World Alzheimer's Day™ 2006
No time to lose!
All around the world Alzheimer associations, individuals, people with dementia and carers came together on 21 September to commemorate World Alzheimer's Day 2006. As the Ascent for Alzheimer's World Team made it to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, people around the world took to the streets on Memory Walks, attended public lectures, concerts and dances to raise awareness of a disease that is set to affect more than 80 million people by 2040.
In Los Angeles, USA, organisers drew a crowd of over 2,000 enthusiastic walkers for their Memory Walk and raised nearly a half-million dollars to fight Alzheimer's Disease. In Bangalore, India a life size dinosaur was carried in procession down the street to draw attention to the size of the approaching dementia epidemic, a helpline was launched and a report presented to the Minister of Health. In Bermuda, a film showing of The Notebook raised money for the association and in Malta a car wash raised funds for the Malta Dementia Society.
Inspired by new alarming figures and motivated by his personal experience of dementia, ADI's Centenary Patron, Sir Cliff Richard, gave a passionate interview on BBC Radio about the need for more recognition of a disease that currently affects his mother. The media picked up the story all over the world and ADI received clippings and photos from associations worldwide united under the 'No Time to Lose!' theme, demanding more attention and better care for people with dementia in their communities.
In Australia, the report "Dementia in the Asia Pacific Region: The Epidemic Is Here" was launched on World Alzheimer's Day warning of the potential impact dementia could have on the health systems and quality of life of people in the Asia Pacific region. The Access Economics report, commissioned by Alzheimer's Australia on behalf of the 15 Asia Pacific ADI member countries, predicts that by 2050 there will be nearly 65 million people living with dementia in the region.
The report called for greater awareness and de-stigmatisation of dementia, the building of effective partnerships between policy makers, clinicians, researchers, care givers and people with dementia and the development of care services that are responsive to the needs of people with dementia and their family care givers. Throughout the region member associations held official launches of the report, holding public lectures and attending meetings with government ministers.
2006 has been a significant year in our battle against the global challenge of dementia. This centenary year of Alzheimer's disease has given us many opportunities to attract the attention of the world's policy makers, media and public and World Alzheimer's Day served as the focus for the year's activities. We look forward to keeping up the momentum and building on the year's success.
Where next?
- Ascent for Alzheimer's
- Events around the world
- World Alzheimer's Day 2006 in the news
- "Dementia in the Asia Pacific: The Epidemic is here" - Report launched on World Alzheimer's Day
- 100 years of Alzheimer's Disease - Centenary activities
- Report on World Alzheimer's Day 2005
- About World Alzheimer's Day
