On 21 september 2025 it’s World Alzheimer Day. Traditionally that day a new World Alzheimer Report is launched. World Alzheimer’s Month and World Alzheimer’s Day are coordinated by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).

ADI and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September 1994. World Alzheimer’s Month followed sixteen years later, with the first awareness campaign piloted in 2010 amongst 12 countries. The first theme for World Alzheimer’s Month, ‘Dementia: It’s time for action!’, focused on applying pressure to governments to evaluate current policies around dementia, as well as consider ways to improve services for people with dementia and their families.

With the focus of World Alzheimer’s Month campaign and it’s quality information about diagnosis, shining a light on the warning signs of dementia and encouraging people to seek our information, advice and support, it’s always interesting to know Dementia and know Alzheimer’s.

 

The power of rehabilitation – World Alzheimer Report 2025

The 2025 World Alzheimer Report explores the important topic of dementia rehabilitation. It combines expert essays and real-world case studies from multiple countries globally. It examines how rehabilitation defined and implemented. The report gives practical considerations of how to best adapt rehabilitation practices for people living with dementia. Download the 2025 World Alzheimer Report on the power of rehabilitation 

 

Previous campaigns

2024 – Time to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer’s’

The 2024 World Alzheimer’s Month campaign centred on the taglines ‘Time to act on dementia, Time to act on Alzheimer’s’. The global awareness raising campaign focussed on attitudes toward dementia and seeks to redress stigma and discrimination which still exists around the condition, while highlighting the positive steps being undertaken by organisations and governments globally to develop a more dementia friendly society. Read the 2024 World Alzheimer Report on global dementia stigma.

 

2023 – Raise awareness of the 12 risk factors

The 2023 World Alzheimer’s Month campaign marked the twelfth anniversary of this important awareness raising event. During the month, ADI and its members sought raise awareness of the 12 risk factors of alzheimer’s disease through the use of the hashtags – #NeverTooEarly, reminding us that action can begin at any moment; and #NeverTooLate, assuring us that it’s never too late to make a difference.

 

2022 – Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s

The theme again for World Alzheimer’s Month ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s. The theme focused on the importance of a post-diagnosis support for people living with dementia, as well as the 12 risk factors and the continued need to break down the stigma that still surrounds Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

 

2021 – Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s

The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month was ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s. The theme focused on the importance of a timely diagnosis, as well as the 10 warning signs of dementia and the continued need to break down the stigma that still surrounds Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

 

2020 – Let’s Talk About Dementia

The theme again for World Alzheimer’s Month 2020 was ‘Let’s Talk About Dementia’. It continued to highlight attention towards the importance of talking about dementia, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019 – Let’s Talk About Dementia

The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month 2019 was ‘Let’s Talk About Dementia’. By highlighting the importance that dialogue plays when it comes to discussing dementia, ADI wanted to emphasise that conversations have the power to break down stigma, encourage the first step towards accessing support and services, as well as receiving a timely diagnosis.

2018 – Every 3 Seconds

The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month 2018 was ‘Every 3 Seconds’. By focusing on the statistic that someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds, ADI wanted to highlight the huge global impact of dementia and emphasise the importance of recognising dementia as a disease and challenging the stigma that surrounds it.

2017 – Remember Me

The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month in 2017 was again ‘Remember Me’, encouraging individuals from all around the world to learn to recognise the warning signs of dementia and to advocate for earlier diagnosis for those affected. The 2017 campaign followed on from the historic adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global action plan on dementia.

2016 – Remember Me

The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month in 2016 was ‘Remember Me’. It aimed to promote awareness and challenge the stigma of dementia by remembering those that have dementia, and advocated for national plans to tackle the disease. On World Alzheimer’s Day, his Holiness Pope Francis made a special appeal to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square to remember those living with dementia and their families.

2015 – Remember Me

The theme for World Alzheimer’s Month in 2015 was ‘Remember Me’. It encouraged people from all around the world to learn to spot the signs of dementia, but also not to forget about loved ones who are living with dementia, or who may have passed away.

2014 – Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?

The theme of World Alzheimer’s Month in 2014 was ‘Dementia: Can we reduce the risk?’. The campaign focused on ways we may be able to help reduce our chances of developing dementia, with Alzheimer associations around the world focusing campaigns on advocacy and public awareness.

2013 – Dementia: A journey of caring

The theme of World Alzheimer’s Month in 2013 was ‘Dementia: A journey of caring’. It aimed to highlight the commitment of carers through the course of dementia, as well as the changing needs for people living with dementia as it progresses. Many member associations reported marked increases in new volunteers coming forward to offer their time.

2012 – Dementia: Living together

The theme of World Alzheimer’s Month in 2012 was ‘Dementia: Living together’. The campaign focused on reducing the stigma associated with dementia. It was the first ever global campaign for World Alzheimer’s Month, with many member associations securing strong media coverage around the month.

2011 – Faces of dementia

The theme of World Alzheimer’s Month in 2011 was ‘Faces of dementia’, which promoted recognition of the signs of the disease, as well as those who commit their time and efforts to improving the lives of people with dementia and their carers on a local, regional, national and international level.

 

Remembering

By far the loveliest person with alzheimer to care for of was ‘ours’, my sister’s and mine. Our aunt, actually our second mother. We loved her dearly. She would be delighted that her picture is on your screen now.

She passed away in 2017 and we wouldn’t pay her respect in the right way remembering her only as a person with alzheimer. She was so much more. A truly great and loving person with a beautiful rich life.

In her career in health care and her last years with Alzheimer (around 5-10 years) she would fully adhere tot the message of World Alzheimer Month:

– For people living with dementia: Although there is no cure at present, a diagnosis provides an opportunity to discuss dementia and plan for the future to maximise your quality of life.

– For carers: If you are a carer, remember to take care of yourself.

 

Our experience as a carer for a beloved person with dementia

As the campaign states, people living with dementia and their carers have an equal right to respect and inclusion, and to diagnosis, quality care and treatment.

Our experience as a carer of a beloved one with alzheimer, next to your (fulltime) job is that your mindset compares to running a marathon after a marathon. Fatigue rises and increases and you need complete focus.

It took us about a year to recover and reenergize of everything we did for our aunt during her illness. Looking after her, all her lost ‘things’, the moments of distress, her docter and hospital visits, the confusion that goes with this illness, moving house, arranging quality time for her and finding quality time together. Our family and children helped out on that.

 

Something energizing on World Alzheimer Day

On World Alzheimer Day we hope that carers will be able to do something really sunny, energizing, relaxing, most enjoyable for yourself. To reenergize on the short run, to be able to support your beloved one(s) on the long run.

 

Let’s talk about dementia

If you want to drop me a line (in reply to this blog or as a private message) on your experiences please do.

Let’s talk about dementia. #WorldAlzMonth Sandra Kruijt

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Read more?

• Campaignsite World Alzheimer’s Month 
• Toolkits in English, French and Spanish
• Alzheimer’s Disease International

 

For the Netherlands:

Mantelzorg – Structurele aandacht voor mantelzorg bevordert balans tussen werk en privé 

Trimbos.nl | Dementie? Vergeet de mantelzorger niet

Trimbos.nl | Uitdaging: de balans vinden tussen betrokkenheid versus (over)belasting van mantelzorgers van mensen met dementie 

Trimbos.nl | Ondersteuning na de diagnose dementie 

Lees hier ook meer over het Namaste Familieprogramma: Het gedrag van mensen met gevorderde dementie is vaak moeilijk te begrijpen. Waaraan hebben zij behoefte? Hebben ze pijn? Het Namaste Familieprogramma en een screeningslijst voor pijn bieden concrete handvatten om de zorg te verbeteren.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Deze post van september 2021 is bijgewerkt in september 2025)