Dr. Mercè Boada calls for greater support for caregivers at a key symposium on aging and dementia held at the Vatican.

International Symposium at the Vatican: A Global Call to Action to Address Ageing and Dementia

On 9-10 May 2025, the international symposium The Memory: Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of an Aging Global Population, jointly organised by AARP and the Pontifical Academy for Life, took place in Vatican City. The event was held in the Sala Pio XI of the Palazzo San Calisto, and brought together world leaders in health, public policy, neuroscience, spirituality and civil society to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of an ageing global population.   

Participation of Dra. Mercè Boada: A key voice in the care of caregivers

During the second session of the symposium, entitled ‘Caring for Our Carers: Approaches to Supporting Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia’, Dr. Mercè Boada, co-founder and medical director of Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, participated as a featured panellist. Her intervention prioritised an urgent reality: dementia is nowadays the main cause of dependency in the elderly. 

Dra. Boada addressed the impact of this condition, which currently affects more than 55 million people worldwide, especially in developing countries. She explained how dementia not only progressively impairs cognitive functions, but also places a considerable emotional, physical and financial burden on informal caregivers, usually immediate family members, whose work remains largely invisible and under-recognised.   

Based on data from the World Alzheimer Report 2024, she reported that many caregivers face social isolation, discrimination, and a significant deterioration of their mental health. This scenario is amplified in cases of less common dementias, such as the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), where psychiatric symptoms are even more stressful and distressing.   

During her intervention, she called for strengthening health and social care systems with public policies dedicated to not only supporting people with dementia but also prioritising the well-being of their caregivers. Citing inspiring initiatives such as the CARD project in Brazil, or national plans in Panama, Botswana and Iran, which have successfully integrated the voice of caregivers into the design of anti-stigma policies and strategies.   

‘Caring for carers is a strategic necessity, not just an act of compassion’ – Dra. Boada. 

A statement of principles for ageing with dignity

The symposium concluded with the presentation and signing of the Holy See – AARP Joint Declaration, a document that sets out ethical, social and political commitments to the global challenge of ageing. The declaration expresses a strong commitment to the following principles: 

• Support a world where older people can live with purpose and dignity.  

• Recognise the fundamental contributions of family caregivers.  

• Promote actions that enable healthier and longer lives.  

• Encourage the development and funding of inclusive, locally-led brain health strategies in all countries.  

• Combat age discrimination in all its forms.  

• Support an international treaty to protect the rights of older people.  

• Support the creation of an international body to advocate for the full and active inclusion of older people. 

This milestone marks a key step towards a fairer, more ethical and inclusive global model of ageing. The participation of Dra. Boada and Ace reinforce their role on the international agenda as an institution committed to innovation, research and advocacy for people with dementia and their families. 

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