World Alzheimer's Day 2006 - Thursday 21st Sept

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 21 Sep 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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One hundred years after Dr Alois Alzheimer first described Alzheimer's disease, the world unites to commemorate World Alzheimer's Day tomorrow, 21 September.

  Around the world, Alzheimer associations, carers and people with dementia unite to raise awareness of a disease that affects over 24 million people worldwide.

  Shocking figures published in the medical journal The Lancet warn of an imminent dementia epidemic. With one new case every seven seconds the number of people with dementia will increase to 81 million by 2040.

  To raise funds, a team of 10 people from 8 different countries are currently making their way to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania to raise money and international awareness of dementia.  The Ascent team includes Melanie Legg, 25 from Sussex, as well as climbers from the USA, Canada, Dominican Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Turkey and Hong Kong, and will reach the 5,800m Uhuru peak on World Alzheimer's Day in a symbolic act of unity against dementia.

  'As the number of people with dementia around the world reaches epidemic proportions there has never been a better time to bring dementia to the attention of the world's policy makers. Governments need to prepare their health and social systems. They must provide quality community-based services, invest in research and give access to new treatments. We have no time to lose in making dementia a global health priority,' said Michael Lefevre, Executive Director of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI).

  Cliff Richard, ADI's centenary year patron said, "World Alzheimer's Day is a fantastic event that shows that dementia is moving out of the shadows. People around the world living with dementia, rich or poor, need recognition and support to combat the stigma and ignorance that surrounds the disease. As someone whose mother is affected by the disease, I can only congratulate ADI and Alzheimer associations around the world for their efforts to raise awareness about dementia and make it a global health priority."

    Alzheimer's Disease International is the international federation of 75 Alzheimer associations around the world. ADI was founded in 1984 and is based in London. ADI has been in official working relations with the World Health Organization since 1996. The president of ADI is Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, daughter of Rita Hayworth, who had Alzheimer's disease.

  ADI commissioned the following report: "Global prevalence of dementia: A Delphi consensus study", Ferri, Prince, et al.; Lancet 2005; 366:2112-2117.

  For more information about ADI please go to http://www.alz.co.uk

  Dementia is a progressive degenerative brain syndrome which affects memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Declining memory, especially short-term memory is the most common early symptom of dementia. Other symptoms include difficulty performing familiar tasks, disorientation to time and place, poor or decreased judgment and changes in personality.

  World Alzheimer's Day is celebrated on 21 September each year. The day was launched with the support of the World Health Organization in 1994. ADI co-ordinates events and produces and distributes materials around the world. For a list of global events please refer to: http://www.alz.co.uk/adi/wad

  The Ascent for Alzheimer's is a fundraising initiative of the Alzheimer's Society of British Colombia, Canada. More information can be found at: http://www.alz.co.uk/ascent