World Alzheimer’s Month 2022

World Alzheimer’s Month was started in 2012 and is an annual international event organised and run by Alzheimer’s Disease International, (ADI).

ADI’s aim is to use the month of September every year to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, educate the general public and also challenge the stigma that surrounds Alzheimer’s and dementia.

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. This usually happens slowly, over many years and is a sad and often difficult condition to have to live with. It is also very hard to witness this steady decline in someone you love or care about. There are over 100 forms of dementia with the most common being Alzheimer’s Disease, which makes up 50-60% of all dementia cases.

Globally the perception is that there is quite a poor understanding of the disease and there is definitely a great deal of stigma and misunderstanding of dementia. This is why the important work done during World Alzheimer’s Month is so vital. Throughout the month of September, the objective is to inform and increase knowledge of Alzheimer’s and dementia across the globe and also to offer support and guidance to those suffering with the disease and their families.

September 2022 is an opportunity for individuals, businesses and charities to hold events and raise awareness in their communities of the effects of dementia. Participants can run their own events and will find help and campaign materials on the ADI website or people can also look for events being run by their local/National Alzheimer’s Charity and help/participate in those instead.

World Alzheimer’s Month offers a good opportunity for sufferers, carers, professionals, press/media and communities to work together against dementia, raise awareness of the realities of it and also lobby Governments for better help and care.