Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) is a not-for-profit, international federation of Alzheimer and dementia associations from around the world. The organization is in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). ADI advocates for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and all other types of dementia.
The organisation works to establish dementia as a global, regional and local priority through empowering Alzheimer and dementia associations to advocate for dementia as a national priority, to raise awareness and to offer care and support for people with dementia and their care partners; as well as campaigning for better policy from governments and encourage investment and innovation in dementia research.
The organisation is headquartered in London, UK with an Asia Pacific regional office located in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The current Chief Executive Officer is Paola Barbarino.
History
The organisation was formed in 1984, when a group of carers and experts came together to discuss the formation of an international organisation to advocate for Alzheimer’s disease. Representatives from existing Alzheimer associations in the USA (Alzheimer’s Association), UK (Alzheimer’s Society), Australia (Dementia Australia) and Canada (Alzheimer’s Society of Canada) founded ADI. Observers from Belgium (Ligue Nationale Alzheimer Liga) France (France Alzheimer) and Germany (Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft) were also present.
In the early years, the primary role of the organisation was to build international connections between existing associations and other partners, coordinating international activities and sharing information.
Starting in the 1990s, ADI actively sought to expand its membership, focusing on developing and engaging new associations, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. Since its establishment, the organisation’s membership has increased from 4 to over 100 full members .
More recently, the organisation has expanded its focus to public policy and global awareness raising, through publications, campaigns and policy recommendations. To date, it continues to advocate for better policy at international and regional levels, while supporting and developing the capacity of Alzheimer and dementia associations around the world.
Member Associations
In its capacity as a federation, ADI supports existing entities, in addition to new Alzheimer and dementia associations, to develop and strengthen, providing its members with access to information, knowledge and support to further enable them to deliver on their objectives. ADI also provides training courses, known as Alzheimer University and a twinning programme between member associations.
New and emerging associations are invited to join the Membership Development Programme (MDP). The programme lasts for two years, with associations who meet the required criteria being invited to join as an official ADI member.
ADI currently has 105 full members with each member representing their respective country.
World Alzheimer’s Month
Each year ADI and its members organise the global awareness raising campaign World Alzheimer’s Month. The campaign aims to challenge the stigma and discrimination which still exists around the condition.
Started in 2011, World Alzheimer’s Month takes place every September and has a different key message or theme each year, which can be used to raise awareness, educate or challenge the public’s misconceptions about dementia.
World Alzheimer’s Day is on 21 September and was launched in 1994 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the existence of the organisation. In more recent years, World Alzheimer’s Day has become the focal point of the World Alzheimer’s Month campaign and has often been the day in which ADI launches its World Alzheimer Report (See Publications). World Alzheimer’s Day is officially recognised by the WHO.
Policy
The organisation works to ensure that dementia is considered a global health probity through working with multilateral and regional bodies as well as national advocacy in collaboration with member associations. ADI has official status as a non-state actor with the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia
Together with other strategic partners, ADI collaborated with the WHO to develop the report 'Dementia: a public health priority'. This report was followed by the publication of the ‘World report on ageing and health’ and the 'Strategy and Plan of Action of Dementias in Older Persons for the period of 2015-2019'.