World Alzheimer's Day - 21 September 2024 | Latest news

World Alzheimer's Day, takes place every year on 21 September, marking a global effort to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.

The theme for 2024 is it’s time to act on Alzheimer's' and throughout September, various events, activities, and initiatives will take place mark World Alzheimer's Month. The key aims of this year's campaign is to raise awareness and challenge stigma surrounding Alzheimer's and dementia.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease? 

Alzheimer’s disease is a physical illness which damages a person’s brain. This eventually causes dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease affects everyone differently. However, it has some common early symptoms:

• memory problems
• thinking and reasoning difficulties
• language problems
• changes to how they see and hear things
• changes in mood

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease will get worse over time. As Alzheimer’s disease progresses, a person will need increasing support with everyday living.

What is the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia?

In summary, dementia is an all-inclusive term that refers to a range of symptoms affecting cognitive abilities, such as thinking, reasoning and remembering, while Alzheimer's disease is a specific type of dementia characterised by progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Other types of dementia exist, each with its own distinct causes and characteristics.

How can you support World Alzheimer’s Day?

There are many ways to get involved:

• join the conversation on social media and share your support on the 21 September by using the hashtag #WorldAlzheimersDay
• volunteer at a local Memory Walk
• plan or join in a fundraising event

For more information, click here:
Alzheimer's Society (alzheimers.org.uk)