Dementia support and neurodegenerative disease advocacy in-t

In Italy, community-based initiatives are expanding to support individuals living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, as well as their caregivers. In Turin, the PerdutaMente group presented the Cafè Alzheimer project to a regional commission. Supported by Piedmont Region funding, the initiative operates a light day center providing music therapy, social interaction, and workshops. Organizers have called for increased institutional recognition, expanded services across the Turin metropolitan area, and better home care support to address funding difficulties. In Grosseto, the ‘Spazio Alzheimer’ project provides guidance and information to families, focusing on medical aspects and caregiver challenges such as burnout and loneliness through monthly meetings at the Casa della Comunità Pizzetti. Recent awareness efforts have expanded to include local events in Lecco, Piazza Armerina, and Somma Lombardo to educate the public and provide dementia management tools. During World Alzheimer’s Month, additional activities have emerged, including community meetings organized by IRAM in Lecco and a fundraising campaign by the AIMA association in Reggio Emilia. Local initiatives in Trapani and Arezzo also continue to emphasize early diagnosis and lifestyle factors for brain health. Advocacy groups such as Uneba continue to demand urgent legislative action through a proposed ‘Care Law’. They seek to resolve legal and financial uncertainties regarding the costs of residential care, noting that a lack of clear regulations regarding fee responsibility has led to disputes between families and care facilities. Recent data from the Italian Neurological Society (Sin) indicates that approximately 1.2 million people aged 65 and older in Italy suffer from dementia, with Alzheimer’s affecting at least 600,000 individuals. The annual economic burden is estimated at 23 billion euros, with families bearing 63% of these costs. Sin president Mario Zappia noted that while no cure exists, new therapies targeting biological mechanisms may slow progression, necessitating a rethinking of care pathways.