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Julianne Moore's Oscar-winning performance in Still Alice, which opened in the UK last week, is a searing portrait of a woman in the grip of dementia. What begins as random lapses of memory metamorphoses into a state of bewildering disorientation until, in one powerful scene, she is asked by her daughter how she feels. "I feel like I can't find myself," she says.

Alice's growing anxiety at her increasingly unfamiliar world is brilliantly evoked. Yet this unfamiliar world is becoming all too familiar -- even if we do not suffer Alice's fate ourselves, most of us will know someone who has. The global prevalence of dementia is doubling every 20 years, fueled by the aging of societies across the globe.

That is why this week is a critical moment in the history of the disease. It marks the first ministerial conference on Global Action Against Dementia organized by the World Health Organization in Geneva on Monday and Tuesday, 16 through 17 March.

It is the first time the world has come together to tackle what David Cameron has described as among "the greatest enemies of humanity." Dementia affects one in five people over 80 and a cure remains a distant dream.

The Prime Minister announced a £15 million contribution in the Autumn statement in December to kick start a new fund and attract private sector investment to drive forward the search for new drugs, with further payments promised in future years. We must now look for similar commitments from other governments.

The drug industry cannot be relied on to do this alone -- the risks are too great. Between 1998 and 2012, there were 104 attempts to develop drugs for dementia of which 101 were unsuccessful. Just three new medicines were approved to treat the symptoms of dementia, the last -- called memantine -- over a decade ago.

This catalogue of failure is causing drug companies to abandon research into neuro-degenerative diseases because it is too difficult. In the last five years (2009-14) large pharmaceutical companies have cut their central nervous system programs by half.

A report by an expert panel on dementia presented to the recent World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) in Qatar, which I chair, warned of a "global economic crisis," as, without effective treatment, the growth of dementia overwhelms health and caring services. It called on governments to commit one per cent of the cost of care for sufferers in their own countries to research.

In addition to extra funds, we need to lower the barriers to research. The current regulations are too onerous. Exploratory discussions have been had by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency but we need co-ordinated action across regulatory agencies to achieve real progress.

One proposal is for a "staggered release" program designed to get drugs to market faster, by limiting their initial prescription to patients who urgently need them and are prepared to tolerate a higher risk. As evidence on their safety and effectiveness accumulates, the drugs can be progressively released to more patients. The plan is under consideration by the European Medicines Agency.

Whatever the outcome of these initiatives, an effective treatment for dementia is a long way off. But this need not lead us to despair. It is often suggested that there is nothing that can be done to halt, or even slow, the advance of dementia. But this is not true. There are things we can do -- individually and collectively.

Individuals differ -- but at whatever age your own brain starts to slow, it is vital to act early to prevent premature mental decline. Eating a healthy diet, avoiding obesity and getting plenty of exercise are all important to brain health because what is good for our hearts is also good for our heads.

We also need to look after our brains -- sharpen those chess skills, pick up that crossword and solve that puzzle. The WISH report said up to 80,000 cases of dementia a year could be prevented in the UK by measures such as these.

Almost one in 10 of those who consult a doctor with early signs of memory loss turns out to have a problem that is reversible, such as a drug interaction, depression or vitamin deficiency. Better understanding of risk factors would allow diagnostic and preventive measures to be focused on those at the top end of the scale with the highest risk.

The message is that we are not powerless. There are measures that we can take to stem the advance of the degenerative brain condition that strips sufferers of their dignity and humanity. This week's ministerial meeting is an historic opportunity for the world to come together to halt the tide of suffering and ensure that, for as long as humanly possible, Alice can still find herself.

Lord Darzi is a surgeon, director of The Institute of Global Health Innovation, and Executive Chair of the World Innovation Summit for Health, an initiative of Qatar Foundation. He was a Labour health minister from 2007-9

In a hot and crowded school gymnasium, two high school basketball players dive for a loose ball, hitting heads midair. The crowd goes silent; trainers and coaches rush to the players' aid.

For many parents, this is what a concussion looks and sounds like. It is dramatic and obvious, and it's why some young athletes are increasingly guided toward less physical sports. But the truth about concussions is they can be caused by any blow, bump, or jolt to the head -- whether it happens on the playing field or not.

State laws and awareness campaigns have established trainings and protocols for coaches and parents to follow when a young athlete suffers a potential concussion -- an athletic trainer is often on the sidelines to examine injuries and help determine if additional treatment is needed. Unfortunately, that same structured support is not in place for the many non-sports related instances when a child suffers a potential concussion, such as a fall down the stairs or a minor car accident.

There are two critical things parents, teachers and caregivers should do to prepare for potential injuries. The first is to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of a concussion, and the second is to consider every child at risk, regardless of whether they participate in sports. Failing to identify and seek care for injuries that occur in everyday life puts a child in danger of suffering additional injuries, which may lead to more severe symptoms over a longer period of time.

In some cases it is clear that a concussion has occurred, such as when a child loses consciousness after a fall. Other times, parents may have to play detective to identify a possible concussion, especially if the injury was not witnessed. For instance, if a child complains of new headaches or shows a change in sleeping pattern or more irritability, parents should ask their child what other symptoms they are experiencing and whether or not the child may have fallen or hit their head. Sometimes a child who initially appears okay after a fall or car accident will show more symptoms over the following days.

There is a constellation of common post-concussive symptoms that parents should keep in mind as possible red flags, including dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, and difficulty concentrating. Young children may have difficulty expressing these symptoms and they may simply manifest with changes in demeanor, such as a child being less interested in typical play activities.

Very young children fall often as they are learning to walk; while these falls rarely result in significant injury, a parent should be more alert for signs of concussion when a child falls from higher than their standing height.

The important point for parents to keep in mind is that concussions often cause noticeable changes in a child's behavior, and any such change should be taken seriously and investigated. If parents notice issues that are not consistent with a child's normal functioning, then it is best to reach out to a medical professional to get a proper evaluation.

When a child does suffer a concussion, it is essential to moderate their activities with the goal of protecting them from any additional injuries before they fully recover. Removing them from all typical activities isn't necessarily the answer, as that can harm the child's well-being, so it is important to work with a medical provider who can guide the family in managing the child's symptoms and navigating temporary accommodations for school when needed. Every child is different, and a recovery plan should be tailored to each child's individual needs.

When in doubt, remember that recreational activities such as gym class, climbing on playground equipment, and skateboarding can increase the risk for another injury. If there is any chance that a concussion has occurred, a child should be withheld from these kinds of activities until they are cleared by a medical professional.

Early detection of concussion can be a significant step toward shortening recovery time and preventing complications from a subsequent injury. It's important for parents to understand that concussion risk is not limited to the boundaries of a playing field. All parents should be prepared by knowing the symptoms of concussion and the importance of seeking care when a concussion may have occurred.

Dr. Suskauer is director of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Programs at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. She is currently working on a traumatic brain injury study, funded by the Sports and Health Research Program, a partnership among the NIH, the National Football League, and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), aimed at developing a tool to better understand the functioning of a child's brain after a concussion.

(Reuters Health) - The rapid spread of a measles outbreak from Disneyland in California to communities around the country suggests that vaccination rates in some places may be as low as 50 percent, a study suggests.
"Disneyland is an international attraction and sometimes people are coming from places where measles vaccination rates are low or they don't get the recommended two doses, and that, combined with the fact that there are a lot of pockets of non-vaccination in California and people coming from all over the U.S. created the perfect storm for a big outbreak," lead author Maimuna Majumder of Boston Children's Hospital and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology told Reuters Health.
This year, the U.S. is experiencing a multi-state measles outbreak believed to have started at Disneyland this past December, as well as three other unrelated outbreaks in Illinois, Nevada, and Washington, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of March 6, 173 people from 17 states and the District of Columbia were reported to have measles, with most linked back to Disneyland.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can be serious or even fatal. It starts with a fever that can last a couple of days, followed by a cough, runny nose, and pink eye. A rash develops on the face and neck then spreads to the rest of the body. In severe cases, pneumonia and encephalitis can develop.
People with measles can be spreading the virus for four days before and after the rash appears, according to the CDC.
The virus can live for up to two hours on surfaces where an infected person coughs or sneezes. People who breathe the contaminated air or touch an infected surface and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth can become infected.
About 96 to 99 percent of people in the community need to be vaccinated against measles to effectively halt its spread. Because about 7 percent of people won't get immunity from one dose of the vaccine, two doses are recommended in the U.S.
Before the vaccine was developed, each person with measles typically infected 11 to 18 others, Majumder and colleagues write in JAMA Pediatrics.
Based on historical infection rates and the number of individuals infected in the current outbreak, the researchers estimate that vaccination rates in some communities might be as low as 50 percent and probably are no higher than 86 percent.
"Clearly, based on the number of infections we have seen so far, we can say that (the current vaccination rate) is far below the level necessary to achieve herd immunity," Majumder said.
The timing of the current outbreak, starting during school vacations for many people in the U.S., likely made measles spread more quickly, said Dr. George Rutherford, vice chair of the department of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, in a phone interview.
"There's nothing magic about Disneyland except that there are a lot of people there," said Rutherford, who wasn't involved in the study. "If anything, because it's outdoors and so spread out, it might be a little harder to transmit."
Still, mixing tourists from countries where vaccination rates are low, with U.S. kids whose parents don't vaccinate them for medical or personal reasons, is a likely cause of the current outbreak, he said.
"In this scenario, any one child with measles is going to quickly spread it to just about every other child around them who isn't already immune,

Imagine you're attending a Gertrude Stein-style salon. And you've arrived at the gathering only to find yourself facing a set of chairs, beckoning you to sit, as one is wont to do at a salon. But as you grow closer to the inner sanctum, you begin to notice the strangeness of the chairs, draped in fabric that looms bigger and brighter with every step you take. You start to see the pustules, tendrils and spikes that, from a distance, might appear like part of a pattern, but are in fact three-dimensional features that prevent any human being from planting her body.

No, this is not a Dalian nightmare. Your very fictional, intellectual host has adorned her home with the work of Margarita Sampson. Those chairs are art. Please don't sit on the art.




The above work is part of Sampson's series "Infectious Desires," on view now at Stanley Street Gallery in Sydney, Australia. The imaginary salon idea is hers, only in her universe, the textile growths are more violent, warping and mutating and giving birth to colonies that turn love seats into war zones. The outgrowths mimic the exchange of ideas, competing and compromising in ever changing combinations.

"Natural patterns are warped, the man-made crumbles under an invasive eco-system in flux," she writes in a statement. "Built structures are warped, broken, reconfigured, re-imagined... the invented dichotomies are brought into collision – the chaotic, organic, changeable, exterior 'other' comes to bear upon the ordered, the known, the interior, the safe."

Sampson admits the pieces are sensual too. The chairs are chaotic and messy in a way that bleeds into decadence and luxury like punk couture. "Glamour is the strict control of the body or the environment," the artist adds, "sublimated to an ideal -- there's no body fluids or stains in glamour. It's about boundaries, zones of comfort. We feel we are betrayed by our bodies -- a lot of this work is about my own aging, my body, about death and disease, about fear and surrender, tightening and release."

While Yayoi Kusama's 1984 "Pollen" piece, a polka-dotted chair littered with protuberances, caught the attention of passersby at this year's Armory Show, Sampson takes the tension between the natural world and humanity to new heights. Installations mime dying ecosystems and works of interior design give way to artsy infection. As she noted in a press release for Stanley Street Gallery, "there is no safe place."

Margarita Sampson's "Infectious Desires" was previously on view at Stanley Street Gallery.

There are plenty of reasons to despair about the state of the world: ISIL's depredations in the Middle East, Boko Haram's atrocities in Nigeria, and Russia's slow-drip incursion into Ukraine are just a few. These phenomena are more distressing when one considers that they're occurring against the backdrop of an eroding postwar order. Contrary to the oft-heard refrain, though, that the world is becoming more dangerous -- or, according to some observers, has never been more dangerous -- it has actually never been safer. Steven Pinker and Andrew Mack recently documented the declines in global rates of homicide, violence against women, genocide, and war, among other categories.

We're also becoming more prosperous. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, real global GDP more than tripled between 1970 and 2010, and real global GDP per capita nearly doubled. Last month the Economist reported that the percent of the world's population living in "abject poverty" fell from 36 in 1990 to 18 in 2010 (translating to about 900 million people who escaped that condition).

Finally, we're living longer, better lives. The University of Washington's Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation found that "global life expectancy increased by 5.8 years for men and 6.6 years for women" between 1990 and 2013. According to the United Nations, moreover, the mortality rate for children under five fell from 90 per thousand births to 46 during that same period, while the percent of the world's population that is "clinically malnourished" fell more than seven points.

It's no accident the world is becoming safer, wealthier and healthier: there are extraordinary people around the world who're trying to make it better. Too often, though, their names remain unknown; their contributions, unacknowledged. "What's Working" is a crucial platform for spotlighting them.

When the news of the day feels overwhelming, I take comfort in three facts.

First, the ingenuity of our minds has always scaled with the magnitude of our calling. There's no reason to believe it won't continue doing so.

Second, we're pushing forward the frontiers of possibility every second, far more rapidly than we can comprehend. Before coming to MIT, I believed certain problems were simply too hard for human beings to address. In retrospect, though, my skepticism simply reflected my failure of imagination. I now assume that once a problem has been identified, folks will eventually solve it or find a way to manage it. The tipping point for me came six years ago, when MIT News ran an article discussing a new project Professor Angela Belcher and a few of her colleagues had undertaken. "For the first time," it explained, "MIT researchers have shown they can genetically engineer viruses to build both the positively and negatively charged ends of a lithium-ion battery." If we can figure out how to make batteries from viruses -- I never imagined I'd see those two words in the same sentence, and I still can't get my head around the idea -- what can't we do?

Third, no matter what problem keeps you up at night, there are brilliant, passionate people around the world who're working on it. You may not hear about them amid the daily barrage of depressing headlines, but they're easy to find if you want to find them. Among the extraordinary individuals I've met, spoken to over e-mail, or reconnected with in recent months: Ruzwana Bashir, the cofounder and CEO of Peek, who's using her own experience of sexual abuse to help other victims find their voices; Pardis Sabeti, a professor of organismic and evolutionary biology at Harvard, who's developing treatments to fight Ebola; Donald Sadoway, a professor of materials chemistry at MIT, whose work on liquid-metal batteries could revolutionize electricity storage; Shiza Shahid, the cofounder of the Malala Fund, who's working to give young women around the world a chance at an education; and Wes Moore, author of The Other Wes Moore and The Work, who cofounded BridgeEdU to help at-risk youth in Baltimore graduate from college.

There's an enormous amount of work to be done -- slowing the course of climate change, feeding a growing population and resettling tens of millions of refugees, to name but a few challenges -- but dwelling on everything that's wrong and fretting about everything that could go wrong won't help. Let's spend less time lamenting the state of the world and more time supporting those who're making it better.

I spent the better part of February in the port city of Tamatave, Madagascar. It was there that I had the pleasure of meeting Florian and Ambre, two pediatric patients currently receiving free treatment on the Mercy Ships hospital, Africa Mercy, the world's largest civilian hospital ship.




From left to right: Ambre and her mother, Raso; Florentine and her son, Florian.

Florian is a friendly toddler who wears a constant smile and has never met a stranger. His mother, Florentine, brags that he is well-behaved and "sure to grow up to be wise and kind." While that may be true, he also has a mischievous smile that emerges when his mother isn't watching -- it's the kind of look that prompts you to move breakable objects to the highest shelf.




The crew onboard the Africa Mercy entertains Florian while he waits to see Mercy Ships' orthopedic team.

Ambre is the bashful one who takes her time to warm up to you. She is quiet and observant -- the type of peer you need to balance out a Florian. Her mother, Raso, is talkative and laughs in a way that makes you laugh along, even though she is speaking a language you can't understand.




Ambre, 20 months, and her mother, Raso, in Tamatave, Madagascar. February 2015.

The friendship and easy smiles these mothers share are recent. Florentine and Raso met in the waiting room the day their toddlers were scheduled to see Mercy Ships' orthopedic team. Their children suffer from the same congenital deformity called clubfoot, which causes the feet to twist at the ankle and curve inward. Both children are about 20 months old, but neither has taken a first step.




Raso and Ambre wait to be seen by Mercy Ships physiotherapist Kalinda Ramsaran.

"On the day Ambre was born, I was crying, my husband was crying -- my entire family was crying." Raso says. "This child was our dream, but they said she would never walk normally... we were determined to find help, but we were unable to do anything. We heard there are doctors in the world that can treat clubfoot, but there was no treatment for us here. It was so difficult that I could do nothing. That was the hardest part."


Even though they felt helpless, these two women never gave up hope.


"What a task for a mother to have a child who hurts," Florentine says.


When a hospital ship arrived with an orthopedic team capable of treating clubfoot, Florentine and Raso found treatment for their children, and a sisterhood in their struggles. "We are closer because our children had the same problem," Raso says. "We shared our pain."


Now they will also share their joy. With some casting, braces and time, Florian and Ambre will be able to take their first steps. They are the lucky ones. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 100,000 new cases of clubfoot annually, and 80 percent of untreated cases are in the developing world.




With casting, braces, and time, Florian and Ambre will be able to take their first steps.

Our waiting room isn't big enough for all of those untreated clubfoot patients, so Mercy Ships prioritizes training, mentorship and infrastructure support in every country it visits. Recently the crew onboard provided training and mentorship to 12 clubfoot therapists, 22 local health care professionals, and educated more than 235 in courses like the WHO's Safe Surgery Checklist.


While there remain many more surgeries to perform, watching patients like Florian and Ambre take their first steps reminds us that this wild idea -- this hospital on a ship -- is an efficient way to treat and teach in the developing world. Thanks to our volunteers, donors and partners like Johnson & Johnson, it's working.


Today Florentine and Raso are planning a party for their families to come together and celebrate healing. They are already the type of friends who laugh about the possibility of their children getting married one day -- but there will be no pressure, they insist. And then they exchange a sideways glance and break into laughter all over again.


In a few months, I suspect that Florian will be mobile and keeping up (read: getting into trouble) with other kids, while Ambre will be toddling in her mother's shadow. Wherever life leads them, these two will have a solid footing to take on the future.




Florentine and Florian, Raso and Ambre.

Photos by Katie Keegan and Justine Forrest for Mercy Ships.

Mickael Jou is a photographer. And Mickael Jou is a dancer. His project "365 Photos" succinctly captures these two passions, in a series of urban snapshots that showcase the Taiwanese-French-American flexing his ballet skills all over Berlin. What sets him apart from the herd of choreographically inclined photographers, the artist explained to HuffPost, is that he does it all himself.

You see, his images are self-portraits, styled and enacted by Jou around cafes, supermarkets, attics and anything else he can assemblé his way into.



Jou is a trained dancer. He recalls dancing, ballet and modern dance, in the streets of Paris, entertaining tourists who would film or photograph his precise movements. Inspired, he decided to buy a camera, learn the manual and embark on a self-portrait project. "My self-portraits help me express the emotions that I feel while dancing," he explained. "Dance is a very powerful art form, and I try to translate my emotions into my photography."

While the project is titled "365 Photos," Jou doesn't necessarily capture an image per day. He's been working on the series for three years now and predicts it will take him another three to finish. He's been archiving all of his shots on tumblr, so that fans outside of his home city, Berlin, can get a taste of his art. Check out a preview of the series below.