World Alzheimer's Month

September 2014 marks the third World Alzheimer's Month, and on Sunday 21st September, World Alzheimer's Day will take place.

This international campaign, which aims to raise awareness and challenge stigma, will take the theme of 'Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?' focusing on ways we can help reduce our risk of developing dementia with brain healthy lifestyles.

World Alzheimer's Day is an initiative of Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), who are part of the NCD Alliance Steering committee, and who do an amazing job to empower Alzheimer associations to offer care and support for people with dementia and their carers, while also working globally to focus attention on dementia.

To coincide with World Alzheimer's Month, The World Alzheimer Report 2014, Dementia and Risk Reduction: An analysis of protective and modifiable factors has just been released. This report critically examines the evidence for the existence of modifiable risk factors for dementia.

One of the key messages from the report suggests that, based on the evidence, brain health promotion messages should be integrated in public health promotion campaigns such as anti-tobacco or non-communicable disease (NCD) awareness campaigns, with the message that it’s never too late to make these changes. There is evidence that the dementia risk for populations can be modified through reduction in tobacco use and better control and detection for hypertension and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular risk factors.

A good mantra is “What is good for your heart is good for your brain”.

If you want to find out more about Wolrd Alzheimer's Month and World Alzheimer's Day, visit the website.