Welcome Horst Köhler, German Head of State
Welcome Heike von Lützau-Hohlbein, Orien Reid

Dear Con0ference delegates,

The 22nd international Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International will be held in Berlin from October 12–14, 2006. Together with the Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft e. V., conference participants from around the world will debate the conference’s theme “Dementia – a Challenge for the 21st Century. 100 Years of Alzheimer’s Disease“. Experiences and progress in research, care and policies for people with dementia will be discussed.

The disease, first identified by Alois Alzheimer in 1906, will be of increasing concern to us. Rising life-expectancy is likely to see the number of Alzheimer cases increase significantly. Therefore, it is all the more important that we think about how we can best help and support people with the disease, as well as their families.

I am pleased that the 22nd Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International will take place in Berlin. As your work is important to me, I am also very happy to act as patron of this event. I wish the conference every success. The results of your work are of great significance.

Yours sincerely,

Horst Köhler
German Head of State

Horst Köhler German Head of State

Dear Conference delegates,

It is our sincere pleasure to welcome you to the 22nd Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International in Berlin. The annual conference of ADI provides a unique opportunity to look at the achievements of Alzheimer’s research, innovative techniques in the management and care of people with dementia and identify policy issues affecting people with dementia.

As the federation of 75 member associations worldwide, ADI is raising awareness about the global impact of dementia and calls for recognition of dementia as a global health priority. We live in a world where there is one new case of dementia every seven seconds. The numbers are projected to escalate from 24 million to 81 million by 2040. The ADI conference is the only one in the world that brings together scientists, clinicians, care professionals, family carers, volunteers and people with dementia.

In 1906 the German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer (1864–1915) first described the disease which was later to bear his name. Now, 100 years later, Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft e. V. with its 96 member organisations all over Germany, organises the 22nd conference of ADI in Berlin. Horst Köhler, the German Head of State, took over the protectorate of the conference.

Each day of the conference has a special focus. On the first day we will review what has been achieved in the fields of medical research, care and social policy. The second day will focus on quality of life of people with dementia and their carers. On the third day we will ask for the global meaning of dementia and perspectives of the future.

With this conference we have an opportunity to work together to make dementia a global health and social priority and to ensure that scientific discovery and advances in information about dementia translate into tangible benefits for all people with dementia and their families.

We hope this event inspires you to make a difference to the lives of those affected by dementia now and for future generations!

Heike von Lützau-Hohlbein Chairwoman Deutsche Alzheimer Gesellschaft	Orien Reid Chairwoman Alzheimer’s Disease International