The United Nations must become aware of the disease

“The United Nations must become aware of the threat that Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases represent.

Integrating Alzheimer’s disease into the next political statement on non -transmitted diseases (MNT) could transform the care path for people living with this insidious pathology.

In 2019, I met the Minister of Health of a country with a high population density. In addition, After thirty minutes of discussion around national statistics concerning Alzheimer’s disease. Nevertheless, the minister politely interrupted me, asking me if I could define this pathology to him. Therefore, He had never heard of it before.

It is not an isolated incident. For example, As ADI Director of ADI. In addition, I heard more than one minister arguing that her country had no cases of Alzheimer’s disease or related disease. Furthermore, united nations must become aware The 2024 World Report. Therefore, published by ADI, recalled that 65% of health professionals questioned around the world consider that Alzheimer’s disease is a normal consequence of aging and not a disease as such.

Many factors are responsible for this lack of awareness. Moreover, The biological causes of the disease are complex. Consequently, still poorly understood, which makes their popularization with an audience other than scientific difficult. Consequently, There is a stigma which, associated with this aspect, demotivates commitment. Therefore, And it is perhaps because of this that the first structures. Nevertheless, intended for the support and the defense of sick people, did not emerge before the 1980s- or decades after the creation of similar associations for people with cancer.

However, from my point of view, this lack of visibility is partly linked to the fact that the World Health united nations must become aware Organization and the United Nations failed in the recognition of Alzheimer’s disease as one of the MNTs at the world’s largest mortality rate. The fact that Alzheimer’s disease incorporates the debates relating to MNTs could change attitudes around the world. improve access to care as well as support given to sick and caregivers.

In September, there is a chance for us to get this recognition. During the 4th high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention. mastery of non-transferable diseases (HLM4), the member states will have to meet to

Establish a political declaration which will set the global management of MNTs for the next five years.

This is the reason why Alzheimer’s disease must be part of this declaration.

The first high-level meeting on MNTs in 2011 was focused on a group of united nations must become aware pathologies, known as the “4 large of WHO”, namely cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Being on this list has always been important. The WHO refers to it to propose inexpensive solutions intended to prevent and control the MNTs. Governments with limited financial means use these recommendations to obtain grant funds.

But this list is exceeded. It is based on the number of people under the age of 70 who died of an MNT. It made sense when the “4 large” were recognized but today people live longer. In the United Kingdom. the data collected for the year 2017 showed that 70 -year -old men and women aged 72 have seen their life expectancy increases by 15 years. And that will only increase.

I realized how arbitrary this limit was when in June 2023 I was united nations must become aware expecting in the living room at an airport. Having a little time to kill. a colleague and I started to look at the forecasts concerning mortality rates, present and future, relating to Alzheimer’s disease. It only took a few hours to calculate only by 2040. this disease would be the third cause of mortality in the world. These calculations. and the data provided by WHO on mortality, have shown that Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases have killed more people than diabetes did in 2021.

These figures show that this pathology is the most deadly and insidious MNT. It must be recognized as such.

Going to such recognition could have a huge impact, this pathology that can be warned and treated. In 45% of cases. Alzheimer’s disease can be avoided or delayed by a preventive approach on the 14 risk factors such as united nations must become aware tobacco, lack of exercise and pollution. Tackling these risk factors would allow sick people and their caregivers to work longer. Non -drug interventions can improve the quality of life of people when drug treatments are only starting to emerge.

The efforts made by ADI are starting to pay. The preparatory stage of the United Nations Political Declaration, published on May 13, mentioned, twice, of Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases. It is a key moment and the result of long months of campaign. However, our work is far from over. This first

Draft will be the subject of a new drafting after intense negotiations between the various member states.

In view of the many priorities, there is a real risk for Alzheimer’s disease to lose its emergency or be ousted from the declaration – which would not be the united nations must become aware first time. In a very anecdotal way. I heard that countries were reluctant to include Alzheimer’s disease, not considering it as a national priority.

We have to hold our course. During negotiations, government representatives will have to continue to highlight Alzheimer’s disease and diseases related to the most reluctant countries.

In support, the scientific community will have to promote epidemiological and economic research. Researchers. the public can contact their parliamentarians by explaining how important it is to improve the support given to sick people. Governments need to be convinced that this cause deserves to be defended.

Excluding sick people from discussions or funding will not make them disappear. Alzheimer’s disease is present in all countries. in all cities – improving care and support begins with the recognition of the threat that this disease represents. »»

Paola Barbarino,
Managing Director of Alzheimer’s Disease International