On average, people with Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia live six to ten years after diagnosis. People with vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia live on average five to six years after diagnosis. A great deal can and should be done to ensure that people with dementia and their caregivers live well post-diagnosis. Because of the complexity of dementia, people living with dementia need a combination of drug treatments, comprehensive care, and supportive services to help them live meaningful lives after diagnosis.

This roadmap, created by the Milken Institute with support from the Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading dementia charity, assesses the needs and gaps in dementia care and research and identifies the most promising opportunities to address them. The Milken Institute interviewed more than 25 experts, convened three cross-sector roundtable discussions, and conducted desktop research to develop these opportunities. Specifically, in these five opportunity areas, philanthropic investment and private capital can dramatically improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers. While predominantly focused on opportunities in the UK and US, the five opportunities recommended in this roadmap can be applied to many countries with secure and sophisticated economies.

1. Bolstering efforts to build the evidence base for care practices.

2. Supporting timely and accurate diagnosis.

3. Increasing clinical trial recruitment and support.

4. Building system and workforce capacity.

5. Integrating technology in the care continuum.