World Alzheimer’s Day 2023 – Check Date, Theme, History and Significance

Do you know Alzheimer’s shrinks the brain and causes the brain cells to die? Know more about the history and impact of this disease on the eve of World Alzheimer’s Day observed on September 21.

Alzheimer’s is a disorder that leads to dementia, a disease that causes the decline in the thinking power of people. It impair memory and the ability of the patient to think and work independently. To create awareness about the disease and to find ways to fight it, World Alzheimer’s Day is observed every year on September 21.

When is World Alzheimer’s Day?

World Alzheimer’s Day is celebrated on September 21, every year.

World Alzheimer’s Day Theme 2023

This year the World Alzheimer’s Day 2023 theme is the “Never too Early, never too Late”.

History of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s was first identified as a disease by a German psychiatrist named Alois Alzheimer. He identified the disease in one of his 50 year old female patient while treating her in 1901. Hence, the disease got its name after him.

Being one of the most common forms of dementia, Alzheimer’s is regarded as the root cause of over 60 to  80% of dementia cases worldwide. The primary reason of observing this day on September 21 is to bring the world together and focus on generating awareness about Alzheimer’s. It also allows the opportunity to find ways of fighting Alzheimer’s and its effects.

Since the disease has a great impact on the family members of the patient, it is often termed as a family illness.  Alzheimer’s is one of the key reasons of death among people mainly due to the reason that the disease has no cure and preventive measures. The growth of the disease cannot be slowed either.

How did Alzheimer’s Day introduced?

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) is an organization that was founded in 1984 to support people in fighting Alzheimer’s. The organization works towards supporting the victims of the disease and reach out to people about related strategies.

They initiated the introduction of World Alzheimer’s Day. It was introduced in Edinburgh on the 10th anniversary of the organization on September 21 in their yearly conference. ADI coordinates the World Alzheimer’s Day worldwide together with other associates to raise awareness through different events.

How to observe World Alzheimer’s Day 2023?

• Creating Awareness – You can share useful information about the disease with people including family members and friends. You can use social media to post information about awareness. Staying aware about the disease helps in coping with it.
• Volunteer – If there is a local Alzheimer’s association near you, you can volunteer your services and contribute in various ways towards the activities done to observe World Alzheimer’s Day.
• Donate – Another way to support the event is by donating and financially supporting the organizations working towards spreading awareness about the disease. This way you can add your valuable contribution in organizing events to aware people.

Facts about Alzheimer’s that you may be unaware of

• Projections indicate that the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s is increasing rapidly
• Caregivers globally spent over 18 billion hours each year in caring for dementia patients
• In the United States, Alzheimer’s ranks at sixth in terms of leading disease to cause death
• Not just people above 65, many under the age of 65 are also suffering from Alzheimer’s

Importance of World Alzheimer’s Day

• It brings people around the world together to fight against Alzheimer’s
• Everyone including patients, caretakers, researchers and people practicing medicine come together to share their struggle with the disease
• Alzheimer’s day allow everyone to be aware of valuable education through the dedicated theme of the event every year
•  The theme also helps to educate people on common misconceptions about the disease
• It also allow organizations to get recognition for their tremendous work in this field and help them accomplish goals

To Conclude 

World Alzheimer’s Day is marked to support associations and individuals working towards creating awareness and reaching out to people. The event has impacted greatly in spreading knowledge and information. However, the stigma related to the disease is still among the major concerns that is affecting dementia. Generally people see Alzheimer’ as a aging disease, however the growing number of patients below 65 years is a reason to worry.

Although there is no particular ailment for Alzheimer’s, it is good to have a health insurance for people suffering from the disease. This is because an Alzheimer’s patient is liable to hurt and cause harm to self due to their unstable condition and a health insurance will suffice such costs for the family of the patient.

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