ADI

This week, ADI is bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Health of Chile and Tucumán, Argentina, to exchange experiences on dementia policy and strengthen regional collaboration. The mission began in Buenos Aires with visits to ALMA, ADI's member association in Argentina, and FLENI, where the delegation met with Dr Ricardo Allegri, leading neurologist and member of ADI's Medical and Scientific Advisory Panel. In Tucumán, a province in northwestern Argentina, the delegation was officially welcomed by Dr Luis Medina Ruiz, Minister of Health, before joining healthcare professionals, academia, civil society and municipal representatives to share lessons from Chile's National Dementia Plan and Tucumán's Provincial Dementia Programme, Argentina's first subnational dementia plan, helping strengthen dementia care and accelerate implementation at the local level. Learn more about ALMA: alzint.org/member/asociac…

ADI is pleased share news of the Memory Palace (Palais de la Mémoire) exhibition at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium, held in partnership with our member association, Ligue Nationale Alzheimer Liga. Located in the Hall of Mirrors, this interactive experience shifts the perspective focus from connections between brain cells to connections between people. Visitors are invited to perform meaningful gestures together, highlighting how sincere attention and human connection can bridge the communication challenges often brought by dementia. This initiative, designed by Dr. Kasper Bormans and Unik-ID, demonstrates how art and research can come together to build stronger, more compassionate responses to dementia. ADI thanks Ligue Nationale Alzheimer Liga, the Royal Palace of Brussels, and everyone involved for fostering meaningful connections and empathy for people living with dementia. Learn more about the Memory Palace exhibition and Ligue Nationale Alzheimer Liga here: alzheimer.be/exposition-pal…

On 21 July, a bill establishing a National Dementia Policy for Colombia was formally introduced in the Senate by Senator Norma Hurtado, marking the beginning of the country's legislative journey towards a national dementia law. The proposed legislation seeks to strengthen prevention, timely diagnosis, comprehensive care, research, support for families and caregivers, and the protection of the rights of people living with dementia. Congratulations to Alzdecolombia, ADI's member association in Colombia, for its outstanding leadership throughout this process. Special recognition goes to Dr Eduar Herrera, whose vision and unwavering commitment have driven this initiative forward, and to researchers Hernando Santamarina García and David Aguillón for their invaluable expertise. This formal filing is an essential first step, and we look forward to supporting Colombia throughout the legislative process towards a stronger national response to dementia. Learn more abouy Alzdecolombia: alzint.org/member/asociac…

On 22 July, World Brain Day unites people around the globe to spotlight the importance of brain health. ADI is proud to support World Brain Day 2026, an annual campaign that raises awareness of neurological conditions and promotes prevention strategies. With the number of people living with dementia projected to reach 78 million globally by 2030, the need for international advocacy for the millions of people living with neurological conditions has never been greater. Join us as we raise awareness, reduce stigma, and advocate for lifetime brain health for all. Prevention is a vital part of improving brain health and reducing the risk of neurological conditions, including dementia. On 16 July, the WHO released a timely update to the dementia risk reduction guidelines based on increasing evidence on multidomain interventions, population-level policies and additional risk factors. On 28 July at 1pm BST, ADI will host our latest webinar in collaboration with World Health Organization to discuss how these expanded risk reduction strategies can be implemented in practice. Learn more: bit.ly/3QD2oAa #WorldBrainDay2026 #BrainHealthForAll #DementiaRiskReduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the second edition of its Guidelines for Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia, which you can access here: bit.ly/4vDXOjF @Alzdisint is pleased to share these updated guidelines, to which members of the ADI team contributed during their development. The guidelines were launched during a WHO-hosted webinar highlighting the latest evidence on dementia risk reduction, including newly recognised evidence-based risk factors and a new framework for grouping risk factors into four categories: behaviours, health conditions and biological states, environmental, and multidomain. This new framework reflects a more holistic understanding of dementia risk and opportunities for intervention. Joining the launch was ADI Acting CEO, Chris Lynch, who discussed the important role of civil society and dementia advocacy organisations in raising awareness of dementia risk reduction. He also highlighted the importance of integrating dementia into broader messaging around noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention and risk reduction. During the webinar, Dr Tarun Dua, WHO Unit Head for Neurological, Sensory and Oral Conditions in the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, emphasised the importance of adapting global guidance to local contexts: "These guidelines are global, but we must go local." Following the release of these guidelines, ADI invites our global network to join us for a special webinar, "Advancing Dementia Risk Reduction: Implementing the WHO's Updated Guidelines." This live, expert-led session will provide an in-depth overview of the new recommendations and showcase practical examples from national dementia associations, demonstrating how these global guidelines can be successfully implemented at the local level. Register for the webinar today: bit.ly/4xNkSic #DementiaRiskReduction

Chris Lynch, Acting CEO of ADI, will join a global expert panel for the online launch of the updated WHO Dementia Risk Reduction Guidelines on 16 July During the webinar, Chris will discuss the important role of civil society and dementia advocacy organisations in raising awareness of dementia risk reduction and supporting implementation of the updated recommendations. The webinar will bring together global experts from across research, policy, healthcare, and advocacy, including: Prof. Noha Sabry, Professor of Psychiatry at Cairo University, Egypt; Cleusa Ferri, Psychiatrist and epidemiologist from the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil; Karla Recknagel, Policy Advisor at the German Federal Ministry of Health, Germany; and Muthoni Gichu, Representative from the Ministry of Health of Kenya. Join the discussion on how evidence-based dementia risk reduction recommendations can be translated into action through stronger awareness, advocacy, and collaboration. 16 July at 15:30 CEST Register today: bit.ly/4v28M1R #Dementia #BrainHealth #HealthyAgeing #RiskReduction #PublicHealth #WHO #ADI #GlobalHealth

Building an effective global response to Alzheimer's disease requires data that reveals where progress is being made and where further action is needed. @Alzdisint has launched the AD Atlas, a first of its kind platform that highlights how countries diagnose, treat and support people living with dementia Access the Atlas: bit.ly/3RnsdVf In the Asia-Pacific region, #Japan has one of the highest reported dementia prevalence rates among countries featured in the AD Atlas and has made significant strides in addressing dementia through successive National Dementia Plans. "Sharing knowledge, experiences, and mutual learning are the most effective paths to addressing the global challenge of dementia” said Noriyo Washizu, International Exchange Committee Board member of Alzheimer’s Association Japan (AAJ), “The AD Atlas is the definitive engine, driving forward our collective knowledge." Learn more about your country's responses to Alzheimer's disease on the AD Atlas today! #ADAtlas #Dementia #Alzheimers #BrainHealth #HealthPolicy

Around two-thirds of people living with dementia are in low- and middle-income countries, yet for many years less than 10% of dementia research has focused on these populations. This research gap between low- and middle-income countries and high income countries inspired the creation of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group in 1998, an initiative launched with the support of ADI to transform global dementia research and ensuring that research includes populations that were once overlooked. A recent follow-on study 'Trends in Dementia Prevalence Across Latin America and the Caribbean' used a repeated cross-sectional design, drawing on data from the 10/66 Dementia Research Group to generate population-based evidence on dementia prevalence, incidence, risk factors and care needs. Crucially, this research provides new evidence that dementia rates are rising in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the urgent need for increased prevention strategies.  Read the paper: jamanetwork.com/journals/jaman… Lead author of the study, Jorge J. Llibre-Guerra said: “For the first time, we have direct evidence that dementia rates are rising in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean moving in the opposite direction of wealthy nations. These findings are a wake-up call - our findings make clear that dementia prevention cannot be an afterthought in Latin America and the Caribbean. Health systems in the region need investment in cardiovascular risk management, dementia surveillance, and care infrastructure”. For ADI, these findings reinforce the importance of supporting globally representative dementia research that can inform advocacy, strengthen national dementia policies, and help ensure that people living with dementia in every region are reflected in the evidence that shapes prevention and care.

ADI is inviting our global network to join us for a special webinar ‘Advancing Dementia Risk Reduction: Implementing the WHO’s updated guidelines’ This live, expert-led session will provide an in-depth overview of the new recommendations and showcase practical examples from national dementia associations demonstrating how the guidelines can be implemented in diverse settings to improve national responses to dementia. The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session, where attendees can gain further insights from the expert panel. Register today! bit.ly/4xNkSic This event will be chaired by:     🔴 Chris Lynch, Acting CEO, ADI Panellists include:   🔴 Dr Primrose Nyamayaro, Consultant·World Health Organization’s Neurological, Sensory and Oral conditions Unit 🔴 Bill Yeates, Dementia advocate and ADI Board Member, Au 🔴 Matthew Baumgart, Senior Vice President, Health Policy·Alzheimer's Association, USA 🔴 Prof Shehan Williams, Professor in Psychiatry, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka With more panellists to be announced soon. We are pleased to offer AI translation for this webinar in 60+ languages. The webinar will be available for viewing on ADI's YouTube channel after the event.

The AD Atlas is helping to shine a light on how countries across the world are responding to Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Access the Atlas: bit.ly/3RnsdVf In Europe, Germany has a funded national dementia strategy focused on four key priorities: fostering inclusive communities that promote social participation; providing structured support for people living with dementia and their caregivers; strengthening health and long-term care services through dementia-sensitive care and better coordination; and advancing research through collaborative networks. While this demonstrates strong national commitment, the AD Atlas also reveals that access to innovative diagnostics and treatments remains uneven across Europe, highlighting persistent disparities in timely and effective dementia care across the region. Learn more about how your country is responding to Alzheimer's disease on the AD Atlas today! #ADAtlas #Dementia #Alzheimers #BrainHealth #HealthPolicy

At the beginning of July, ADI welcomed our member association from the US, Alzheimer's Association, to deliver an online workshop on "Strengthening Dementia Helplines Practical Approaches to Quality and Impact", the eighth workshop in our Alzheimer University, facilitating international knowledge exchange among ADI's global membership. The workshop welcomed 29 participants from 25 countries and was delivered by representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association US, drawing on their extensive experience in operating and continuously improving a national dementia helpline, they shared insights on practical call centre training approaches, quality improvement strategies and operational best practices. ADI thanks Alzheimer's Association, module leaders Kate Madl and Morna Brothers from the AA Contact Center, Chelsea Kline and Matthew Baumgart for facilitating this crucial and informative workshop and helping to advance dementia service for people living with dementia and their care networks around the world. Learn more about the Alzheimer's Association US on our website: alzint.org/member/alzheim…

ADI was pleased to facilitate a technical exchange between representatives from Chile's Ministry of Health and Fundación TASE, ADI's member association in Ecuador, to support the ongoing development of Ecuador's National Dementia Plan. During the meeting, Fundación TASE presented the draft National Dementia Plan and its six strategic pillars. ADI was represented by Diego Aguilar, Regional Director for the Americas, who joined the discussion alongside colleagues from Chile's Department of Mental Health, who shared valuable technical feedback and lessons learned from the development and implementation of Chile's National Dementia Plan. This knowledge exchange from Chile's Ministry of Health follows on from their recent intervention at the National Workshop on Strengthening Dementia Diagnosis and Care in Mexico City. International collaboration is an essential strategy to strengthening dementia policy in the Latin American region and beyond. By sharing knowledge, experiences, and good practices, countries can build on one another's progress and develop stronger, more effective responses to dementia. ADI thanks Fundación TASE and the Ministry of Health of Chile for their commitment to advancing dementia policy and looks forward to continuing to support Ecuador as it moves towards the completion and implementation of its National Dementia Plan. Learn more about Fundación TASE on our website: alzint.org/member/tase-fo…

Today, @Alzdisint, with the support of Eli Lilly and Company, is pleased to share that we are launching AD Atlas. Access the atlas: ad-atlas.org The AD Atlas is a first of its kind platform highlighting how countries diagnose, treat and support people living with dementia, bringing together key indicators needed to assess a country’s preparedness for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This tool is designed to help advocates, policymakers and healthcare leaders identify the gaps in health and care system readiness and provide crucial data-backed evidence to empower dementia advocacy and awareness raising action. The Atlas will continue to grow in scope, with further country data to be added in due course. Join us in our effort to shine a light on the global and national need to improve care and support for those living with dementia. #ADAtlas #Dementia #Alzheimers #BrainHealth #HealthPolicy

Co-hosted with the World Health Organization (WHO), join ADI for a special webinar following the release of the WHO’s updated dementia risk reduction guidelines Register for the webinar today! bit.ly/4xNkSic This webinar will focus on the role that national associations and other stakeholders can play in the implementation of the updated guidelines and thereby aims to strengthen dementia risk reduction efforts globally, accelerate implementation of the global action plan —particularly in low and middle-income countries— and promote integration with broader public health, NCD and healthy ageing agendas. Hosted by Acting CEO Chris Lynch, the webinar will ask how the guidelines are being implemented and adopted around the world, including by key stakeholders like Alzheimer and dementia associations. The webinar will include updates from the WHO and be followed by an open Q&A discussion.  We are pleased to offer AI translation for this webinar in 60+ languages. The webinar will be available for viewing on ADI's YouTube channel after the event.

WHO to launch updated Risk Reduction Guidelines on dementia In 2019, The WHO issued guidelines on risk reduction in line with evidence that modifiable risk factors through life course interventions can delay or reduce cognitive decline and dementia.  Since their publication, the scientific evidence base has expanded, including multidomain interventions, population-level policies and additional risk factors. In light of strengthening evidence, WHO developed updated dementia risk reduction guidelines. The guidelines will be launched on 16 July during a webinar taking place at 15:30-17:00 CEST. Register for the launch today: bit.ly/4v28M1R #DementiaRiskReduction

Join our global World Alzheimer's Month campaign using our 2026 campaign toolkit! Now available in English, French and Spanish. alzint.org/get-involved/w… Each September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia. During World Alzheimer’s Month, we call on everyone, from individuals to large organisations, including every Alzheimer and dementia association globally, to support World Alzheimer’s Month by getting involved in the campaign.   This September, we will seek to tackle the persistent stigma and discrimination surrounding dementia by shining a spotlight on the timely and important issue of early diagnosis under the theme: The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters. Join us this September for the global movement as we raise awareness of the benefits that a diagnosis can provide to those living with the condition, alongside carers and the wider society. #DementiaDiagnosisMatters, #AlzheimerDiagnosisMatters, #EarlyDiagnosisMatters

On 18 June, the National Workshop on Strengthening Dementia Diagnosis and Care in Mexico City brought together health authorities, public institutions, academia, civil society and international partners to advance the implementation of the country's National Dementia Plan. Organised by the National Institute of Geriatrics (INGER), the Ministry of Health and PAHO, the meeting focused on practical strategies to improve early diagnosis, strengthen primary care, support caregivers, enhance coordination across institutions and accelerate the translation of policy commitments into real-world services. The opening session featured remarks from senior government officials, international organisations and civil society leaders, including Diego Aguilar, ADI Regional Director for the Americas, who delivered the civil society address, and Dr. Katrin Seeher, Mental Health Specialist at the WHO, who presented the global perspective on dementia and the implementation of the WHO Global Action Plan. A highlight of the workshop was the international exchange with Francisco Cubillos and Rodrigo Zárate from the Mental Health Department of Chile’s Ministry of Health, who shared lessons from the implementation of Chile’s National Dementia Plan, particularly around early detection, follow-up and strengthening dementia care within primary health care services. The workshop was a powerful reminder that progress is measured not only by the existence of plans, but by their implementation and impact in communities across the country. Mexico is taking important steps toward turning commitment into action. #Mexico #NationalDementiaPlan #DementiaDiagnostics #DementiaCare #Demencia

ADI would like to thank Michaela Stilwell for her recent fundraising efforts. Michaela and her friend Iona held a raffle at her annual school house dinner, raising an incredible £1,294 for ADI. Michaela said, “Supporting ADI means a great deal to me personally, as Alzheimer’s is something that hits close to home for my family. Being able to contribute, even in a small way, feels incredibly meaningful”. We are so grateful to Michaela and Iona for putting in the time and effort to support our work, which includes awareness-raising efforts globally and advocating for the need for global action to support those living with the condition, and their carers. Thank you again, Michaela and Iona, for your kindness and dedication. If you would like to raise money for ADI, please visit alzint.org/get-involved/w….

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia impact millions of individuals, families, and caregivers across the globe. We’ve partnered with @Mediaplanet on the newly published Alzheimer’s & Dementia Awareness campaign, featured in today’s edition of USA TODAY. This campaign brings together healthcare leaders, advocacy organisations, researchers, and innovators to highlight the latest developments in early detection, caregiving, and dementia care. ADI Acting CEO, Chris Lynch, commented on the need for urgent, coordinated global action to tackle the rise of dementia as the condition is projected to become the third leading cause of death by 2040. futureofpersonalhealth.com/fighting-alzhe… #AlzheimersAwareness #DementiaAwareness #HealthyAging

AFAPADEA, ADI's Member Association for Panama, has recently produced a translated the "My Life, My Goals" workbook . Originally developed as part of a research project on cognitive rehabilitation carried out at the University of Exeter, the workbook is a practical guide that is based on research evidence on how to help people manage their daily lives and maintain their independence. This practical guide has been created by people living with dementia to offer hope to those also living with condition. Access the Spanish language version today: alzheimeriberoamerica.org/wp-content/upl… #MyLifeMyGoals #CognitiveRehabilitation