Nikita Goyal is the director of United for Cognitive Health (UCH), a youth-led global health initiative expanding access to culturally adapted early screening for Alzheimer’s Disease in underserved regions of India. In partnership with St. John’s Ambulance, the integration of cognitive assessments into ongoing monthly medical camps in New Delhi, helping screen over 2000 elderly patients and coordinating referrals to neurologists for those flagged.

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She independently launched screening efforts at Sheows Okhla Care Center, reaching nearly 100 residents and connecting them to local specialists for continued care. To address widespread stigma, Nikita designed interactive workshops for over healthcare providers and age-care workers by using community-specific examples to reframe Alzheimer’s in an accessible, culturally sensitive way.

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She now works with a team of 30+ physicians, age-care staff, and youth volunteers who coordinate screenings, provide guidance on her initiative, and present workshops as well. She is also working with the Alzheimer’s Association’s U.S. advocacy team to scale youth-driven awareness globally. All screenings were conducted with informed consent, and no personal health information is collected or shared, in adherence with patient privacy and ethical guidelines.

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Nikita’s passion for this work stems from her own family's experience—watching her grandmother battle Alzheimer’s and the grief of seeing her once vibrant spirit slowly dim. That experience shaped her commitment to dignified aging and equitable access to neurological care for all. Her data-informed analysis underscores a critical gap in diagnosis and care access across low-resource communities, demonstrating the urgency and replicability of her model.