For an effective policy formulation and decision-making it is crucial to understand knowledge gaps and potential opportunities. In 2020, Professor Shereen Hussein conducted a number of interviews with key international and regional researchers to explore issues associated with population ageing in the region.
Professor Victor Valcour is an Executive Director, Global Brain Health Institute and professor of geriatric medicine in neurology, UC SAN FRANCISCO. He explains the efforts of the GBHI in supporting researchers and policymakers in low and middle-income countries to raise awareness and develop policies specific to dementia and brain health. He emphasises the importance of collecting accurate data and multi-disciplinary working in developing adequate policy response.
Professor Hoda Rashad is the Director of the Social Research Center at the American University in Cairo. She explains the implications of population ageing on different aspects at the individual and policy levels. She emphasised the importance of developing a detailed understanding of the conditions of older people to enable an effective policymaking process. Research is required to understand the socio-economic inequalities among older people and implications on their general health and wellbeing. She highlights the need of policymakers to work together across different dimensions including health and care provision, welfare and social protection.
Professor Zeinab Khadr is a Professor of Gerontology at the American University in Cairo, here she highlights the gap in knowledge when it comes to the lived experience of older people and their informal carers in the region. She discusses the importance of research that is specific to understanding the social and health situation of older people and the lived experience of carers. She highlights the need to understand the burden of care among informal carers and implications on carers’ health and wellbeing.
Dr Mohamed Salama, Associate Professor, Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology talks about the need for further research to understand prevalence of disease, especially dementia, and social determinants of brain health.