Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI)

Our vision is risk reduction, timely diagnosis, care and inclusion today, and cure tomorrow.

There are currently estimated to be over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia. The number of people affected is set to rise to 139 million by 2050. Dementia mainly affects older people, though there is growing awareness of cases starting before the age of 65. The annual global cost of dementia is now above US$ 1 trillion. Social sector costs, which are greatest in Western Europe, account for roughly 40% of global dementia costs.

Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) is the global voice on dementia and the umbrella organisation of Alzheimer and dementia associations around the world. ADI was formed at a meeting in Washington in 1984 and initially comprised of four members: Alzheimer associations in Australia, Canada, the UK and the US. Alzheimer and dementia associations are non-profit organisations which support people with dementia and their families. In the 35 years since this seminal meeting, ADI has grown from four founding members to over 100 member associations and federations globally.

The organisation has also greatly expanded its policy influence through their collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), achieving the status of official relations in 1996. This collaboration led in May 2017 to the unanimous adoption of the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025, requiring the 194 Member States’ to create effective public policy measures to support their populations living with dementia. The Global plan addresses seven action areas: dementia as a public health priority; awareness and friendliness; risk reduction; diagnosis, treatment, care and support; support for carers; data and research and innovation. ADI advocates for the development of national dementia plans at High level meetings and by supporting member associations- a key target of the WHO Global action plan on dementia.

ADI’s mission is to strengthen and support Alzheimer and dementia associations, to raise awareness about dementia worldwide, to make dementia a global health priority, to empower people with dementia and their care partners, and to increase investment in dementia research. ADI works to raise global awareness about dementia including via the annual World Alzheimer’s Month campaign in September, ​global conference and regional meetings. This year ADI is working in partnership with PAHO to deliver a regional dementia awareness campaign for the Americas, aligned with the final year of their strategy. ADIs works at a multilateral level to ensure dementia is a global priority, and this year their advocacy work ensured that dementia was specifically included in the G20 declaration. In addition, ADI builds and strengthens Alzheimer and dementia associations globally to meet the needs of people with dementia and their carers, including via the Alzheimer University training programme. ADI publishes leading reports, including a decade of influential World Alzheimer Reports and also advocates for people with dementia and their carers to amplify the global voice on dementia.