Creating a global dementia friendly movement

Alzheimer’s Society committed to helping other countries to develop their own Dementia Friends programmes by sharing resources, learnings and fostering a global network.

About the Global Dementia Friends Network

As part of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020, Alzheimer’s Society was committed to, ‘turning Dementia Friends into a global movement including sharing its learning across the world and learning from others’. 

Since 2016, Alzheimer’s Society hosted and coordinated the Global Dementia Friends Network (GDFN), fostering a global network of countries to raise awareness of dementia and challenge stigma through Dementia Friends programmes. This successful programme of support came to an end in April 2020.

Alzheimer's Society International team has been disbanded. Previous activity led by the team, including coordination of the Global Dementia Friends Network, has also ended.

What is the Dementia Friends programme?

Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia in England and Wales. 

Our Dementia Friends programme aims to transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

Global Dementia Friends on a map

View a larger version of this map.

As of April 2020, there were 67 Dementia Friends programmes (or national equivalent) launched or in development in 56 countries led by national Alzheimer associations and other organisations.

There are nearly 20 million Dementia Friends worldwide and this number will continue to grow.

On a global level, the Dementia Friends programmes part of the GDFN contribute to Action Area 2 of the WHO Global action plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025, which sets a target for ‘50 per cent of countries to have at least one dementia-friendly initiative to foster a dementia-inclusive society by 2025’.

Current global activity

For more information about current global activity and Dementia Friends in other countries please visit Alzheimer’s Disease International.

Visit Alzheimer's Disease International