News

ADI Asia Pacific Regional Director , DY Suharya, attended and supported two crucial cross-sectional meetings in both Malaysia and Maldives. These timely meetings brought researchers, policymakers and medical practitioners together to pave the way for the development of a new National Dementia Plan in Maldives and an important strategic deployment meeting around the newly launched plan in Malaysia.

ADI attended the World Health Organization’s 156th Executive Board, advocating for an extension to the expiring Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia, as well as pushing for better inclusion of dementia in from Non-communicable disease policies, and the need for greater provisions for those living with dementia and carers in humanitarian situations. 

February saw a flurry of dementia-related activity within the European region. Sweden has updated their national dementia strategy from 2018; ADI’s Head of Membership attended a session at the Belgian Senate; as part of their efforts to raise the profile of those living with dementia; ADI CEO Paola Barbarino virtually opened the 14th Panhellenic Conference on Alzheimer's Disease, organized by ADI’s member in Greece, Panhellenic Federation of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders, and ADI is partaking in the public hearings for the development of the WHO Second European Program of Work.

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.