Today, September 21, is World Alzheimer’s day! We would like to salute every patient suffering from Alzheimer’s, every caregiver and every person working to alleviate the burden of this disease.

On that occasion, Alzheimer’s Association Lebanon, through the Mediterranean Alzheimer Alliance, drafted a report on Alzheimer and the Mediterranean highlighting 11 main issues:

1. An alarming rise in the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders in the Mediterranean region
2. A disease that is still not recognized as a priority in most Mediterranean countries
3. The difficulty to assess the financial impact of the disease in the Mediterranean region
4. The issue of late diagnosis in the Mediterranean region
5. The faltering family solidarities
6. Institutional healthcare supply and services which are not specific to Alzheimer’s disease
7. A general lack of training among healthcare professionals
8. Unequal access to medical treatments and psychosocial interventions
9. Little biomedical, fundamental and clinical research on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders in the Mediterranean area
10. A persistent negative image and unawareness of the disease
11. The need to develop adequate legal safeguards and a specific ethical reflection

In this context, the Mediterranean Alzheimer Alliance calls on each Mediterranean country:

1. To recognize Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders as a public health priority
2. To develop a comprehensive national Alzheimer strategy or plan adapted to the needs of people with Alzheimer’s disease and their families, with specific and long-term funding
3. To promote early/timely diagnosis for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders
4. To develop and diversify their range of services, care and support throughout the territory
5. To train all medical, medico-social and social professionals in the specificities of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders
6. To make available existing treatments throughout each national territories and to encourage the development of standardized and assessable psychosocial interventions
7. To encourage more scientific and academic partnerships in the Mediterranean area on the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease
8. To recognize specific rights to family caregivers and promote awareness campaign for the general public on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders

Finally, Alzheimer’s Association Lebanon will have a stand at Rene Mouawad (Sanayeh) Gardens on Saturday September 24th 2016 starting 11AM to celebrate the International Day of the Older Population that is organized by “Rotary Club de Beyrouth”. We hope you will be able to join us on that day as happy aging is healthy aging!