Introduction:
World Alzheimer’s Day is celebrated annually on September 21 with the aim of raising awareness about the disease and reducing its social effects. The disease is named after the German physician Aloys Alzheimer, who described it in 1906 after he noticed anatomical changes in the brain tissue of a woman, who had died of an unusual mental illness. The celebration of the day began in Washington in 1984, when a group of Alzheimer’s experts presented a vision that aimed at "better life for people with dementia and their families", and since that time the vision has not changed.
Facts:
- Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, leading to a continuous decline in memory and thinking skills.
- Women have a higher risk.
- Education can lower your risk.
- Most cases of Alzheimer's occur in people age 65 and older.
- There are 130,000 cases of Alzheimer's disease in Saudi Arabia.
Official Date:
Globally: September 21st, 2019
Locally: Muharram 22nd, 1440H.
Objectives:
- Enhancing and raising awareness about Alzheimer’s worldwide.
- Developing the services provided for patients with Alzheimer's disease at all stages of the disease.
- Reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease by changing lifestyle, and adopting a healthy approach.
- Holding workshops on challenges and delivering comprehensive service to Alzheimer's patients and caring about them in the right ways.