World Alzheimer’s Month is an annual international event, always held in September and run by Alzheimer’s Disease International, (ADI).
The aim of the month is to raise awareness and challenge stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia. The event has been running since 2012, and September 21st is World Alzheimer’s Day.
Globally there is thought to be poor understanding and a great deal of stigma surrounding dementia, so the work of World Alzheimer’s Month is vital and is growing and targeting the stigma and lack of understanding and knowledge surrounding Alzheimer’s disease and dementia as well as supporting those suffering with the disease.
The month is an opportunity for individuals, businesses and charities to hold events and raise awareness in their communities of the effects of dementia. Participants can get campaign materials for their event from ADI, and anyone unable to arrange their own event but keen to take part, can find events run by their National Alzheimer’s Charity and participate in those.
World Alzheimer’s Month is an opportunity for sufferers, carers, professionals, press and media and communities to work together against dementia as well as raising awareness of the realities of it, while combating stigma and misinformation and lobbying the government for better help and care.
Dementia is a degenerative brain condition that affects over 50 million people internationally and which robs a person of their memory,competency, comprehension and behavioural awareness, usually slowly, over years, it is a sad condition to live with or to witness in a loved one, there are over 100 forms of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer’s Disease at 50-60% of all dementia cases.
Information source: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-alzheimers-month-2024/