CoWL Patron Speaks at Historic Global Summit on Aging and Brain Health
Image looking over St Peter’s Square at Vatican City.
Our Patron, Professor June Andrews OBE, recently took part in a landmark international event at the Vatican, where she represented Carers of West Lothian and the voices of unpaid carers on a truly global stage.
The event, “The Memory: A Symposium Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of an Aging Global Population”, was held on 9–10 May 2025 at the Palazzo San Calisto in Vatican City, at the request of the late Pope Francis himself. Co-hosted by the Vatican and AARP, the summit brought together leading experts from over 20 countries to explore the future of brain health, dementia care, and the role of family caregivers in an aging world[1].
Professor Andrews, a globally respected dementia expert and long-time advocate for carers, was invited to speak on a panel of international thought leaders. The event brought together experts from all over the world: scientists, doctors, Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders, civil rights campaigners, and policy experts, all passionate about how we care for older people in a changing world. June, as a nurse, spoke from the heart, with experiences drawn from her years of work with families dealing with dementia.
“Global declarations and high-level strategies matter - but if we don’t support people on the ground, the people actually doing the caring, then we’ve missed the point. That’s why I spoke about Carers of West Lothian. It’s a local group doing world-class work.”
Prof. Andrews told the audience about what it’s like for people looking after loved ones with dementia, often in silence and with little support. She made sure the room understood that carers are the beating heart of how care actually happens. “We’ve got to stop expecting love to do what funding won’t,” she said.
June’s message landed. Throughout the conference, speakers returned again and again to the importance of listening to carers and backing community-based groups like ours, especially where women are doing most of the unpaid caring.
The timing of the symposium made it even more historic. It took place during the same week that the world welcomed a new Pope—Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost—following the passing of Pope Francis [2]. While the summit itself was not religious in focus, the backdrop of such a significant moment in global history added to the sense of urgency and importance surrounding the discussions.
The summit addressed a wide range of topics, including:
The rising global prevalence of dementia and the need for better brain health strategies
The critical role of unpaid carers and the need for stronger support systems
Combatting ageism and protecting the rights and dignity of older adults
Opportunities to build more inclusive, age-friendly societies
The event concluded with the signing of the Vatican City Declaration, a joint commitment by the Holy See and AARP to promote research, combat age discrimination, and support initiatives that enable people to live longer, healthier, and more dignified lives [2].
Professor Andrews’ participation ensured that the voices of carers in West Lothian—and across the UK—were heard in this global dialogue.
“I was proud to speak for us, and I hope the people making decisions—whether they’re in Rome or Holyrood or right here in West Lothian—start to put carers where they belong: at the centre.”
We are deeply grateful to Professor Andrews for her continued advocacy and for shining a light on the experiences of unpaid carers at such a prestigious and timely event.
References
[1] Vatican Hosts Landmark Symposium on Global Aging and Brain Health with ...