1. Dementia - challenges today and tomorrow
Dr. Stefanie Becker
Alzheimer Switzerland
Lions Forum, Skopje, Macedonia, 26. Oktober 2018

2. Overview Facts about dementia The public opinion – «old-fashioned»
Public challenge: Dementia
Dementia affects us all
Summary

3. Overview Facts about dementia The public opinion – «old-fashioned»
Public challenge: Dementia
Dementia affects us all
Summary

4. Dementia affects us all – a public challenge
Source: WHO 2018, ADI 2018

5. Demenita or Alzheimer’s?
But no cure does not mean no treatment!

6. Neuropathological changes

7. Dementia is more than forgetting
Noncognitive / behavioural symptoms are most distressing for family members

8. Overview Facts about dementia The public opinion – «old-fashioned»
Public challenge: Dementia
Dementia affects us all
Summary

9. The public opinion
Auguste Deter
first Alzheimer’s patient
1901

10. Dementia today

11. Overview Facts about dementia The public opinion – «old-fashioned»
Public challenge: Dementia
Dementia affects us all
Summary

12. Dementia- a public health priority (WHO)
75% of countries will have developed or updated national policies, strategies, plans or frameworks for dementia, either stand-alone or integrated into other policies/plans, by 2025.
If all current policies and plans went on to be adopted or were replaced by new plans, less than a third of the WHO target would be achieved in the near future (60 plans, 41%).

13. Demenita awareness and friendliness
100% of countries will have at least one functioning public awareness
campaign on dementia to foster a dementia-inclusive society by 2025.
Reducing stigma is a fundamental objective and basic requirement for dementia-friendly societies.
14 million ‘Dementia Friends’ in 22 countries worldwide, and five other states are developing the programme in 2018.

14. Dementia risk reduction
Targets defined in the Global action plan are achieved, like
10% relative reduction in prevalence of insufficient physical activity
30% relative reduction in prevalence of current tobacco use in persons aged 15 years and older
A halt in the rise in diabetes and obesity
25% relative reduction in the prevalence of raised blood pressure
Message:
 What is good for your heart is good for your brain
A mid-term review of the achievement of the targets was planned for World Alzheimer’s Month in September 2018.
However, already in December 2017 the NCD Alliance described progress as ‘worryingly slow’.

15. Dementia diagnosis and treatment
In at least 50% of countries, as a minimum, 50% of the estimated number of people with dementia are diagnosed by 2025.
75% of countries provide support and training programmes for
carers and families of people with dementia by 2025.
Improving the likelihood of earlier diagnosis must be enhanced at the national level introducing more services aimed at early stage dementia, such as Memory Clinics, and coordinating more effective care pathways for dementia.

16. Dementia research and innovation
The output of global research on dementia doubles between 2017 and 2025.
Data and information systems on dementia are missing both in policy and in practice at all levels.

17. Overview Facts about dementia The public opinion – «old-fashioned»
Public challenge: Dementia
Dementia affects us all
Summary

18. Dementia concerns us all- What can YOU do?
We don’t have to start from the scratch!
Alzheimer organisations are partners and will be happy to support!
Reach out for information at other countries
Gather data (medical, social, financial…), only facts will convince the politicians
Bring together people who are willing to engage
Include people with dementia and their relatives - give them a voice
Develop information material suitable for your cultural specialities
Start spreading them at the family docters and neurological clinics
……..

19. Overview Facts about dementia The public opinion – «old-fashioned»
Public challenge: Dementia
Dementia affects us all
Summary

20. Still a lot to do
Improving the likelihood of earlier diagnosis must be enhanced.
Scale of challenge is huge: progress too slow, less than 2/3 achieved until 2025
Important data are still missing!
14 million ‘Dementia Friends’ in 22 countries worldwide
Progress ‘worryingly slow’

21. Thank you very much!