Professor Bengt Winblad is a distinguished leader in geriatric medicine and neurodegenerative disease research with decades of pioneering contributions to understanding and treating dementia. He currently serves as Professor of Geriatric Medicine at Karolinska Institutet and Chief Physician at Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge, Sweden where he leads his research group focusing on drug development for Alzheimer's disease. After earning his MD in 1971 and PhD in 1975 from the University of Umeå, Sweden, he became Docent in 1977 and was appointed Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Chief Physician in 1982. His career has been centered at Karolinska Institutet where he served as Head of the Division of Neurogeriatrics until 2018, establishing himself as one of Europe's most influential figures in dementia research.
Professor Winblad's research has fundamentally advanced the understanding and treatment of Alzheimer's disease through his comprehensive work on epidemiology, genetics, and therapeutic interventions. His initiative in developing pharmaceutical treatments for severe Alzheimer's disease, particularly with memantine and donepezil, has transformed clinical practice and improved quality of life for millions of patients worldwide. With over 1000 original publications in gerontology, geriatrics, and dementia research, he was recognized as the world's most prolific researcher in Alzheimer's disease by the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease in 2009 and as one of the most cited scientists globally in 2016. His leadership as principal investigator of the first EU Joint Program project BIOMARKAPD standardized biomarker sampling and measurement across Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease research, creating essential methodological frameworks adopted internationally.
Beyond his research achievements, Professor Winblad has profoundly shaped the global dementia research landscape through his extensive leadership in international collaborations and scientific organizations. As chairman of the European Alzheimer Disease Consortium from 2001 to 2019, he fostered connections among 71 clinical research centers across Europe, creating unprecedented opportunities for large-scale studies and data sharing. His founding of major international conferences including the International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders (now AAIC) and the International PharmacoEconomic Conferences on AD has established enduring platforms for scientific exchange and innovation. Having mentored over 150 PhD students, Professor Winblad continues to advance Alzheimer's research through his current leadership roles in the German national network on neurodegenerative disorders and as chair of the Medical Scientific Advisory Panel of the Alzheimer Disease International.
