To mark World Alzheimer's Day on September 21st, the association Afagi and the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council have jointly launched the campaign Gipuzkoa with Alzheimer's. According to the data, more than 13,000 people in the province suffer from Alzheimer's or other dementias, directly impacting approximately 40,000 family members and caregivers.
The main event of the campaign will take place in Donostia on Saturday the 19th. A human chain will be formed along the Concha promenade, near Cervantes Square, for twenty minutes starting at 12:00 PM. Organizers invite institutions, professionals, associations, families, affected individuals, volunteers, and the general public to participate.
The campaign will also extend to the regional level with information stands. In Orio, tomorrow, Wednesday, information will be distributed in the town's weekly market square in the morning, and in Zarautz, a similar initiative will take place on Thursday.
At the press conference, Maite Peña, Deputy for Care and Social Policies, and Iñaki Olalde, President of Afagi, presented the campaign's details. Peña emphasized the importance of anticipating needs, as the demands related to dementias are expected to increase in the coming years. In this context, she highlighted the new Center for Preventive Culture, which promotes a pioneering model in Europe by integrating prevention, specialized care, and socio-health collaboration. "We are taking a step forward to anticipate needs and ensure prevention is part of how we address Alzheimer's and other dementias," she stated.
Peña also praised the work of the Afagi association, calling it an essential agent due to its years of experience, proximity, and ability to support individuals.
Meanwhile, Olalde reminded attendees that this illness affects thousands of families in Gipuzkoa. Facing the progressive aging of the population, he advocated for anticipating the rise in dementias and strengthening the response, declaring, "We need more knowledge, more research, better diagnoses, more resources, and greater coordination among all stakeholders."
This year, the association has focused particularly on new treatments. According to Olalde, these treatments are not cures and carry risks, but for some individuals, under specific clinical conditions, they may offer a chance to slow the disease's progression. Therefore, Afagi argues that access to these therapies should be based on clinical and scientific criteria, while also considering equity, ensuring that anyone meeting the medical criteria has a real opportunity to receive the treatment.
