Raising awareness about dementia

The Malta Dementia Society organised a Memory Walk in Valletta yesterday to raise awareness about dementia - a disease which affects the functions of the brain, causing loss of memory, and behaviour and speech problems.

A similar event is held all over the world on World Alzheimer's Day, celebrated on September 21.

This year marks the centenary since Alzheimer's Disease was first described by the German neurologist Alois Alzheimer.

International statistics show that a person is diagnosed with Alzheimer's every seven seconds across the world. With the number of people with dementia increasing, Alzheimer's groups worldwide are lobbying governments to prepare their health and social systems better.

Helen D'Amato, parliamentary secretary for the care of the elderly, joined some 50 members of the society in the walk down Republic Street.

Some of those present carried placards saying: "No time to lose." Information about the disease was handed out from a booth in City Gate.