September 2019, a month to celebrate the eighth World’s Alzheimer’s Month saw 300 participants took to the mall of Atria Shopping Gallery at Petaling Jaya to raise public awareness on Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia.

Organised by the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM), young and senior participants were seen mustering as early as 10:00AM in preparation for the afternoon walk. After a series of talks and a fun-filled line dance, the Memory Walk 2019 was officially flagged-off at 12:05PM by YB Puan Jamaliah Binti Jamaluddin, ADUN of Bandar Utama.

Participants smiled and laughed while strolling through multiple floors in the mall for approximately 20 minutes, all in the name of a good cause.

So, what is World Alzheimer’s Month?

The World Alzheimer’s Month was established in 2011 to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia, as well as to challenge the stigma.

2 out of 3 people globally believe that there is little to no understanding of Dementia in their respective countries. Dementia is also believed to be a stigma due to ignorance and has become a major barrier to people accessing for help, advice and support.

World Alzheimer’s Month is a time to recognise the impact of Dementia, to raise greater awareness, care and remembering the people living with Dementia and their carers.

The 2019 campaign titled ‘Let’s Talk About Dementia’ aimed to get people more comfortably and openly about Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia, the warning signs, risk reduction, who to speak to and where to go for advice, and what can be done to help support those living with the disease.

The World Alzheimer’s Month 2019 is organised by the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia, and supported by the Rotary Club of Shah Alam, Atria Shopping Gallery, TENA Malaysia, Eagle Ranch Resort Port Dickson, University of Malaysia, ANGKASA Malaysia, IMU Cares, Achievers Brain Cognitive Development, Caregiver Malaysia, Spritzer, Your Physio, hear.com, Taipei TCM, and the Allianz Century Pioneer.