(ANSA) – ROME, SEPTEMBER 5 – “The G7 Health Summit chaired by Italy will be held in Ancona on October 8. We appeal to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Health Minister Orazio Schillaci to bring the issue of dementia to the table and underline the urgency of concrete interventions. We need a global strategy to fight dementia and we need it now”. This is what Katia Pinto, president of the Alzheimer Federation, said.
The appeal comes in conjunction with initiatives linked to the XIII World Alzheimer’s Month, which is celebrated in September and aims to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and dementia in general. These diseases are the seventh leading cause of death globally and among the leading causes of disability. Over 55 million people in the world live with a form of dementia and their number is set to grow: there will be 78 million in five years and 139 million by 2050.
In Italy alone, there are 1.48 million people with dementia; there will be 2.3 million by 2050. The costs are also enormous: 1,300 billion dollars per year that could more than double by 2030.
“It’s time to act on dementia. Every moment counts,” says Paola Barbarino, CEO of Alzheimer’s Disease International. “Low levels of awareness, misinformation and discrimination hinder efforts to combat dementia,” she adds. “75% of those living with dementia do so without a diagnosis. With a timely diagnosis, people can access the post-diagnostic support they need to live well and independently for as long as possible. But there is still much to be done on this: 85% of people with dementia, including undiagnosed cases, do not receive any post-diagnostic support,” concludes Barbarino. (ANSA).
2024-09-05 16:38:10