Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI)
News, blogs and stories from across the field of dementia, the work of Alzheimer’s Disease International and our members.
Lecanemab is the first therapy of its kind approved in the EU that could potentially slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The use of lecanemab will now be considered by national payers, who will assess the treatment against further nationally determined criteria.
This comes as the Appeals board of the European Commission were unable to reach a verdict following the “no opinion” decision of the Standing Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use and the European Commission. The matter will now be referred the European Commission for a final decision.
This month, ADI CEO Paola Barbarino and ADI Director of Research and Publications, Wendy Weidner, travelled to the East Coast of the United States to meet with leading researchers, universities, and industry innovators to discuss recent advancements in the research and innovation sphere of dementia care.
In March 2025, ADI was involved in a range of engagements across the Latin American region, from high level symposiums in Curaçao and Mexico, to providing strategic input on draft bills in Argentina and the international bloc of Latin American countries MERCOSUR.
In March ADI Membership Manager, Gloria Mantineo, travelled to South Africa to visit the country member association ADASA, meeting with CEO, Marlene Freislich and regional leadership teams in South Africa’s three most populous provinces Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape; to learn more about their services and gain greater insight into the work being undertaken within the country as well as the African region more broadly.
In March 2025, multiple member associations in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan conducted and participated in crucial online webinars to drive forward knowledge and expertise, helping to improve the lives of those living with dementia in the region.
In late March, ADI CEO Paola Barbarino travelled to St. Paul’s Bay, Malta to give a keynote address to the Empowering Minds: Innovation and Compassion in Dementia Care symposium hosted by the Dementia Care Directorate, Active Ageing and Community Care. This symposium focused on the symbiosis between advocacy and advancement within dementia care and research.
This month, ADI staff and representatives took part in important activity in the European region. ADI Regional Director for the Americas, Diego Aguilar, travelled to Madrid to attend the Triangular Cooperation Seminar, organised by the European Union's ADELANTE 2 Programme. ADI Head of Membership, Laura Aubert, visited ADI’s member in Czechia and attended the 19th World Congress on Controversies in Neurology in Prague. Then, ADI staff attended the World Dementia Council meeting in London for the 2025 Summit. We round off this blog by celebrating the co-founder of ADI’s member in Russia, Alzrus, Alexandra Shchetkina, for her nomination for the most prestigious Russian educational award - the Knowledge Prize.
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended against granting the marketing authorisation of donanemab across the European Union’s Member States and European Economic Area (EEA). This is likely to be the second disease modifying therapy to be denied by the bloc, after the EMA declined aducanumab, leaving lecanemab as the only disease modifying therapy likely to achieve marketing authorisation.
ADI is highlighting the testimonies of those undertaking health tourism to access Alzheimer's disease treatments across the world. Recent significant advancements have led to the development of disease-modifying therapies designed to slow progression. However, access remains highly fragmented, leading to the the onset of people travelling for treatment, or health tourism, for those that have the means.