Posts tagged 'Alzheimer'

September 21st every year is World Alzheimer’s Day around the world. This is an international campaign aimed at raising awareness and challenge the common stigma that surrounds Alzheimer related dementia. September 2023 marks the 12th year of this vital global awareness raising campaign.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that impairs memory and other mental functions. It is the most common form of dementia that generalizes memory loss and loss of other essential cognitive abilities that are serious enough to interfere with an individual’s daily life. From previous studies, an average of 2 out of 3 people globally have little or no understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and associated dementia in their countries.

Since its inception, the impact of World Alzheimer’s Month is increasing. However, the stigmatisation and lack of information surrounding dementia remains to be a global problem that calls for global action. As outlined in our World Alzheimer Report 2019, many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a part of normal ageing. This alone highlights how important public awareness campaigns, like World Alzheimer’s Month, are for changing perceptions and increasing existing public knowledge around Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.   
 
With the number of people living with dementia set to almost triple by 2050, it has never been more important to recognise the risk factors associated with dementia and take proactive steps towards risk reduction. As such, this year’s theme ‘Never too early, never too late’, centres on the key risk factors and risk reduction, aiming to emphasise their crucial role in delaying and potentially preventing the onset of dementia. This also importantly includes ongoing risk reduction for those who have already been diagnosed. 

It is only through a truly global effort that we can raise much needed awareness and challenge the stigma and misinformation that still surrounds dementia, and we are calling on everyone to do something during September, however small or large, through the campaign ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s’.

World Alzheimer’s Month | Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) (alzint.org)

Each September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.  During World Alzheimer’s Month, we call on everyone, from individuals to large organisations, including every Alzheimer and dementia association globally, to support World Alzheimer’s Month by getting involved in some way.  
 
As outlined in our World Alzheimer Report 2019, many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a normal ageing. This alone highlights how important public awareness campaigns, like World Alzheimer’s Month, are for changing perceptions and increasing existing public knowledge around dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  

This year’s theme, ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s,’ continues on from the 2021 campaign, which focused on diagnosis, the warning signs of dementia.
 
In 2022, the campaign will have a special focus on post-diagnosis support. Following recent developments and potential breakthroughs, in both dementia treatment and support, the campaign will aim to highlight the importance of support for people living with dementia and families following a diagnosis.

World Alzheimer’s Day takes place during World Alzheimer’s Month and is on 21 September every year. In the build up to, and on the day of, many Alzheimer and dementia associations around the world host memory walks, fundraisers, awareness raising activities and campaigns to bring attention towards those in their community that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia.  
 
Take a moment to educate yourself today about Alzheimer’s Disease and let’s help reverse the perception about this disease. Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s!