2024 Ryman Prize Awarded To Globally Renowned Brain Health Expert Professor Vladimir Hachinski

Canadian clinical neuroscientist and researcher Professor
Vladimir Hachinski has been announced the winner of the 2024
Ryman Prize – an annual $250,000 grant for the world’s
best discovery, development, advancement or achievement that
enhances the quality of life for older people.

The
prize will be presented by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon
at a ceremony at Logan Campbell Village in Auckland today,
celebrating the major contribution Professor Hachinski has
made to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and the links
between ‘the terrible three’ – stroke, dementia and
coronary heart disease.

Judged by an international
jury, Hachinski has been recognised for his pioneering work
in dementia. He was the first to coin the term
‘multi-infarct dementia’ – after a type of dementia that
is caused by a series of small strokes that damage or
destroy brain tissue – and went on to develop the
Hachinski ischemic scale, described by cardiologists and
stroke experts around the world as the best and most widely
used clinical method to distinguish between degenerative
dementia and multi-infarct dementia.

In addition,
Hachinski advocates for prevention by promoting the idea of
“holistic brain health”, linking cerebral health with
mental and social health – our ability to interact and form
meaningful relationships with others.

Ryman Healthcare
Group CEO Richard Umbers says, ‘’Professor Hachinski’s
long career in stroke, dementia and heart disease research
and his ambition to educate others in the ways to prevent
them make his research hugely important to combat dementia
globally. Ryman is a leading provider of residential
dementia care in New Zealand and our villages are places
that promote holistic brain health, through active healthy
socially connected lifestyles. Professor Hachinski’s work
resonated with us deeply.’’

Professor Hachinski
also founded, with John W Norris, the world’s first
successful acute stroke unit, which is now the standard of
care across the globe and was instrumental in launching the
first World Brain Day, now in its 10th year, to advance the
cause of Brain Health and Disability.

‘’Ryman’s
purpose is to enhance freedom, connection and wellbeing for
people as they grow older. The award embodies that mission
perfectly – in its ninth year, it’s our way of
acknowledging and supporting groundbreaking work in the care
of older people,” says Umbers.

About the Ryman
Prize:

The Ryman Prize is a $250,000 grant which is
awarded annually to the best global invention, idea,
research concept or initiative that has enhanced quality of
life for older people.

The Ryman Prize has seen eight
winners since its launch in 2015 and is awarded in New
Zealand by the sitting Prime Minister. The winner is
selected by an international jury panel, and entry is open
to the world’s brightest and best engineers, thinkers,
scientists, clinicians or inventors.

About Ryman
Healthcare:

Ryman Healthcare was founded in
Christchurch in 1984 and owns and operates 48 retirement
villages in New Zealand and Australia. Ryman villages are
home to 14,200 residents, and the company employs 7,600
staff.

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