World Alzheimer’s Day 2023: Theme, History and How it is Different from Dementia?

Sep 21, 2023, 08:43 IST

World Alzheimer’s Day 2023: Every year, September 21 marks the establishment of the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association serves more than 6.7 million Americans living with Alzheimer's and their over 11 million caregivers.

All About World Alzheimer's Day 2023
All About World Alzheimer's Day 2023

World Alzheimer’s Day 2023: World Alzheimer's Day is observed globally on September 21 every year. This day represents a worldwide effort to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease. It also strives to eliminate the stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

What is Alzheimer's disease? Symptoms, Cause, and Prevention

World Alzheimer Day 2023: Date & Theme

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative brain ailment that impairs memory, reasoning, and behaviour. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60-70% of cases, according to the World Health Organization. The condition worsens with time and begins to interfere with daily living and activities. 

The theme for World Alzheimer's Day 2023, as proposed by Alzheimer's Disease International, for the month-long celebration is "Never too early, never too late." According to Alzheimer's Disease International, "the Never Too Early, Never Too Late campaign aims to emphasize the critical role of identifying risk factors and implementing proactive risk reduction measures to delay, and potentially even prevent, the onset of dementia. This includes continuous risk-reduction initiatives for people who have already been diagnosed." 

World Alzheimer’s Day 2023: History

Alzheimer's Disease International, an organisation was created in 1984 with the goal of assisting Alzheimer's patients worldwide and providing them with appropriate care. On September 21, 1994, Alzheimer's Disease International and the World Health Organization established World Alzheimer's Day. It was announced in Edinburgh to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Alzheimer's Disease International. Since then, September 21 has been marked as World Alzheimer's Day throughout the world annually.

World Alzheimer’s Day 2023: Significance

The day is observed to educate people about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of chronic disease. On this day, myths about Alzheimer's disease are also debunked, and people gather to learn and support persons and families affected by the condition.

GK Questions and Answers on Dementia disease

World Alzheimer’s Day 2023: Difference between Alzheimer & Dementia

Alzheimer's disease and dementia have many similarities but are not the same. The table below will help you understand the key differences between the two medical conditions:

Category

Alzheimer Disease

Dementia

Definition

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder which is caused because of the accumulation of abnormal protein which leads to brain cell death and cognitive decline.

Dementia is a general term for a decline in the cognitive function of a person.

Types

It is itself a type of Dementia.

Alzheimer's

Vascular 

Dementia

Lewy body etc

Symptoms

  • Memory Loss
  • Linguistic Difficulty
  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Dropped Reasoning
  • Behavioural and Personality changes 

Same as Alzheimer's or may vary depending on the cause of dementia.

Treatment

There are no permanent medications to treat Alzheimer's, however, it can be temporarily alleviated.

It is mostly advised to manage the symptoms and improve the quality of life. Also, the treatment options completely depend on the cause of the illness.

Dementia disease: Causes, Symptoms and Cure

Important Days and Dates in September 2023

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