The Hebei Regional Kickoff Meeting for the China Health Promotion Foundation's Public Awareness and Training Campaign on the Prevention and Treatment of Dementia in the Elderly Was Successfully Held in Shijiazhuang
On May 16, the Hebei regional launch meeting for the "Hand-in-Hand for Health Promotion-Public Awareness and Training Campaign on the Prevention and Treatment of Dementia in the Elderly" was successfully held in Shijiazhuang. It is reported that this is the second regional public awareness and training campaign on Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention and treatment launched by the China Health Promotion Foundation within the country, following the campaign in the Northwest region.
Organized by the China Health Promotion Foundation and hosted by the Vascular Cognitive Impairment Branch of the Hebei Provincial Society for the Prevention and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases, this event focuses on implementing national strategies for the prevention and treatment of dementia. It aims to collectively enhance the level of dementia prevention and treatment in the Hebei region and inject new momentum into the construction of a healthy Hebei.
Professor Lü Peiyuan, Chair of the Subcommittee on Vascular Cognitive Impairment under the National Health Commission's Expert Committee on Stroke Prevention and Treatment and former President of Hebei Provincial People's Hospital, and Yin Aidong, President of the Hebei Hospital Management Association, delivered opening remarks.
Currently, China's population is aging at an accelerating rate, and the incidence of dementia and related cognitive disorders in the elderly is rising year by year. This has become a major public health and social issue that severely impacts the quality of life for the elderly, increases the burden of family care, and constrains the development of geriatric healthcare. As a province with a large population, Hebei has a vast elderly population, and the prevention and treatment of cognitive health issues among the elderly face severe challenges, urgently requiring the establishment of a scientific, standardized, and comprehensive prevention and treatment system.
In active response to the requirements of the "National Action Plan for Addressing Dementia in the Elderly (2024-2030)" jointly issued by the National Health Commission and 14 other departments, the China Health Promotion Foundation initiated this public welfare campaign. Focusing on the three core pillars of "public science education, professional training, and technological empowerment," the initiative aims to drive the implementation of dementia prevention and treatment efforts at the grassroots level. The campaign targets medical staff at healthcare institutions, elderly care service providers, community workers, and the general public in Hebei Province. It will provide systematic public education and professional training, aiming to enhance scientific understanding of dementia across all sectors of society, dispel misconceptions, and strengthen awareness and capabilities regarding early screening and early intervention.
At the launch meeting, Professor Zhang Wei, a member of the Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Working Group of the Neurology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and Director of the Department of Cognitive Disorders at the Center for Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital (affiliated with Capital Medical University); Professor Zhou Yuying, Deputy Director of the Alliance for Alzheimer's Disease Peripheral Biomarker Detection and Early Intervention at the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases and Chief Physician in the Department of Neurology at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital; Professor Dai Jie, Standing Committee Member of the Brain Metabolism and Cognitive Regulation Branch of the Hebei Society for the Prevention and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases and Director of the Neuropsychology Department for Cognitive Disorders at Cangzhou Central Hospital; and Professor Zhao Jing, Vice Chair of the Specialized Committee on the Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Cognitive Disorders of the Hebei Society of Preventive Medicine and Director of the First Department of Neurology at Baoding First Central Hospital, successively delivered thematic educational and training lectures and conducted on-site interactive discussions and exchanges.
Professor Dong Yanhong, Deputy Director of the Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Networks and Cognitive Disorders and Director of the Department of Neurology at Hebei Provincial People's Hospital, provided a detailed interpretation of the "Plan for Dementia Prevention and Control Education and Training Activities in Hebei Province and Advances in AD Neurostimulation." She outlined plans to establish a comprehensive system for dementia prevention and control education and training in Hebei Province, guide local regions in conducting such activities in a scientific and standardized manner, and organize regular online and offline training sessions, with the goal of achieving full coverage across the province by focusing on prefecture-level cities.
The initiative in Hebei Province will leverage brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to establish a new system for the prevention and treatment of dementia in the elderly, shifting the focus of prevention and treatment to earlier stages and achieving a fundamental shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. BCI technology is not only a cutting-edge human-computer interaction technology but also a crucial bridge connecting "precise assessment" with "closed-loop intervention."
In the screening phase, the ADDS Cognitive Impairment Screening System integrates internationally recognized scales, non-invasive EEG data collection, and AI-based risk assessment technology to establish a multidimensional, traceable diagnostic evidence support system, driving a shift in diagnostic paradigms from empirical "process of elimination" to objective "chains of evidence." In the intervention phase, the ADTS Memory Impairment Training Device, which utilizes brain-computer interface technology, activates the prefrontal cortex through mind-controlled gaming to enhance multidimensional cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and computational skills, thereby slowing the progression of neuronal damage and providing a new non-pharmacological intervention pathway for neurodegenerative diseases.
Professor Dong Yanhong emphasized that a comprehensive system covering "prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and care"-built upon advanced technologies such as brain-computer interfaces-can enable closed-loop screening and intervention, efficacy assessment, visual process management, and data-driven rehabilitation tracking for the prevention and treatment of dementia in older adults. This system helps establish a multi-tiered service network spanning medical institutions, senior care centers, and home settings, thereby promoting the inclusive development of the prevention and treatment system.
Leading experts and academic leaders in the fields of neurology, geriatrics, and health management from 20 hospitals across the province and beyond-including Hebei Provincial People's Hospital, Hebei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, and the 980th Hospital of the Logistics Support Force-attended the launch event. Some experts conducted on-site inspections of the "screening + diagnosis + training + treatment" closed-loop management system for dementia in the elderly and expressed high praise for the cutting-edge technology that supports the prevention and treatment of dementia.
It is reported that the initiative in Hebei will use public welfare training as a connecting thread to integrate the entire chain of policy implementation, knowledge dissemination, skills enhancement, and technology-driven empowerment, thereby gradually addressing the shortcomings in dementia prevention and control in the region. By shifting the focus of prevention and treatment to earlier stages, the initiative aims to extend the reach of scientific prevention and treatment concepts to more communities and families, effectively helping older adults avoid the distress of cognitive impairment and safeguard a happy retirement. In doing so, Hebei will contribute its strength to actively addressing population aging and advancing the "Healthy China" initiative.