September 2024 marks the 13th edition of World Alzheimer’s Month, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness of dementia and promoting a more inclusive and supportive society for people living with the condition. For the second time, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is joining forces with Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) and other regional entities to amplify the message of this year’s campaign: “It’s time to act for people with dementia”.
The importance of global awareness
Organized by ADI with PAHO and regional Alzheimer’s associations, the international campaign aims to raise awareness and challenge the stigma surrounding dementia. The focus of this year’s World Alzheimer’s Month campaign, “Attitudes towards dementia”, concentrates on understanding and addressing current perceptions and attitudes towards dementia, with the aim of promoting adequate information about the disease in order to build a society that is friendlier to people living with dementia.
The campaign material highlights that “only by raising awareness will more people seek information, advice and support”. Other objectives of the global mobilization include improving diagnosis rates; encouraging more research on the subject, including areas such as risk reduction; and dealing with the growing demand for access to treatment and care.
In this context, it is essential that scientific and technical information is accessible to guide the best health decisions, especially by health managers and health professionals. This is the main mission of BIREME/PAHO/WHO in supporting the countries of the Region in promoting the visibility, accessibility, and application of reliable up-to-date knowledge.
Planned activities
Throughout September, PAHO and its partners will promote a series of communication activities, promoting and participating in events aimed at supporting people with dementia and their families, as well as encouraging public policies that prioritize early diagnosis and access to treatment.
On September 20, the PAHO Office in Brasilia will host the Seminar “Cuidado integral às pessoas idosas: um olhar sobre a Saúde Mental” (Comprehensive care for the elderly: a look at Mental Health), promoted by the Coordination of Health of the Elderly of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, to be held in the Carlyle Guerra de Macedo Auditorium, with live transmission via YouTube. For Maria Cristina Hoffman, Healthy Aging Consultant at PAHO Brazil, “this is a key opportunity to think about prevention and care strategies in Mental Health for the elderly population.” Besides Alzheimer’s, the event will also highlight suicide prevention.
The Brazilian Federation of Alzheimer’s Associations (Febraz), which is leading the organization of the campaign among the country’s associations, will coordinate various actions in different cities and regions, with messages specially developed to break down the stigma associated with dementia. Among the activities planned are virtual seminars, educational campaigns on social networks and the distribution of information materials in places with a large circulation of people. The program is now available on the https://setembrolilas.org.br/ portal.
Testimonials
“The importance of World Alzheimer’s Month cannot be underestimated. We need to reinforce prevention and early diagnosis, as well as offering essential support to the people and families affected. Accessible and accurate information is key to reducing the impact of dementia on our societies.” João Paulo Souza, Director of BIREME.
“PAHO, in collaboration with our partners in Brazil, is committed to promoting activities that broaden public understanding of dementias. This is an important opportunity for us to think about prevention and care strategies in Mental Health for the Elderly Population.” Maria Cristina Hoffman, PAHO Consultant on Healthy Ageing.
“PAHO’s adherence is crucial because it strengthens regional collaboration, brings international visibility, and facilitates access to resources and technical support. This helps to build more effective health policies to deal with dementia in the Region. I hope that the current theme will drive concrete actions to improve the lives of people with dementia and their families, promoting inclusive public policies and raising awareness about prevention, early diagnosis, and comprehensive support.” Elaine Mateus, President of the Brazilian Federation of Alzheimer’s Associations (Febraz).
Facts and Figures
This year’s theme emphasizes the urgency of combating the stigma and misinformation surrounding dementia, which affects more than 55 million people worldwide. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, this number could almost triple by 2050, making awareness and education on the subject more important than ever.
- Fact 1: Dementia is not part of normal ageing; early diagnosis can improve access to treatment and support.
- Fact 2: In 2019, dementia was the third leading cause of death in the Americas, with more than 390,000 deaths recorded.
- Fact 3: It is estimated that by 2030, the number of people with dementia in Latin America and the Caribbean will double, from 3.4 million in 2010 to 7.6 million.
- Fact 4: Women are disproportionately affected by dementia, accounting for 66% of deaths from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in the Region of the Americas.
The time to act is now
As World Alzheimer’s Month 2024 gets underway, PAHO, BIREME and partner organizations invite everyone to take part in awareness-raising activities and find out more about how we can together build a more welcoming society for people living with dementia.
Get involved! Access the ADI report “Attitudes to dementia” (to be published on September 21, 2024), the “Time to act on Dementia” campaign toolkit and its webpage.