On 21 November, Sabine Henry, President of ADI member association, Ligue Nationale Alzheimer Liga in Belgium was ennobled by His Majesty King Philippe of the Belgians on November 21, 2024. This prestigious recognition celebrates her “nobility of heart and an exceptional career serving the Belgian population affected by dementia”, marking her commitment to improving the lives of those living with dementia and their carers as Director of Ligue Nationale Alzheimer Liga since 1996. ADI extends our congratulations to Baroness Henry for her achievement.
On the same day, ADI’s Director of Research and Publications, Wendy Weidner, joined colleagues from Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen in Antwerp, Belgium for the first conference on risk reduction and dementia in Flanders. The conference was organised by Olivier Constant, Advocacy and Awareness Officer, and his team at Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen and included Dutch speakers from academia and advocacy, sharing the latest research on risk reduction.
In her plenary presentation, Wendy provided a global perspective on risk reduction efforts and the opportunities of precision risk reduction, sharing findings from ADI’s 2023 World Alzheimer Report, which focused on reducing dementia risk. This report highlights the drivers behind risk reduction and provides an accessible overview of both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, as well as the benefits of lifelong risk reduction.
Professor Gill Livingston, a member of ADI’s Medical and Scientific Panel (MSAP), presented updated evidence from Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. Recent findings by the Lancet Commission suggest that up to 45% of dementias could be reduced, delayed or even prevented by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors. Lifestyle changes remain some of the simplest and easiest means of reducing the impact of dementia globally. Things like smoking cessation, physical activity, and eating a balanced diet can make a significant impact over a lifetime.
