camp
Director of Research, Center for Applied Research in Dementia
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Art has the ability to transcend the limitations of conventional communication and language, leading to rich emotional connections and enabling people with dementia to break out of their shells, to become awakened.
Sean Caulfield
Creative Director, Co-Founder, ARTZ: Artists for Alzheimer’s
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Medical support may be relevant for some aspects of dementia treatment, nonetheless it should not be forgotten that people with dementia remain who they are and what they are and therefore often lack specific care and support that cannot be provided by medication
Kevin Charras
Psychosocial Programs Department Manager, Fondation Médéric Alzheimer
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Intellectual, social and creative engagement should be part of Alzheimer’s treatment the same way physical therapy prevents contractures and maintains muscle tone in people living with muscular dystrophy.
Marily Cintra
Artist, arts and cultural planner
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I believe that nonpharmacological therapies are an essential part of global, multidisciplinary care which can really improve the lives of people living with Alzheimer's disease and their families. They represent a chance for professional and non-professional people involved in the dementia field, to learn side-by-side with the people living with the disease, the real meaning of the word “care”.
Elisabetta Farina
First Level Medical Manager of the Rehabilitation Neurology Department and Alzheimer Assessment Unit at the Don Gnocchi Foundation. Manager of the Acquired Cognitive Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment Laboratory.
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My trust in the multidisciplinary WisDem network is to identify, design, evaluate and disseminate proven and promising assistive technologies that improve the experience of living with dementia.
Jesús Favela
Professor, Computer Science Department, CICESE
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I believe that the Wisdem network will provide an alternative to the unsuccessful pursuit of medications to cure dementia by encouraging the exploration of wellness, providing inspiration and generously sharing information
Richard Fleming
Professorial Fellow, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Wollongong Director, Dementia Training Study Centre, University of Wollongong.
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Architects must be aware that the physical environment is a relevant therapeutic factor for people with dementia.
Syblle Heeg
Architect and Social Infrastructure Planner
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Nonpharmacological interventions are important in dementia care as they nourish personhood, enable activity and participation, and create meaningful everyday living
Torhild Holthe
Researcher, Occupational Therapist MSc
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We need a revolution in dementia care, neither exclusively psychosocial nor exclusively biomedical, but a change of mind – a metanoia – a conversion or change of life that leads to action
Julian Hughes
Consultant in old age psychiatry in Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and honorary professor of philosophy of ageing at the Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University
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Creativity is essential to people with dementia. It bypasses the exercise of the intellect, provides them with valuable experiences of flow, and enhances their sense of personhood
John Killick
Writer
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Nonpaharmacological interventions, acupressure and Montessori-based activities, have proved to be effective in caring for people with dementia. Using solid evidences to demonstrate their efficacy is a process in continual development
Li-Chan Lin
Professor
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The time has come for greater respect for non-pharmaceutical interventions in dementia care. This network should provide invaluable opportunities for sharing expertise
Mary Tara Marshall
Writer and lecturer in dementia care
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New and emerging technologies in health and social care can promote inclusion and participation.
Suzanne Martin
Reader in Health Sciences, University of Ulster Northern Ireland
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I feel that interventions such as new and exciting advanced technologies will be the future in the care and management of the world's aging crisis
Alex Mihailidis
Barbara G. Stymiest Research Chair in Rehab Technology & Associate Professor, University of Toronto
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For people with dementia, technology not only reduces risks to health and well being but facilitates contact, communication and creativity that are at the heart of relationships and relationships are the key to living well with dementia.
Maria S. Parsons
Director, ARTZ UK
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Our work has indicated remarkable relationships between Alzheimer’s disease at all stages and normal human developmental patterns. At all stages, in assisting AD patients with survival, we owe them life quality and gratification. The developmental model can help in identifying the sources and nature of life quality and gratification for AD persons.
Barry Reisberg
Professor of Psychiatry; Research Director; and Geriatric Psychiatrist
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I hope that wisdem will help patients and their families to live well with dementia and expand the use of nonpharmacological interventions as well as fostering successful and productive expert collaborations.
Irina Roshchina
PhD, clinical psychologist. A leading researcher in the Mental Health Research Center of RAMS (Moscow) of Department for the Study of Alzheimer's disease and associated disorders
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Attending to the needs of people with dementia requires attention to be placed on caregivers. I am interested in helping the caregiver to keep track of patient location by using the latest information and communication technologies.
Ken Sakamura
Professor of the University of Tokyo. CEO of YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory
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Stand up! Speak Up! If we don’t, how will others know what it is really like to live with the symptoms of dementia?
Richard Taylor
Retired Psychologist, living with the symptoms and diagnosis of Dementia, Probably of the Alzheimer's Type
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If we want to improve the situation of people with dementia we need to focus on the cultural image of dementia and living with dementia. As long as the image is dominated by severe dementia, residential care and care burden it is very difficult to promote social inclusion, rehabilitation, the idea of reciprocity and person centred care. That is why there is an urgent need to collaborate world wide to learn from each other how dementia is understood in different cultures and how needs of people with dementia are met.
Pavi Topo
Professor in Sociology of Medicine, University of Helsinki and Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology, University of Jyväskylä.
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I believe that by using nonpharmacological interventions we can change the progression of the disease and help patients and caregivers to have a good quality of life
Magda Tsolaki
Neuropsychiatrist, Professor of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Head of the Greek Alzheimer's Association "Alzheimer's Hellas"
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When drugs are referred to as non-psychosocial interventions, we will have achieved our goal and know that quality of life, justice, and solidarity are primary
Peter John Whitehouse
Professor
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People with dementia tell us that ‘Living with dementia’ is what matters to them. When we develop and evaluate psychosocial interventions that should be our primary goal.
Bob Woods
Clinical Psychologist
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Dementia is a global problem. With all the research for a cure, the world needs creativity and research to develop and study ways for people with dementia and their care partners to have a life worth living.
John Zeisel
President and Founder of Hearthstone Alzheimer Care, Massachusetts and New York. President of the "I’m Still Here" Foundation.
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