4th Alzheimer’s Awards Announced in Search of Global Solutions for Better Dementia Care

PARIS, July 19, 2011 -

For the fourth year, the Fondation
Médéric Alzheimer and Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) are
running Alzheimer’s Awards for evidence-based psychosocial
interventions for people with dementia and their carers. The
purpose of the Award is to promote better care and share best
practices. Applications can be submitted from today 19 July until 1
December 2011 at href="www.alz.co.uk/award">www.alz.co.uk/award.

Psychosocial research involves or relates to both the social and
psychological aspects of a patient’s life. Often this includes the
relationship between the personal, internal environment and the
wider social world, such as the influence of social and
environmental factors on an individual’s state of mind or
behaviour. This type of research is aimed at supporting and
enhancing the quality of life of people with Alzheimer’s disease
and their carers.

Two Alzheimer’s Awards will be given, the first for the best
evidence-based psychosocial intervention with a prize of
 €18,000. The second award, of €7,000, will be given for the
most promising evidence-based psychosocial intervention.

All project proposals and complete application forms should be
submitted by email before 1 December 2011. The winners will receive
their awards during the 27^th International Conference of
Alzheimer’s Disease International in London, UK in March 2012.

Dementia is a syndrome that can be caused by a number of
progressive disorders that affect memory, thinking, behavior and
the ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is
the most common type of dementia.

After age 65, the likelihood of developing dementia roughly
doubles every five years. In the World Alzheimer Report 2010, ADI
estimated that there are 35.6 million people living with dementia
worldwide, increasing to 65.7 million by 2030 and 115.4 million by
2050. The worldwide costs of dementia exceeds 1% of global GDP, at
US$604 billion.

The Fondation Médéric Alzheimer is a non-profit organisation
that was created in 1999. It aims to increase the knowledge in
social sciences related to Alzheimer’s disease, to support and
promote innovative field projects intended in helping people with
Alzheimer’s disease and their carers, and to instigate national
surveys allowing the analysis of yearly evolutions and geographic
disparities.

Alzheimer’s Disease International was established in 1984. Just
over 25 years later Alzheimer’s Disease International is now the
international federation of 76 Alzheimer associations around the
world, and in official relations with the World Health
Organisation.

Sarah Smith, +44(0)207-981-0880, s.smith@alz.co.uk

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