Dear Esteemed Members of the Korean Dementia Association,

Greetings,

I am Seong Hye Choi, the president of the Korean Dementia Association. Over the past 20 years, through the dedication of past presidents, board members, and our members, the Korean Dementia Association has become an official member of the Korean Medical Association. We now host international conferences biennially, and our society has grown to include various professionals involved in dementia care and research, such as clinicians, basic scientists, and clinical psychologists.

The mission of the Korean Dementia Association is to create a world free from the suffering caused by dementia through research, conferences, education, and policy development. Our vision is to be a globally trusted and relied-upon organization in the field of dementia. During my term as president, I will continue the noble intentions and dedication of my predecessors and congress presidents and do my best to fulfill the mission and vision of the Korean Dementia Association.

In 2025, Korea will enter a super-aged society with more than 20% of its population aged 65 and over. It is no coincidence that the Korean Dementia Association will host the Asian Dementia Society Conference alongside our international conference that year. Through the successful hosting of this conference, we aim to contribute to conquering and preventing dementia in Korea, Asia, and beyond, creating a world free from dementia-related suffering. We will also strive to establish the Korean Dementia Association as a prominent organization on the world stage through close exchanges with dementia research societies worldwide and joint research projects with the Alzheimer's Association in the United States.

The year 2024 will mark a significant milestone in the history of the Korean Dementia Association. For many years, patients with Alzheimer's dementia and their caregivers have suffered due to the lack of disease-modifying treatments. After decades of effort, in 2023, an anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody, which can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in its early stages, was developed. The Korean Dementia Association is committed to ensuring that new therapies are implemented effectively by educating doctors, nurses, carers, and patients to ensure that people with Alzheimer's disease receive effective and safe care. We will also contribute to personalized treatment for Alzheimer's disease through long-term efficacy and safety studies of the new drug.

Despite the success of a new drug after over 20 years, Alzheimer's disease remains unconquered, and there are no medications for other causes of dementia. However, controlling modifiable risk factors for dementia, such as low education, midlife hypertension, obesity, brain injury, excessive drinking, hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity, depression, social isolation, smoking, and air pollution, can reduce dementia prevalence by 40%, offering us new hope. I believe the enlightenment and efforts towards preventing dementia are another vital mission of the Korean Dementia Association.

I look forward to working with the Congress President, the Board of Directors, and the Secretaries of each committee during my term of office to help advance the practice and research of our members and ensure that the Korean Dementia Association remains a trusted organization for people with dementia and their caregivers.

Thank you.

Seong Hye Choi
President of the Korean Dementia Association