This week, there has been much discussion in the press regarding the G8 summit in London organised to develop a co-ordinated action plan for tackling Alzheimer's. Leaders and politicians of the world's richest nations have gathered together to recognise the need to halt the progress of this debilitating disease. With an ageing population, dementia is soon to become the biggest burden on healthcare systems around the world. In 2010, the global cost of dementia was around £400 billion and this figure will continue to rise as more people are diagnosed each year. There are estimates that about 135 million people will be living with dementia by 2050. Most certainly, action is required… but what kind of action? Is the current drug-focussed paradigm really the best way to tackle what could be the biggest healthcare problem for our generation?