Historical & Current Events dictionary
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
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What is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month?
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is a monthlong observance focused on raising awareness around Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, including education about warning signs and ways to reduce risks.
The month is used by many organizations not only as an opportunity for education and awareness but also as a focal point for fundraising related to research and care.
Like many awareness months, Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month has an associated color: purple.
There are two colors associated with Alzheimer’s awareness—purple is associated with Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and blue is associated with National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.
There are two other similar events observed during other months: World Alzheimer’s Month (an international observance) and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month (which, like Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, is primarily US-based). The distinction is that Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month focuses on all different forms of dementia, not just Alzheimer’s.
🗓 When is Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month?
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is observed in June.
World Alzheimer’s Month is observed in September and National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month is observed in November.
Where does Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month come from?
Dementia is a set of symptoms affecting memory and cognitive function. Alzheimer’s disease is a specific progressive disorder impacting the same areas. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, and around half the people with dementia have Alzheimer’s—it’s estimated to affect more than 25 million people around the world.
The first monthlong observance around the topic in the US began in 1983 as Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. It’s sometimes called Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s Awareness Month continues, but Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is more popularly observed.
World Alzheimer’s Day was first celebrated on September 21, 1994, and the observance of the day led to September being designated as World Alzheimer’s Month.
What are other words used in discussion of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month?
Examples of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
More information and context on Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month
Did you know … ?
There are two colors associated with Alzheimer’s awareness—purple is associated with Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and blue is associated with National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.
What are other words used in discussion of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month?
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month that will help our users expand their word mastery.