The World Alzheimer Report 2009 was the most comprehensive global prevalence study of dementia to date and looks at levels of mortality, disability, strain on carers and dependency.
The report also offered examples of good national dementia plans and information on health service responses. Importantly, the report also includes eight recommendations that provide a global framework for action on dementia.
This first World Alzheimer Report also includes an overview of dementia – what dementia is in terms of pathology, clinical features, course and management.
Some key recommendations include:
- National governments should declare dementia a health priority and develop national strategies to provide services and support for people with dementia and their families
- Low- and middle-income countries should create dementia strategies based first on enhancing primary healthcare and other community services
- More research needs to be funded and conducted into the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, pharmacological and psychosocial treatments, the prevalence and impact of dementia, and the prevention of dementia.
Much of the content of this report has been updated in subsequent publications, particularly the World Alzheimer Report 2015.
