World Alzheimer's Day Lecture And BMA Medical Book Competition Award, Scotland

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 20 Sep 2007 - 13:00 PST

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Alzheimer Scotland will be holding its 7th Annual World Alzheimer's Day Lecture 'The Dementia Epidemic: is it inevitable?' at 6pm on Wednesday 19 September 2007 at Glasgow Caledonian University

There is growing concern about the impact of demographic change on the number of people with dementia in Scotland, with a projected increase of 75% by 2031, which provides the focus for the lecture.

We are delighted to welcome a highly respected speaker, Professor Phil Hanlon, who is Professor of Public Health at the University of Glasgow. Professor Hanlon will speak about the prospects for prevention of dementia, the evidence for risk reduction and its potential both for individuals and for the population as a whole, as a strategy to avoid the impending dementia epidemic.

Alzheimer Scotland's Good for You - Good For Your Brain: the evidence on risk reduction and dementia has just received a Highly Commended in the BMA Medical Book Competition, which was presented at the awards ceremony in London last week.

Maureen Thom, Information Manager at Alzheimer Scotland, explains the key areas of the Good For You - Good For Your Brain campaign: "The advice is simple: eat healthily, stay mentally active, take regular physical exercise and maintain your social networks. We've known about the physical benefits of a good diet and regular exercise for many years, but recent research shows that what's good for you really is good for your brain as well."

Alzheimer Scotland

Dementia affects between 58,000 and 65,000 people in Scotland in 2007. Alzheimer's disease is the main form of dementia. The second most common is vascular dementia. As yet there is no cure.

World Alzheimer's Day was first inaugurated in Edinburgh in 1994 by the World Health Organisation. It is marked across the world on 21 September, as dementia is a growing issue in every part of the world. Dementia affects 1 in 20 people over the age of 65 and 1 in 5 over the age of 80. Worldwide there are an estimated 24 million people with dementia. By 2040 the number will have risen to 81 million.

Alzheimer Scotland is Scotland's foremost voluntary organisation working for people with dementia and their carers. It:

- speaks out for the rights and concerns of people with dementia and their carers;
- operates services on over 60 sites throughout Scotland providing practical services such as day, evening and weekend centres, home care and befriending and carers' support services;
- has a research programme.

Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia is a company limited by guarantee, registered in Scotland 149069. Registered Office: 22 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7RN. It is recognised as a charity by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, no. SC022315.

http://www.alzscot.org