This spring 1,200 delegates from 60 countries gathered in Toronto for the 26th International conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI). During the conference delegates considered issues pertinent to the forthcoming High Level Summit on Non Communicable Diseases to be held in September 2011 at the United Nations.
In advance of those discussion delegates noted that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are not included in the initial UN resolution calling for the NCD Summit. They also noted the predicted increase in people over 60, who will therefore be at risk of all NCDs, including most importantly Alzheimer’s disease.
Delegates observed that the implications of ageing and the associated risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias is a key factor for the 21st century’s social and economic sustainability, and should therefore be an essential component of the UN’s NCD considerations. The Alzheimer Society of Canada is working with our international partners to include Alzheimer disease in the NCD negotiations.
