World Alzheimer’s Month: How To Get Involved

Every September, people and organisations around the world come together for World Alzheimer’s Month. Coordinated internationally by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), this month-long campaign aims to raise awareness of different dementia types while challenging the stigma and discrimination that can surround them.

For 2026, the campaign addresses a critical aspect of dementia care under the theme: “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.”

September provides an opportunity to talk more openly about dementia, challenge misconceptions, and help people affected by the condition find reliable information and support.

What Is World Alzheimer’s Month?

World Alzheimer’s Month was launched in 2012 by ADI. Prior to this, awareness efforts were focused primarily on World Alzheimer’s Day. This was launched by ADI and the World Health Organization (WHO) on 21st September 1994. World Alzheimer’s Day has occurred annually on that day ever since.

Extending the initiative to a full month allows dementia associations and care organisations worldwide more time to build meaningful advocacy, education, and community activities.

Despite the name, World Alzheimer’s Month is not exclusively about Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, but the campaign raises awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia. This includes vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia.

On World Alzheimer’s Day, organisations around the globe host events, including memory walks, educational workshops, fundraising events, and social media campaigns to bring attention to the millions of people living with dementia.

Who Is Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI)?

Founded in 1984, Alzheimer’s Disease International is the global federation of dementia associations worldwide and maintains official relations with WHO. Today, ADI has 105 member associations around the world. Each is a non-profit organisation working to support people affected by dementia, as well as their families and carers.

What Does ADI Do Throughout the Year?

While World Alzheimer’s Month is its most visible public campaign, ADI works year-round across several key areas:

• Policy and advocacy: ADI works with national governments, the WHO, the UN, and international forums like the G7 and G20 to keep dementia high on the global public health agenda and encourage countries to develop funded national dementia plans.
• Supporting member associations: ADI provides training and resource development to national dementia organisations (such as Alzheimer’s Society in the UK), helping them strengthen their organisations and develop the resources they need to support people affected by dementia.
• Research and insights: ADI also publishes the annual World Alzheimer Report, which examines major issues affecting dementia around the world. The 2026 report, launching on World Alzheimer’s Day, focuses on a new era in dementia clinical trials, exploring how research participation and trial access drive future diagnostics and treatments.
• Improving care quality: Through accreditation programmes, ADI also aims to improve the quality of dementia care and reduce variation in the standard of care provided. Its accreditation framework includes standards for dementia training programmes and the professionals delivering them.

Why Is World Alzheimer’s Month Important?

Public understanding of dementia has improved significantly since ADI was founded, but barriers remain. World Alzheimer’s Month serves several core purposes:

• Challenging stigma: Misconceptions and fear can make people reluctant to talk about dementia or seek support. By encouraging more open conversations and improving public understanding, World Alzheimer’s Month aims to challenge the stigma surrounding dementia.
• Encouraging help-seeking and diagnosis: Some people delay seeking medical advice when they notice changes in their memory or thinking. Raising awareness about the benefits of timely diagnosis can encourage people to discuss concerns with a GP rather than ignoring them.
• Providing clear information: Reliable information can help people understand dementia, know when to seek medical advice and find appropriate support. Following a diagnosis, people may also be able to access treatments, support services, benefits and legal protections they may be entitled to.
• Keeping care on the national agenda: The campaign highlights the need for continued investment in social care systems, staff training, and community infrastructure.

What Is the World Alzheimer’s Month 2026 Campaign?

Each year, World Alzheimer’s Month has a specific focus. For 2026, the campaign is centred on timely diagnosis under the theme:

“The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters”

The official campaign hashtags are: #DementiaDiagnosisMatters, #AlzheimerDiagnosisMatters, and #EarlyDiagnosisMatters.

The campaign aims to tackle the persistent lack of awareness, stigma, and discrimination surrounding dementia by encouraging people to understand why diagnosis matters. ADI describes diagnosis as an important step towards accessing treatment, care and support, including both medical and non-medical options.

Why Focus on Diagnosis in 2026?

For many people, concerns about memory or dementia symptoms can be difficult to talk about. They may worry about what a diagnosis could mean, believe their symptoms are simply part of getting older, or feel uncertain about what will happen next.

However, memory problems do not necessarily mean that someone has dementia. A GP can assess the symptoms and investigate other possible causes, some of which may be treatable. This is one reason why speaking to health and social care professionals about persistent changes can be useful rather than trying to work out the cause alone.

If dementia is diagnosed, knowing sooner can give the person and their family more time to understand what is happening and consider what support they may need. An earlier diagnosis can also provide opportunities to discuss treatment, access support services, plan for the future, and make important decisions while the person is able to take an active role in them.

What Can an Earlier Diagnosis Provide?

The message behind the 2026 campaign is not that every memory problem is dementia, or that receiving a diagnosis makes the condition easier to live with. Instead, it is about the opportunities that can come from understanding what is causing someone’s symptoms.

An earlier and accurate diagnosis can give people and their families the opportunity to:

• Understand symptoms: A diagnosis can provide an explanation for changes in memory, thinking, or behaviour and help families understand what their loved one is experiencing.
• Explore treatment and support: Depending on the type and stage of dementia, healthcare professionals may be able to offer medicines, therapies and other forms of treatment.
• Plan for the future: Knowing about a diagnosis can give people time to discuss their wishes, care preferences, finances and legal arrangements, including Lasting Power of Attorney.
• Access practical support: A diagnosis can help people find appropriate support groups, community services and other sources of advice.
• Make informed decisions: Having information about the condition can help people make decisions about their future care and support while they are able to participate in those conversations.
• Consider research opportunities: People with a diagnosis may also be able to consider taking part in dementia research or clinical trials.

The campaign also recognises that diagnosis is not simply about the person receiving the diagnosis. Families and unpaid carers can benefit from having a clearer understanding of what is happening and knowing where to seek support.

What Can Individuals Do to Get Involved?

ADI states there is no action too small to contribute to World Alzheimer’s Month:

• Learn the signs and symptoms: Take time to read guidance on early dementia signs from reputable sources like ADI or Alzheimer’s Society.
• Start a conversation: Talk openly with family, friends, or colleagues about cognitive health and dementia to normalise the topic.
• Become a Dementia Friend: In the UK, Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends initiative helps people learn more about dementia and understand simple actions they can take to support people affected by it.
• Participate or fundraise: Join a local memory walk, hold a coffee morning, or support local dementia charities.

How Can Care Homes Turn Awareness into Action?

For residential and nursing care homes, World Alzheimer’s Month offers a valuable opportunity to engage residents, support families, and invest in staff development.

Involve Residents Meaningfully

Residents living with dementia can be involved in deciding how the care home celebrates World Alzheimer’s Month, such as deciding on social activities, selecting music for reminiscence sessions, contributing to community artwork, or sharing life stories.

Support and Inform Families

Care homes can use September to host family information sessions or coffee mornings. Providing information and advice about diagnosis, care pathways, and local support networks helps relatives navigate their loved one’s care journey with confidence.

Focus on Staff Development

Rather than focusing on the education of family members and residents, care homes can use this month as an annual opportunity to refresh internal dementia training:

• Conduct refresher workshops on communication techniques and person-centred care.
• Review how care plans reflect individual preferences and changing care needs.
• Review communication approaches, including how staff respond when a resident is confused, distressed, or asking about something that is no longer true.

While initiatives like Dementia Friends build excellent general awareness, professional care teams require comprehensive, specialised dementia training.

Review the Physical Environment

Use September to conduct an annual environmental audit of communal and private spaces:

• Ensure signage is clear, high-contrast, and positioned at eye level.
• Review whether residents can easily identify important areas, such as their bedroom, bathroom, and communal spaces.
• Assess lighting levels and look for areas where poor lighting could make navigation more difficult.
• Check that quiet spaces are available for residents who become overstimulated.

The aim should not be to make every care home look the same. Instead, the environment should be reviewed from the perspective of the people who live there and adapted where necessary to support their comfort, independence and sense of familiarity.

Looking Beyond September

World Alzheimer’s Month provides a vital spotlight, but high-quality dementia care relies on year-round commitment. Supporting someone with dementia means looking past a diagnosis to understand their history, strengths, preferences, and relationships.

For care homes, September can be an opportunity to start conversations, involve residents, support families and reflect on how dementia care is delivered. The 2026 campaign also provides an important reminder that knowing what is causing someone’s symptoms can give people and their families more opportunities to access support and plan for the future.

World Alzheimer’s Month may only take place once a year, but the awareness, understanding and person-centred approach it promotes can continue throughout the year.