September 2026 saw the 15th annual World Alzheimer’s Month campaign by ADI and our members, a global campaign dedicated to raising awareness of dementia and challenging the stigma that continues to surround the condition.
This year our global network of dementia and Alzheimer’s associations, advocates, governments as well as millions of the general public around the world, shared in the campaigns message: The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.
Receiving a diagnosis can open the door to treatment, care and support, and empower people living with dementia and their families to plan for now and the future. As new advances in diagnosis and treatment continue to emerge, early diagnosis has never been more important. Yet millions of people around the world still live without one.
This September, we witnessed people coming together in public spaces to advocate for people living with dementia, high level meetings toward National Dementia Plans, founding anniversaries, conferences, illuminated buildings, live interviews on television and radio, local association partnerships with businesses and communities, government-led campaigns, as well as the sharing of crucial resources, from the printing of campaign posters and evidence to reduce stigma and encourage more people to seek support.
The global campaign also saw notable participants and global advocates such as Her Royal Highness Princess Muna Al Hussein of Jordan, the First Lady of Seychelles, violinist Andre Reiu, entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates, comedian Seth Rogan, dementia activist Teun Toebes, as well as the Ministry of Health of Chile and Brazil, The Government of Bermuda and World Health Organization and many more. ADI thanks each and every one of you that took part in the campaign
We have been in awe of the variety of advocacy and action we have seen this World Alzheimer’s Month. Together, making a global voice.
Member highlights
Here are just some of this year’s activities and events!
Learn more about ADI’s member associations
Africa:
Across Africa, Alzheimer and dementia associations brought dementia awareness into communities, schools, churches, shops and the media, with a landmark moment for dementia policy on the continent.
The Gambia announced its National Dementia Plan 2026–2031, on 29 September 2026, the first in the African region. The five-year Plan seeks to focus on dementia awareness and public education, prevention and risk reduction, Early diagnosis and care, Support for families and caregivers as well as placing dignity, inclusion and the rights of people living with dementia at the forefront of its implementation. We congratulate the Gambian government on this achievement and look forward to seeing further developments.
In South Africa, on World Alzheimer’s Day, 21 September, a community worker and trainer from Association for Dementia and Alzheimer’s of South Africa NPC (ADASA) KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) took part in the first of a series of awareness sessions hosted by the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. The session was held at Pinetown Civic Hall and brought together municipality members, Age in Action, the Older Persons Forum, community members and nursing students. ADASA chapters joined Inanda FM and BokRadio for live broadcasts, giving them a platform to reach and educate listeners about dementia.
In Madagascar, Madagascar Alzheimer Masoandro Mody held an inaugral Alzheimer’s awareness event in a school. On 16 September, around 50 students from Lycée Intello Tsimbazaza gathered to learn and talk about Alzheimer’s disease, helping to bring the conversation to children and young people.
In Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Association (ZARDA) dementia awareness programmes continued throughout the month in Bulawayo, Gweru, Chitungwiza, Marondera and Harare. The team addressed the Ruwadzano women at Trinity Methodist Church in Harare and invited church goers, workplaces teams and other groups to request a visit.
The Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation ran a full programme of activities, including an art exhibition featuring work created by people living with dementia, a games therapy session, and a gentle exercise and yoga session for people living with dementia and their families. The foundation also set up a booth at the Seychelles Trading Company Hypermarket, distributing stickers and leaflets to members of the public. Through numerous TV and radio interviews and volunteer-led public education booths, they worked to reduce stigma and bring education to the wider community.
The Americas:
Across the Americas, Alzheimer and dementia associations worked to raise awareness, challenge stigma and secure dementia policy.
On the eve of World Alzheimer’s Month, Panama celebrated the launch of its National Dementia Plan, marking an important milestone for dementia policy in the country and across the Americas.
On World Alzheimer’s Day, 21 September, Canadian Member of Parliament Robert Oliphant PC MP addressed Parliament to draw attention to dementia on the day of global advocacy.
In Colombia, high-level meetings were held to strengthen the drafting of the national dementia bill. Participants included ADI Regional Director for the Americas, Diego Aguilar, Colombian Senator Norma Hurtado, Facundo Manes, and representatives from Alzdecolombia.
Costa Rica, the first country in Latin America to adopt a National Dementia Plan, took initial steps towards reviewing and updating the plan, which came to an end in 2024. On World Alzheimer’s Day, the Costa Rican Alzheimer and dementia association (ASCADA) and ADI held technical roundtables with PAHO, the Ministry of Health and local researchers and academics.
On World Alzheimer’s Day, four Ecuadorian cities came together to light up landmarks in purple in support of people living with Alzheimer’s and their families and caregivers. Quito, Cuenca, Guaranda and Loja illuminated the Virgin of El Panecillo, El Sagrario Church and the Municipal Building, Guaranda Cathedral and the San Sebastián Tower respectively.
In Chile, the Ministry of Health marked World Alzheimer’s Day on social media, highlighting the importance of raising awareness, prevention and support and marking a clear signal of the government’s view of dementia as a health priority.
In Argentina, Asociación Lucha contra el Mal de Alzheimer (ALMA)hosted a full programme of activities, including free virtual and in-person talks at its headquarters, a dinner show with music and tango to raise funds, and a screening of Lucia Paz’s documentary Oda Amarilla, followed by a discussion with the audience.
In the Caribbean, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Association ran an events calendar that included a community health fair on 18 September and a call for residents to wear purple during Purple Weekend, 18–20 September. In Barbados, amongst a full calendar of events during World Alzheimer’s Month, the Barbados Alzheimer’s Association notably held a church service was held on 20 September, welcoming the Hon. Adrian Forde, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, as a special guest.
Eastern Mediterranean
It was great to see involvement in World Alzheimer’s Month from friends and colleagues in the Eastern Mediterranean, who partook in a number of awareness-raising activities.
AL Oun Jordan Association for Alzheimer’s Disease (AJAAD) in Jordan held an awareness-raising walk for dementia under the patronage of HRH Princess Muna Al Hussein attended by her Excellency the Minister of Social Development, Wafaa Bani Mustafa.
As part of Alzheimer’s Pakistan’s World Alzheimer’s Month activities, students prepared goodie bags to be handed out to the members of the Alzheimer’s Pakistan Daycare Club, as well as organising multiple Dementia Friends Training Program lessons in classrooms and university campuses across the country.
Europe
Across Europe, Alzheimer and dementia associations worked every day to improve awareness, challenge stigma and ensure that people affected by dementia can access the information and support they need.
The Unforgettable Foundation (Feledhetetlen Alapítvány) in Hungary hosted multiple events to celebrate World Alzheimer’s Month including their II. Feledhetetlen Nap (II. Unforgettable Day) at the Petőfi Literary Museum in Budapest. At the II. Feledhetetlen Nap event, Feledhetetlen Alapítvány announced that they will soon launch their support helpline in October 2026.
Federazione Alzheimer Italia in Italy published an innovative interactive map of all its dementia awareness raising events across the country so people could easily access and attend events in their communities.
Founder of Nezabutni Foundation (Ukraine) Iryna Shevchenko spoke at a Nezabutni Foundation meeting in Kyiv dedicated to presenting the “Recommendations for the Inclusion of People with Dementia in Humanitarian Action” and the study “Dementia in Crisis: Challenges, Humanitarian Response and Solutions,” together with HelpAge International, the Age and Disability Technical Working Group (ADTWG), and the National Protection Cluster.
Southeast Asia
In the Southeast Asia region, Alzheimer and dementia associations are helping to raise awareness, challenge stigma and support people affected by dementia in their communities.
On World Alzheimer’s Day, 21 September, ADI Regional Director for the Asia Pacific, DY Suharya was in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where the Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation (LAF) were celebrating the momentous milestone of their 25th anniversary. As part of the festivities, DY participated in a memory walk with 200 participants on 19 September and further activities this week include a session on “training the trainers” a high-level discussion involving prominent stakeholders, a focus group discussion, in-depth interviews facilitated by experts from the region.
On 23 September the Vietnam Organization for Better Ageing (VIOBA) co-organised a World Alzheimer’s Month event which brought together stakeholders, government representatives, and health professionals to highlight the importance of an early diagnosis and to strengthen the dialogue in the region in favour for the development of a National Dementia Plan. As well, VIOBA’s dementia awareness training session for older people in the Hung Yuen province made the news on VTV1, which was estimated to have been watched by 1-2 million people.
Dementia Singapore hosted a number of events during World Alzheimer’s Month including a charity concert titled Forget Me Not, an advocacy talk to the public on raising awareness to dementia and the importance of creating and building dementia-friendly communities, and a screening of “A Singapore Dementia Story”, an anthology of five films providing perspectives on dementia.
ADI member Taiwan Alzheimer’s Disease Association (TADA) put on a special exhibition as part of their World Alzheimer’s Month activities. The exhibition included interactive activities and lectures, providing a great opportunity for people to learn more about dementia and how to better support people living with the condition.
Western Pacific
Australia hosted their Dementia Awareness Week campaign where they invited people to record messages about dementia using phones placed in public spaces all across the country. This week also served as a way for them to bring awareness to their 24/7 dementia helpline, designed to help support people living with dementia, their families, and carers.
Alzheimer’s Indonesia held a media visit and discussion with Kompas Group on 14 September to discuss the role of the media in raising public awareness of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, particularly through education, risk reduction, and the importance of early detection and diagnosis.
New Zealand celebrated their 40th anniversary with a collection of events and messages, including a hosted conference and ‘this is what dementia looks like’, providing perspectives from people living with dementia.
Illuminated buildings
Throughout September, landmarks and buildings around the world lit up in purple to mark and celebrate World Alzheimer’s Month.
From cities and communities across the globe, these illuminations were a powerful reminder that people living with dementia, their families and carers are not alone, shining a light on this year’s message: The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.
Thank you to everyone who took part and helped us raise awareness, challenge stigma and make dementia visible.
We are highlighting illuminated buildings in Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Dominica, Ecuador, Indonesia, India, Maldives, Mexico, Singapore, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
14 Days, 14 Marathons: Running the length of Poland
This World Alzheimer’s Month, athlete Matthew Rybicki took on an extraordinary challenge in support of ADI: running 14 marathons in 14 days across the length of Poland.
His journey began in the mountains at Zakopane and finished on the Baltic coast in Gdańsk. Along the way, Matthew raised over $4,000 for ADI, funds that will have a direct impact on ADI’s work advocating for people living with dementia globally.
We thank Matthew for his monumental achievement and for his support in helping improve the lives of people living with dementia around the world.
Learn more about Matthew’s epic journey
ADI’s campaign and all of the incredible global activity would also not have been possible without the generous support of our World Alzheimer’s Month sponsors AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Eli Lilly & Company and MSD.
