World Health Organization adopts global plan on dementia

The plan opens a new era in understanding, care and treatment – but governments must act now. The plan acknowledges that dementia is not a normal part of ageing and that those affected should be helped to live as well as possible

After 10 years of continuous advocacy by ADI for a global response to the growing dementia crisis, The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted a global plan on dementia. It calls on governments to meet targets for the advancement of dementia awareness, risk reduction, diagnosis, care and treatment, support for care partners and research. The plan was approved at the 70th World Health Assembly recently.

Only 29 governments out of the 194 WHO member states have developed a plan on dementia. The global plan supports the urgent message that governments must implement their own plan or policies and that these must be funded, implemented and monitored.

ADI CEO Paola Barbarino said: “Governments need to act now. We have a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to dramatically change the attitude to dementia from fear and inaction, to fighting back, understanding, inclusion and support.”

Dementia affects 50 million people worldwide – a number that will almost triple by 2050. More than half of all people with dementia live in low and middle income countries, where as few as 10% of individuals receive a diagnosis. In 2018, dementia will become a trillion-dollar disease.

Glenn Rees, Chair of ADI, said that dementia is the only major chronic disease area without a cure. “At least 1% of the cost of dementia needs to be invested and invested now in dementia research.”

ADI and DAI were consulted on the development of the plan which includes, as an example, targets for all member states to implement public awareness campaigns and dementia friendly initiatives, and 75% of all countries to develop training for care partners and families.

Dementia Alliance Co-founder, Chair and CEO Kate Swaffer says she “greatly values WHO’s global leadership with this Global Action Plan for a Public Health Approach to Dementia, and asks for the support of all Health Ministers and governments to implement it so that people with dementia have access to their rights in international law on the same basis as those with other disabilities.”

Dr. Tarun Dua, WHO Department for Neurological Disorders and Public Health said: “The Action Plan is a very welcome commitment by the member states of WHO to initiate a strong public health response to dementia with time bound targets. We look forward to providing the necessary technical assistance for countries to achieve the objectives of the action plan. We will need all the support from civil society organisations like the Alzheimer’s Disease International to undertake this task.”

Global plan on dementia

The seven targets of the plan include: (1) Dementia as a public health priority; (2) Dementia Awareness and Friendliness; (3) Dementia risk reduction; (4) Dementia diagnosis, treatment, care and support; (5) Support for dementia carers; (6) Information systems for dementia; and (7) Dementia research and innovation.