IIT Bombay's SCAN Centre Hosts Symposium on India's Growing Neurodegenerative Disease Challenge

Mumbai, January 17, 2026: The Sunita Sanghi Centre of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases (SCAN Centre) at IIT Bombay marked its third anniversary with an annual symposium, focusing on the pressing theme “Neurodegenerative Disorders in India: Current Practices and Challenges.”

The event was inaugurated by Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, and featured addresses by Prof. Sachin C. Patwardhan, Dean (R&D); Prof. Upendra V. Bhandarkar, Dean (ACR); and the Centre’s donor, Mr. Sharad Sanghi. The symposium brought together leading clinicians and academic experts from across India to address one of the nation's looming public health concerns.

The Demographic Imperative:

The discussions were framed against stark demographic projections:

Globally, the population aged 60+ is set to double by 2050, exceeding 2 billion.
In India, the elderly demographic is expected to surge from 10% to nearly 20% in the coming decades.
This rapid aging presents a significant challenge, particularly for managing age-related neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, and Parkinson's disease.

Symposium Focus & Outcomes:

The symposium aimed to deepen the understanding of neurodegenerative disease pathology, biomarkers, underlying mechanisms, and ongoing national research initiatives. Key sessions covered:

Methodologies for early detection
Advances in therapeutic strategies
Emerging vaccine research & policy frameworks, supported by data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI)

A dedicated poster session showcased ongoing student and researcher projects, fostering academic exchange. Interactive Q&A segments highlighted the critical need for stronger collaboration between clinicians and the scientific research community to translate lab insights into clinical practice.

The event served as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary dialogue, reinforcing the SCAN Centre's commitment to pioneering research and improving clinical outcomes in the field of aging and neurodegeneration in India.