For me, World Alzheimer’s Day is not simply another awareness day on the calendar. My grandmother lived with Alzheimer’s disease, so I know that behind every statistic there is a person, a family and a story. The disease does not only affect the person who is diagnosed. Slowly, it also becomes part of everyday life for the people around them – their partners, children, grandchildren and carers.

Every year on 21 September, World Alzheimer’s Day brings attention to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In 2026, the message is especially clear: “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.” The campaign organised by Alzheimer’s Disease International focuses on the importance of recognising dementia and receiving a diagnosis as early as possible.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive brain disorder that gradually damages memory, thinking and the ability to carry out everyday activities. Memory problems are often among the first signs, but Alzheimer’s is much more than simply forgetting names or losing your keys. People may have difficulty finding words, making decisions, managing money, recognising familiar places or completing tasks they once did easily. As the disease progresses, they may eventually need help with almost every part of daily life.

The numbers show just how important the issue has become. According to the World Health Organization, more than 57 million people worldwide are living with dementia, and nearly 10 million new cases occur every year. Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to cause around 60–70 per cent of dementia cases. These numbers are expected to remain a major global health challenge as populations around the world grow older.

But statistics can never fully explain what dementia feels like for a family.

At first, the changes can seem small. Someone may repeat the same question several times or forget a conversation that happened only a few minutes earlier. A familiar journey may suddenly become confusing. Objects appear in unusual places. Names become harder to remember.

Then, gradually, the world that once felt familiar may begin to change.

This is one reason why early diagnosis matters so much. Getting a diagnosis cannot currently cure Alzheimer’s disease, but it can give people and their families valuable time. Doctors can investigate whether memory problems are caused by Alzheimer’s or by another condition. Some problems that look like dementia can have other causes, including medication side effects, sleep disorders, infections or other illnesses. When Alzheimer’s is diagnosed early, families also have more time to discuss future care, safety, finances and personal wishes while the person affected can still take an active part in those decisions.

Early diagnosis is becoming increasingly important for another reason: Alzheimer’s research is changing rapidly.

On World Alzheimer’s Day 2026, Alzheimer’s Disease International released its new World Alzheimer Report, titled A New Era in Dementia Clinical Trials. The report looks at how dementia research is developing and at the people who take part in clinical studies. According to ADI, there are currently 158 drugs being investigated in 192 clinical trials. Researchers are not only looking for ways to manage symptoms, but also for treatments that may influence the biological processes behind the disease.

There is still no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, and it is important not to create false hope. However, scientists now understand far more about the condition than they did only a few decades ago. Researchers are studying changes in the brain, including abnormal proteins known as amyloid and tau, which can begin accumulating many years before obvious symptoms appear. New diagnostic methods, including brain imaging and biological markers found in blood or cerebrospinal fluid, are also helping researchers identify the disease earlier and more accurately.

Another important change is happening in the way we think about dementia prevention.

In July 2026, the World Health Organization published updated guidelines on reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The WHO reported that up to 45 per cent of dementia risk may be connected to factors that can potentially be modified or managed. These include smoking, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity, social isolation, high blood pressure, diabetes and exposure to air pollution. Staying physically active, remaining socially connected and taking care of cardiovascular health may therefore also help protect brain health.

Of course, this does not mean that someone who develops Alzheimer’s has done something wrong. Age remains the strongest known risk factor, and the disease is influenced by a complicated mixture of genetics, biology, environment and lifestyle. Risk reduction is not the same as guaranteed prevention.

Perhaps one of the most important purposes of World Alzheimer’s Day is simply to encourage us to talk about dementia.

For many years, memory loss was sometimes hidden or dismissed as an unavoidable part of getting older. But dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Stigma and fear can prevent people from asking for help, and that can delay diagnosis and support.

There is also another side of Alzheimer’s that deserves more attention: the carers.

Behind millions of people living with dementia are millions more family members, friends and professional carers who help them through everyday life. Caring for someone whose memory and personality are changing can be physically and emotionally exhausting. The WHO notes that dementia can have significant psychological, social and economic effects on families and that much of dementia care around the world is provided by relatives and friends.

And yet, even when memories begin to disappear, the person is still there.

A favourite song can sometimes bring a smile. A familiar voice can create a feeling of safety. A photograph may awaken something that words no longer can. A person with Alzheimer’s may forget a name or an event, but they still deserve dignity, patience, affection and respect.

For families who have experienced Alzheimer’s, World Alzheimer’s Day can bring back difficult memories. It certainly has a more personal meaning for me because of my grandmother.

But perhaps remembering is exactly the point.

On 21 September, we remember those who lived with the disease, those who are living with it today and the people who care for them. At the same time, we can look towards a future in which earlier diagnosis, better research and greater understanding may make the journey a little less frightening for the millions of families who will face it.

Because when it comes to Alzheimer’s, knowledge cannot solve everything.

But knowing earlier can give us something incredibly important: time.