News

Chile recently embarked on a comprehensive evaluation and update of its National Dementia Plan (originally launched in 2017) - a plan that serves as a model for the Latin American region. This collaborative process, led by the Chilean Ministry of Health, also involved civil society organisations, and demonstrates a practical roadmap for updating national dementia strategies.

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) proudly introduces the new and revamped online Alzheimer University (AU). Through a comprehensive educational programme and a supportive community, ADI aims to empower and equip dementia association representatives worldwide with the expertise and resources needed to strengthen their organisations, and ultimately enhance the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers in their respective countries.

Since 2021, Alzheimer’s Society of Maldives has worked tirelessly to address the needs of people with dementia and their carers. Through advocacy, collaboration with ADI, and engagement with the Maldivian government, the organisation is playing a key role in the development of the Maldives’ first National Dementia Plan, which is set for launch this year. This milestone highlights the impact of coordinated efforts to improve dementia care in the country.

ADI, in collaboration with academics from the London School of Economics, published a commentary in Nature Reviews Neurology urging governments to include dementia in NCD policies and frameworks. This paper reveals striking data, including dementia becoming the 3rd leading cause of death globally by 2040 and among the top 10 causes of death in 166 countries.

As we come to the end of 2024, CEO Paola Barbarino shares a message with our members, friends, and colleagues, to summarise our activities in 2024 and to give a preview of what we, at ADI, are looking forward to in 2025. Throughout this year, ADI has continued to raise global awareness of dementia, of the challenges and difficulties that families around the world face every day, but also of the hope that new research and emerging treatments bring to us.

On 10 December, ADI launched its inaugural End of Year Forecast, focusing on ‘Translating the Alzheimer's Treatment Revolution into Real World Solutions’. This event sought to highlight the new era for Alzheimer’s treatments and cut through the often confusing and cryptic information that is available to the general public. ADI is pleased to share the slide featured in this event. Make sure to scroll down the page to see all 127 Alzheimer’s treatments and their place in the pipeline.

In November 2024, ADI saw dementia action take place across Latin America. Regional Director, Diego Aguilar participated in Brain Week in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, organised by Asociación Alzheimer Bolivia (AAB) and Alzheimer Iberoamérica. Meanwhile, the Government of Tucumán, Argentina, launched the country’s first subnational dementia plan, thanks to years of advocacy by ADI, ALMA, and Fundación León.

As the number of Alzheimer’s treatments seeking regulatory approval rises, ADI continues to provide technical and patient-centred guidance to regulators. In this blog, ADI highlights some of our ongoing engagement in this area, based on our guiding principles in this area: