Raising awareness, shaping change
On 25 June 2025, the School of Pharmacy in collaboration with AvantHealth, launched a key initiative to tackle one of Malaysia’s growing public health concerns: dementia. The initiative includes two flagship programs, AvantMind Matters at Monash 2025 and MindSpark 2025.
The launch marked a significant step towards dementia by combining academic expertise and industry collaboration, creating a safe platform for dementia awareness. The initiative's main objective is to inform the public that early awareness and youth involvement are crucial to building a dementia-inclusive society.
What makes this initiative unique on its own is the dual approach. AvantMind Matters at Monash 2025 serves as a national and regional platform to shape the public's understanding of dementia, while MindSpark 2025 introduces Malaysia's first university-level challenge focused entirely on dementia and brain health.
The MindSpark Challenge invites university students from across the country to come together and create digital and practical solutions for dementia care, community engagement, and awareness. These ideas are then pitched to a panel of industry and academic experts, with top entries potentially receiving further support, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities.
The challenge also promotes creativity and helps students develop real-world skills and networks essential to future careers in health and social impact.
The event was launched by Nori Abdullah, a well-known neurodiversity advocate for family wellness and community engagement, who is often known to lend a strong voice to social responsibilities.
Nori Abdullah emphasised the importance of celebrating shared humanity and supporting neurodivergent individuals.
"Dementia is a growing public health challenge both globally and here in Malaysia," said Nori. "It is estimated that over 200,000 Malaysians are currently living with dementia, and this number is projected to rise sharply with our aging population. It's one of the top three disability-related issues for people in their 70s and 80s."
Nori further emphasised that many cases remain undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness, stigma, and limited access to specialised care. She reminded everyone that dementia is not just a medical issue but a deeply human one. It affects families, caregivers, and communities in profound ways. "That's why campaigns like these are so critical. We want to focus on treatment and awareness, prevention, and reducing risk where possible. Some studies suggest that up to 40 per cent of dementia cases could be preventable. That's a staggering statistic and a call to action."
The AvantMind Matters and MindSpark initiatives represent a long-term commitment to changing how dementia is perceived and addressed within the Malaysian community. This campaign is proudly led by Dr Wang Leong Seng, Dr Fung Wai Yee, and Dinesh Sangarran Ramachandram whose collective efforts bring together expertise in healthcare, education, and community engagement to drive this meaningful movement forward.
Through public education, youth-driven innovation, and collaborative partnerships, it is clear that this initiative aims to create tangible impact not only within academic circles but also across wider communities.
Five youth ambassadors were selected for the initiative: Javier Wong Jia Jun, Shumi Tee, Harshini Malayappan, Nathan Tann Xin Yang, and Aw Yang Yet Yew. This is to showcase that by engaging young minds and connecting them with experts, the team hopes to build a new generation of advocates and innovators ready to drive change in brain health and dementia care. As Malaysia's population ages, these efforts could not be more timely and essential.