ADI has developed a crucial toolkit for national dementia associations, civil society organisations, medical practitioners, policy makers and dementia advocates around the world to mobilise on dementia’s formal recognition within the new UN Political Declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, following two years of dedicated and persistent advocacy by ADI.
This inclusion represents a pivotal shift: dementia, projected to become the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2040, will now be acknowledged as a major public health and NCD priority. An important moment that reflects the voices of millions of families, advocates, and organisations across every region who have been calling for action.
Background:
For a long time we have used phrases like “what is good for the heart is good for the head” and have known that vascular and cardiometabolic conditions, in particular, increase the risk of developing dementia. This is why dementia’s inclusion in the recent UN Declaration on Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) is so timely and important and opens the door for associations around the world to advocate for better inclusion and integration of dementia, into what are often more robust and better funded NCD frameworks and plans.
Purpose of the toolkit:
- This toolkit provides advocates, policymakers, NGOs, caregivers, and health professionals with resources to:
- Advocate for recognition of dementia as an NCD
- Strengthen national and local policy responses
- Raise public awareness and reduce stigma
- Mobilise community and stakeholder engagement
- Promote dementia care, research, and caregiver support in the context of NCDs