The inclusion, announced by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), represents a major breakthrough in acknowledging dementia as a leading cause of death and a critical public health priority. By 2040, dementia is projected to become the third leading cause of death worldwide.
The formal adoption of the declaration is expected at the next meeting of the UN General Assembly, following prior agreement among member states. ADI hailed the move as the result of years of sustained advocacy, involving collaboration with governments, international agencies and dementia organisations across every region.
Paola Barbarino, Chief Executive Officer of ADI, described the development as a long-awaited turning point.
“With this declaration, we must take this moment to unite the dementia and NCD community to hold governments accountable,” she said.
“Dementia shares many risk factors with other leading NCDs, and with research showing that up to 45 per cent of cases could be delayed or even prevented, this inclusion is a big step towards better integrated health messaging and policy action.”
Barbarino emphasised that the declaration should drive concrete government measures to reduce dementia prevalence and improve care for millions of people affected globally.
In the lead-up to the declaration’s adoption, ADI hosted a high-level global expert panel on 23 September to discuss how dementia and NCD strategies can align to strengthen prevention and care. The event, held alongside the UN General Assembly, drew participants from across the world — from Australia to Peru and was broadcast online for wider participation.
Speakers from countries including Indonesia, the Netherlands, Brazil and Costa Rica shared key insights on embedding dementia into existing NCD strategies. They highlighted the need to train and educate healthcare workers, improve public understanding, and create unified global health messaging.
Experts agreed that integrating dementia within broader NCD frameworks could accelerate progress on risk reduction and early intervention.
“Affecting lifestyle and behavioural changes is notoriously difficult,” one panellist noted, “but there is much we can learn from other NCD communities if we work hand in hand.”
The declaration is now being seen as a turning point in global dementia advocacy, paving the way for stronger policies, funding, and collaboration between governments and health systems worldwide.
