International Alzheimer's Disease Conference for the first time in Poland!

The International Alzheimer's Disease Conference will be held in Krakow, Poland for the first time on April 24-26, 2024, with an average of 1,200 onsite and online participants from more than 120 countries. The conference has been attracted to our country by the Polish Association for Assistance to People with Alzheimer's Disease, supported by Symposium Cracoviense.

Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) is an international federation, supporting and working with Alzheimer's and dementia associations, as well as people living with dementia, caregivers and all relevant organizations, to help raise awareness, oppose stigma and call for dementia to be recognized as the global health priority it should be. ADI also works with the World Health Organization.

The federation was founded in 1984 by Alzheimer's associations in the US, UK, Australia and Canada. It has more than 100 members, usually one in each country. In Poland, the Polish Association for People with Alzheimer's Disease, based in Warsaw, is a member. President of the Polish Association, Zbigniew Tomczak said, "I am proud that we can co-organize this prestigious conference for the first time in Poland. We firmly believe that this is a tremendous opportunity to share knowledge and experience between people with dementia, policy makers and healthcare professionals and caregivers. I look forward to welcoming conference participants to Krakow in 2024."

ADI organizes the conference every two years. This unique multidisciplinary event brings together researchers, healthcare professionals and physicians, people with dementia, family caregivers, researchers, staff and volunteers of Alzheimer's and dementia associations.

With a high standard of diverse scientific and non-scientific content, the ADI 2024 conference program will focus on the seven action areas of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Dementia Action Plan, which revolves around policy, awareness, prevention and diagnosis, research, care and treatment. The conference will bring together experts from around the world to share the latest innovations and best practices in dementia research, care and policy, as well as discuss how we can continue to come together and challenge the perceptions and stigma that still surround dementia.

Each time, the event leaves a positive footprint and legacy in the place where it is held. The conference has never yet been held in Poland. Poland won the rights to host the event the second time around. and efforts initiated by Symposium Cracoviense began in 2018. Anna Gorska, Board Advisor at Symposium Cracoviense, said: "We supported the Polish Association at every stage of applying for the event, from helping to prepare the first application to organizing the inspection visit.  I am glad that our goal has been achieved and this prestigious conference will be held in Poland. This is our joint success." The competition application in the form of letters was also supported by the Polish Tourist Organization and the Warsaw Convention Bureau.

On March 13-15, 2023. an inspection visit to Poland took place with Paola Barbarino, ADI CEO, and Jane Cziborra, Head of Events. The ladies inspected the capabilities of venues in Warsaw and Krakow. After the visit, the decision was made to hold the event in Krakow.

Author: Anna Górska