WAM! World Alzheimer’s Month

Every 3 seconds someone in the world develops dementia.

THE WORLD.

Take a moment to think about that..

Every 3 seconds someone’s brain is changed forever by dementia.

To highlight these extreme numbers and increase awareness, September was deemed as World Alzheimer’s Month (WAM).

According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, “The primary objective of World Alzheimer’s Month is to reach out to as many countries as possible, showing the global impact of dementia and promoting dementia awareness and what we can do to help support those living with the disease.” (www.worldalzmonth.org).

This international initiative aims to increase awareness about dementia; talk about dementia; and challenge the stigma that surrounds dementia.

So, in harmony with WAM, let’s refresh our memories about the facts and demography of dementia and Alzheimer’s:

• Dementia is an “umbrella” term used to categorize a wide range of symptoms that are associated with or lead to cognitive decline
• There are various conditions that cause memory loss dementia like symptoms and can be treated & reversed
• Neurodegenerative disorders lead to progressive and irreversible loss in brain cells and cognitive functioning
• Alzheimer’s Disease is one form of dementia, that is the most common and accounts for 60-80% of dementia diagnoses
• Symptoms may include loss of cognitive functioning, difficulty finding the right word, personality and mood changes, and interruption of daily life + functioning

What intrigues me most, are the staggering numbers globally.

131.5 million people will be living with dementia by 2050 and 68% in low and middle income countries.

So, what does this mean for family care and support for those living with dementia in these countries? More education, resources, and support will be needed in order to care for individuals living with dementia.

As we know, dementia knows no boundaries and effects us all. It is recognized as one of the most significant health crisis today.

So join me this month with the WAM initiative. Let’s continue to spread awareness, increase knowledge, and offer support to those in our local communities!

To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Disease International’s World Alzheimer’s Month initiative visit www.worldalzmonth.org | @AlzDisInt (twitter)