The proceedings of the 7th Pan-Cretan Interdisciplinary Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders and the 3rd Pan-Hellenic Conference on Active and Healthy Aging was organised by the Alzheimer's Disease Association of Heraklion “ALLILENGII” (5-7 November 2020). This year, all sessions were held online, due to the extraordinary circumstances we face, in the aftermath of World Alzheimer's Month as well as the 15th anniversary of the founding of ALLILENGII, under the banner "Let's talk about dementia - No one should feel alone". This message underlines the importance of social solidarity despite the presence of COVID-19, which has changed our lives, our habits and our social contacts.
Delegates learned about the problems and difficulties that the pandemic presented in primary healthcare and the experience of GPs. They were informed about new technologies, services and synergies of public and private sector bodies all aiming at promoting healthy and active ageing in the Region of Crete. They learned about the latest news concerning the diagnosis of dementia such as measuring phosphotau 181 protein in patients' serum, and new future treatments such as the anti-β-amyloid antibody, aducanumab.
Interesting data were presented on sleep and its relationship with dementia, as were results from the THALIS programme and the older population of Crete, and the results from the Program for the Promotion of Active and Healthy Aging in Heraklion. Practical knowledge and exercises for the prevention of falls in the older population, and the new idea of "medical tourism" for older people were also presented.
Important information was shared about internet services in the time of pandemic, as well as the potential threats posed by the phenomena of telemedicine and e-government. European epidemiological data on the pandemic were presented; as were the principles of Geriatrics, the specialty that deals with the elderly in terms of maintaining their health; and functionality and quality of life were also addressed. There were 4,381 projections of these conferences.
