WORLD ALZHEIMER'S MONTH
Every September, people come together from all around the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around dementia. September 2021 marks the 10th year of this vital global awareness raising campaign. We asked Cormac Cahill, the Communications Manager for The Alzheimer Society of Ireland to share with us some further details on the activities planned this month.
World Alzheimer’s Day is held on Tuesday, September 21st.
This year’s World Alzheimer’s Month campaign will shine a light on the warning signs of dementia, encouraging people to seek out information, advice and support, as well as contacting the Alzheimer’s or dementia association in their country. It is only through a truly global effort that we can raise much-needed awareness and challenge the stigma and misinformation that still surrounds dementia. In Ireland, there are currently 64,000 people with dementia in Ireland – the number of people living with the condition will more than double in the next 25 years to over 150,000 by 2045.
Diagnosis
The theme for this year’s World Alzheimer’s Month will centre around the 10 warning signs of dementia and the importance of a timely diagnosis. Everyone can be forgetful, struggle to put a name to a face or remember where the car is parked. Mild changes in memory naturally occur due to age. However, there are some changes that are not minor and are not an ordinary part of aging. There are a number of possible reasons for changes in memory and there may be a straightforward explanation for what people are experiencing.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland National Helpline is open Monday to Friday 10am–5pm and Saturday 10am–4pm at 1800 341 341. The public can also email helpline@alzheimer.ie, or use Live Chat at www.alzheimer.ie
